(A) Any animal which is found by an animal control officer to be in violation of this chapter may be impounded and confined in a humane manner until reclaimed by its owner or otherwise disposed of in accordance with this chapter.
(B) Impounded animals, except those suffering from an injury or physical condition which causes the animal to suffer, shall be kept and maintained by the Animal Shelter for the following state periods:
(1) Impounded animals: three days, not including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized by the town;
(2) Quarantined animals: ten days from the day the bite and/or scratch occurs.
(C) Animal control officers are authorized to go on or about private property to seize an animal. If an animal is seized, the Animal Control Officer shall issue a written notice of seizure and leave it with the owner or affix it to the premises from which the animal was seized.
(D) Impounded domestic pets, other than feral cats, shall be kept three business days, unless reclaimed by their owner. If the owner can be identified by means of a license tag, collar ID, microchip, rabies tag or other means physically attached to or upon the body of the animal, the impounding agency shall notify the owner of the impoundment of the animal, and the animal will be held for five days, not including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays recognized by the town, unless reclaimed by the owner. Animals not reclaimed by their owners within the established time periods and those not placed in suitable new homes after such time, may be humanely euthanized. However, if an impounded animal has an injury or physical or medical condition, which causes the animal or other domestic animals to suffer, the Animal Shelter may immediately humanely euthanize the animal. For the purposes of this chapter, the impoundment term shall commence on the date of delivery of the animal to the place of impoundment and not the date of notification of the owner. An owner desiring to reclaim an impounded animal shall comply with and pay such fees as provided by the terms and provisions of this chapter. If an animal has been impounded because of a violation to this chapter, the Animal Shelter may refuse to release the animal to its owner until the owner gives reasonable assurances that the conditions have been corrected or a court order is given requiring the Animal Shelter to relinquish the animal back to the owner. These assurances may be verified by an animal control officer before releasing the animal back to the owner. If an animal has been impounded for any violation of this chapter and such animal was adopted from the Animal Shelter or one of its offsite locations, the Animal Shelter may refuse to release such animal to the owner.
(E) Animals not reclaimed by their owners within the applicable time period, may thereafter be placed in suitable homes, or may be humanely euthanized. Unclaimed animals that have been placed under rabies quarantine shall be humanely euthanized.
(Ord. G-20-04, passed 7-28-2020)