(A) Upon impounding an animal, the Animal Control Officer shall cause a prompt and reasonable effort to be made to locate and notify the animal’s owner.
(B) The owner of an impounded animal shall be entitled to redeem the animal except as hereinafter provided, upon compliance with the license provisions of this chapter, payment of redemption fees, and proof of ownership.
(C) Redemption fees as provided in this section shall be $10 for each animal plus $10 for each calendar day or portion thereof during which the animal was boarded at the Animal Control Shelter.
(D) When animals are found running at large and their ownership is known, the animals, if they are legally licensed, need not be impounded by the Animal Control Officer, but he or she may at his or her discretion notify the owner who can reclaim the animal upon paying the redemption fee of $10, if the redemption is made that same day.
(E) Whenever animal control personnel have reasonable grounds to believe that a dog or cat is running at large without a license tag, or constitutes a public nuisance, or is an unrestrained animal that has been determined to be a vicious animal, the animal may be taken and impounded. Upon impounding any animal, animal control personnel shall make a good faith effort to notify the owner of its impoundment. The animal may be confined and disposed of either by euthanasia or by being offered for adoption and adopted out if its owner is not identified and it is not claimed within 3 days after being impounded. No impounded animal shall be released to an owner unless all charges incident to the confinement have been paid. Dogs/cats found at large without a license which, during the episode, have bitten or scratched a human or another animal, may be impounded and euthanized if in the discretion of animal control personnel and after consultation with the Garrett County Health Department such action is necessary for the public health and safety.
(F) Impoundment service fee:
(1) $10 for a dog or cat with a valid license;
(2) $25 for a dog or cat subject to license but without a current valid license and the costs of any required veterinary service and furnish satisfactory evidence that the dog or cat is licensed and have the necessary rabies vaccination before release. Subsequent impounding fees, with or without a valid license, are as follows:
(a) Second impoundment: $30;
(b) Third impoundment: $50;
(c) After the third impoundment, fees will increase in increments of $20. Impoundment service fees will be retained by the Garrett County in order to offset the housing expenses incurred in impounding the animal.
(G) Where the owner of an impounded dog or cat can be ascertained, the owner shall be liable for the impounding fee and other proper charges even in cases wherein the dog or cat is disposed of pursuant to this chapter. In addition to the impounding fee, the Animal Control Officer may issue a summons pursuant to this chapter.
(Ord. —, passed 2-3-2004)