(A) Any animal found in the city in violation of this chapter shall be impounded by any law enforcement officer, animal control officer and/or city employee and placed in the animal shelter. Upon impoundment of any animal, the animal shall remain in the custody of law enforcement until the animal is redeemed by the owner or person in charge, adopted or destroyed in a humane manner. The law enforcement officer, animal control officer and/or city employee shall, within 24 hours of the impounding of such animal, make a reasonable attempt to contact the owner of the animal having been impounded and notify the owner that the animal is being kept in the custody of the shelter. If the owner of the animal is unknown, the law enforcement officer, animal control officer and/or city employee shall note in the animal control log, located at the City Office, the description of the animal and state the time and place the animal was apprehended, and the place where it is being kept, and how the same may be recovered by the owner.
(B) Unless a licensed animal is redeemed by the owner or person having charge thereof and all charges are paid for its keep and necessary care, and unless the owner of an unlicensed animal registered and licensed the animal as provided by this chapter, the animal shall be adopted or destroyed in a humane manner after the expiration of at least 24 hours from the time when notice that the animal was apprehended and impounded has been, or has attempted to be, given, or in the case of an animal whose owner is unknown, the animal shall be released for adoption or destroyed not sooner than 24 hours after impoundment.
(C) However, any animal which has been diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian to be suffering from rabies or dangerous contagious disease shall not be released, but shall be destroyed forthwith or otherwise held or disposed of according to the veterinarian’s recommendations.
(Prior Code, § L-8-13) (Ord. 895, passed - -)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see SDCL § 9-29-12