(A) An owner, or any person reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay a fee of $30 plus $10 each day the animal has been impounded, including Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays.
(B) Any impounded animal not claimed by its owner within 3 business days, shall become the property of the City of Hammond's Animal Control Department which may dispose of the animal in its discretion.
(C) Individuals wishing to adopt an animal, must agree to, and sign the City of Hammond's Animal Control Adoption Agreement. Individuals who fail to comply with the terms of that agreement are in violation of this section and may, at Hammond Animal Control's discretion, be required to surrender the animal to Hammond Animal Control.
(D) The City of Hammond Animal Control Department reserves the right to refuse the adoption of an animal to any person. Prior to the end of any animal's 3 business day impoundment period, a person may, without cost, place an adoption "hold" on an animal; if that animal is not then claimed within the impoundment period by its owner, the person placing the adoption "hold" shall have priority regarding adoption of the animal. An adoption hold shall be valid for 24 hours from the end of the animal's impoundment period.
(E) The fees for adopting an unclaimed animal from the city's Animal Control Department are as follows:
(1) Dogs and puppies: $40 dollars; which includes shots and first worming. Owner agrees to submit proof that animal has been spayed or neutered per the Animal Control Adoption Agreement and § 91.075 of the Hammond Municipal Code.
(2) Cats and kittens: $30; which includes shots and first worming. Owner agrees to submit proof that animal has been spayed or neutered per the Animal Control Adoption Agreement and § 91.075 of the Hammond Municipal Code.
(F) Rabies shots must be obtained from a licensed veterinarian.
(Prior Code, § 91.54) (Ord. 4109, passed 7-14-1975; Am. Ord. 4201, passed 4-26-1976; Am. Ord. 7016, passed 2-23-1988; Am. Ord. 8565, passed 5-24-2004; Am. Ord. 9220, passed 9-9-2013) Penalty, see § 91.999