(A) All dogs and cats taken into custody by police, Animal Control officers or other empowered officials as hereinabove provided, shall be impounded at the Kenton County Animal Shelter, except as provided in division (B).
(B) If the dog or cat is found on or off the premises of its owner, but is unlicensed or at large, the police officer, Animal Control officer or other empowered officials may, in their discretion, not impound the animal, but in lieu thereof issue a citation to the owner for owning an unlicensed animal or permitting the animal to run at large. Citations can be city or state.
(C) All animals impounded shall be handled and/or disposed of by the Kenton County Animal Shelter as provided by the regulations of that agency, by state law or by county regulations, except that no dog or cat impounded by police, Animal Control officers or other empowered officials of the city shall be released to its owner without written authority from the Police Department or other empowered officials of the city.
(D) On written complaint of any person that a domestic animal is rabid, or that a domestic has bitten or attacked a person, the domestic animal shall be seized and impounded forthwith. The District Court shall hold a hearing on the written complaint and if the Court shall determine in its sound discretion that the aforementioned domestic animal is mad or has in fact attacked a person, then and in that event, the Judge may order the domestic animal to be destroyed and examined by a competent scientist or veterinarian or impounded for observation for a designated period of time, or make any other reasonable order concerning the domestic animal.
(E) Any and all expenses incurred by the city in keeping and housing of any domestic animal after being so seized and impounded shall be chargeable to the owner or keeper of the domestic animal.
(Ord. 1995-16, passed 12-4-95)