(A) The following animals may be impounded:
(1) Any animal running at large;
(2) Any animal that creates a public nuisance;
(3) Any animal infected, diseased or kept under circumstances which could endanger the public or animal's health;
(4) Any animal violating this chapter;
(5) Any animal treated in a manner determined by the animal services officer to be cruel or inhumane; and
(6) Any animal subject to impoundment by the state animal laws adopted by this chapter (dangerous dogs, rabies, vaccinations, etc.).
(B) Notice of impoundment. Reasonable effort shall be made by any animal services officer or police officer to contact the owner of an impounded animal; however final responsibility for location of an impounded animal is that of the owner. The animal services officer or police officer, as part of their effort shall determine if the animal has a microchip and to make diligent efforts to scan/identify the registration of the animal's microchip through online and national registration databases.
(C) Place of impoundment. The place of impoundment of all animals impounded under any provision of this chapter shall be as determined by the Godley City Council or the police chief, as the supervisor of the animal services department.
(D) Seriously injured animals. Any animal seized or impounded and suffering from serious injuries, in apparent great pain or having a disease which would endanger the public health may be euthanized after reasonable efforts to locate the owner have failed and there is no apparent reason for allowing the continued suffering of the animal.
(E) Infant animals. Any nursing animal impounded without the mother, or where the mother cannot or refuses to provide nutritious milk, may be immediately euthanized to prevent further suffering.
(F) Redemption. The owner of any animal impounded in accordance with this section may reclaim such animal upon showing satisfactory proof of ownership (including, but not limited to: 1) veterinary records; 2) rabies certificate; 3) photographs of the animal; 4) adoption contract; 5) microchip records; 6) bill of sale/receipt for payment of the animal; 7) training certificate; 8) pet registration with a kennel club; 9) municipal or county registration proof and; 10) titles on the dog or cat and paying all impoundment fees and any other expenses incurred by the city or its agent in keeping the animal or attempting to locate the owner of the animal.
(G) Surrendered animals. If an owner surrenders an animal to animal services or after impoundment the owner disclaims ownership, the animal will be deemed abandoned. If an owner is surrendering an animal, they must complete a Godley Animal Services "Owner Animal Surrender and Relinquishment" form and file it accordingly. Once an animal is surrendered and deemed abandoned, the previous owner's ownership is extinguished immediately and transfers to the city. The transfer expressly divests the previous owner of any of the property rights in the animal.
(H) Abandoned animals. If an animal has been impounded and efforts to locate the owner have persisted for a period of 72 hours with no owner or responsible party coming forward to claim the animal, the animal will be deemed abandoned. This includes where an owner has been identified, but efforts to get the owner to claim the animal have failed. Once an animal is deemed abandoned, the previous owner's ownership is extinguished and transfers to the city. This transfer expressly divests the previous owner of any of the property rights in the animal. The city shall work to prevent the euthanasia of abandoned animals through reaching out to animal rescue groups, the humane society, veterinarians and other groups to find suitable temporary or permanent homes for the animal.
(I) Impoundment fee. The per day impoundment fee shall be set by the Godley City Council and shall be included in the Master Fee Schedule.
(Ord. 01-04-2018-ANIMAL, passed 1-4-2018)