(A) All dogs or cats taken into custody by police, Animal Control Officers or other empowered officials as provided in § 90.19, shall be impounded at the Kenton County Animal Shelter, except as provided in division(B).
(B) If the dog or cat or other animal is found on or off the premises of its owner, but is unlicensed or at large, the police officers, Animal Control Officers or other empowered officials may, in their discretion, not impound the dog or cat, but in lieu thereof, issue a citation to the owner for owning an unlicensed dog or cat or permitting the dog or cat to run at large. Citations can be city or state.
(C) All dogs or cats 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 the 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 or agents of the city.
(D) On written complaint of any person that a dog or cat is rabid, or that a dog or cat has bitten or attacked a person, the dog or cat shall be seized and impounded forthwith. The District Court shall hold a hearing on said written complaint and if the court shall determine in its sound discretion that the aforementioned dog or cat is mad or has in fact attacked a person, then and in that event, the Judge may order said dog or cat 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 said dog or cat.
(E) Any and all expenses incurred by the city in keeping and housing of any animal after being so seized and impounded shall be chargeable to the owner or keeper of said animal.
('77 Code, §5-20) (Ord. 280-1982, passed 11-22-82; Am. Ord. 431-1990, passed 6-28-90; Am. Ord. 581-99, passed 4-14-99)