In cases where an animal or animals have been seized by the animal control officer based upon cruelty, neglect, or abandonment, such animal may be adopted to another owner or humanely euthanized, there by extinguishing all property rights of the existing owner following the procedures as herein after provided.
(A) Upon seizure of the animal or animals, the animal control officer shall serve notice upon the existing owner, if the identity of said existing owner is known, informing said existing owner of the animal control officer’s intent to of the animal.
(B) The existing owner shall have 72 hours to:
(1) Declare in writing and deliver to the animal shelter keeping said animal or animals:
(a) Notice of said existing owner’s intent to maintain ownership of the animal or animals and to object to the adoption or euthanasia thereof; and
(b) Notice that said existing owner will pay when due all impoundment, board, and veterinary costs until such time as the animal or animals shall be released to said existing owner or be adopted or euthanized.
(2) Pay to the animal control officer all impoundment, board, and veterinary costs up to the date of the owner’s declaration of intent to maintain his or her ownership of said animal or animals to the animal control shelter.
(C) Upon notification of said existing owner’s intent to maintain ownership of the animal or animals and the existing owner’s objection to the adoption of euthanasia of the animal or animals, said existing owner shall continue said payments to the animal control shelter for impoundment, board, and veterinary costs on a weekly basis until such time as the animal or animals shall be released to said existing owner, or be adopted or euthanized. If, after 72 hours, the existing owner or the animal of animals fails to declare the hereinbefore stated intent, or if the existing owner fails to make any payment in a timely manner, or if the identity of said existing owner is unknown, or notification to said existing owner cannot be made, ownership of the animal or animals will revert to the animal shelter.
(Ord. 627, passed 9-12-2016)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see SDCL §§ 9-29-11,9-29-12, 9-29-13, 9-32-1