(a) Picking up stray and vicious dogs or cats. The animal control officer is authorized to seize all stray and/or dangerous animals (including but not limited to, dogs or cats running at large), and to take such animals to a designated place of impoundment. Any person on whose property a stray or dangerous animal is found may seize such animal and deliver it to the designated animal shelter for impoundment, or contact the County Animal Control Division for pickup. The officer, at his discretion, may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation or an ordinance summons.
(b) Notice to owners. Dogs or cats impounded pursuant to this article shall be kept at a designated animal shelter. Upon impoundment of such an animal, the animal control officer shall exercise due diligence to ascertain the owner of such animal. If such owner is discovered or claims such animal within 5 business days of impoundment, the officer or contract impoundment facility shall notify him of the terms for the animal’s release.
(c) Release of impounded dogs or cats. An original owner may obtain release of his dog or cat impounded pursuant to § 4-15(a) within 5 business days of impoundment, upon payment of a boarding fee per dog or cat, per owner, as listed in the fee schedule below, and an impoundment fee, as hereinafter provided, and upon presentation of a current rabies inoculation certificate.
(d) Schedule of fees. Current cost of boarding fee, plus:
(1) First offense: $85;
(2) Second offense: $90;
(3) Third offense: $100;
(4) Fourth offense: $150; and
(5) Fifth or subsequent offense: $250.
(e) Period of impoundment and disposition of unclaimed dog or cat. An impounded dog or cat which remains unclaimed by an owner after 5 business days shall be deemed abandoned, and shall automatically and irrevocably become the sole property of the county to convey, devise, dispose or otherwise destroy as the county sees fit in accordance with this article. Thereafter, such dog or cat may be disposed of humanely or offered for adoption to a suitable home.
The adoption fee for an animal shall be set by the operator of the animal shelter. No dog or cat shall be adopted unless and until it has been neutered or spayed by a veterinarian licensed by the state.
(f) Disposition of fees. All fees so collected shall be delivered to the county treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county.
(1976 Code, § 4-15) (Ord. 731, § 6; Ord. 1645, § 2, 3-3-1987; Ord. 1954, §§ 2-6, passed 3-21-1989; Ord. 2130, § 2(a), passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 4066, § 2, passed 11-21-2006; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007)