(A) Impoundment fees.
(1) Any impounded animal may be reclaimed, as herein provided, upon payment of impoundment fees by the owner to the County Animal Control/Shelter. The amount of the impoundment fees set forth herein shall be collected by the County Animal Control/Shelter and periodically turned over to the County Auditor for deposit to the County General Fund.
(2) An impoundment fee of $30 shall be charged for a dog, cat, or a small animal, such as rabbits, poultry, small birds, and small exotics.
(3) The initial impoundment fees will double for repeat offenders, and will continue to double for each offense (for example, $60, $120, $240, and the like). The County Animal Control/Shelter, through its agents, can seek prosecution of repeat offenders. After a time span of one year from the last offense, and there has been no impoundment of animals in the former offender’s care, the impoundment fees will go back to the starting fees of $30, and will go up accordingly.
(a) Before an animal’s release from the County Animal Control/Shelter, the owner must provide proof of current vaccination for rabies, or a prepaid receipt from a licensed veterinarian for vaccination to be done.
(b) At this time, the owner can request that the animal be microchipped by the County Animal Control/Shelter. The cost of the microchip and registration will be at the owner’s expense.
(4) An impoundment fee of $50 shall be charged for any impounded livestock, equine, wild animal, or large exotic animal upon owner claim. The owner will also pay for any, and all, hauling fees and maintenance fees. If the animal is not claimed within three days, the animal can be put up for adoption, or disposed of, in accordance with the law.
(a) Maintenance fees are $20 per day.
(b) A hauling fee of $30 will be charged if the stock trailer is used to move the animal.
(5) A donation of $10 will be requested for the disposal of any owned, deceased animals brought to the County Animal Control/Shelter. Animals that are dead over 24 hours may be refused if the body is in bad condition or if animal is too large (over 200 pounds).
(6) A donation fee of $30 will be requested for the euthanasia of an animal.
(B) Adoption fees.
(1) Adoption fees for animals at the County Animal Control/Shelter shall be as follows:
(a) Mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, small birds, and the like will be $10;
(b) Small exotics animals and farm animals (such as goats and pigs) will be $40;
(c) Large farm animals (not including equine) will be $100;
(d) Equine fees will be placed on the individual animal, and to follow the rules in division (B)(1)(f) below;
(e) Dogs and cats will be $70;
(f) For animals not listed above, a fee will be placed on a case-by-case basis. Fees will be set by the Chief Animal Control Officer and a representative from the State Division of Companion Animal/Equine Office. Fees will be set by using the cost of boarding, veterinarian care, and the like; and
(g) A fee of $5 per day can be charged in addition to the adoption fees to a new owner if a hold has been placed on an animal, and he or she asks if the County Animal Control/Shelter can hold onto the animal past the 24-hour waiting period, and the animal remains in the County Animal Control/Shelter. This can only be done if there is room at the County Animal Control/Shelter to house the animal.
(2) All animals adopted that can be surgically rendered incapable of reproduction will be (such as dogs, cats, and male horses). The cost will be at the new owner’s expense. Failure to have this done will result in a chapter violation (see § 91.99). Some cases will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. All adopted animals that can be, will be microchipped (for example, dogs, cats, and equine). The cost of the microchip and registration to be at the owner’s expense, paid by a money order at the time of the adoption, and is mailed out by the Animal Control.
(a) Adopted animals that are age 12 weeks or older, for which there is an approved vaccine, will have to have a current rabies vaccination, or proof of prepaid vaccination to be given within four days after adoption.
(b) Animals that are adopted will have to have a current distemper vaccination, or proof of prepaid vaccination to be given within four days after adoption.
(3) A person who signs the adoption paperwork adopting an animal cannot give the animal to a different owner before the animal is spayed or neutered and vaccinated in accordance with the adoption contract. If the animal is given away before that time, it will be a violation of this chapter. The original adopters are the ones that are responsible for the animals.
(4) No animal shall be euthanized until after its required holding time has expired unless, in the judgment of the County Animal Control/Shelter or its agents, an animal should be destroyed for humane reasons, or for sickness. At no time will the lives of healthy, adoptable animals be jeopardized solely to comply with the three-day waiting period by housing animals exhibiting signs of any infectious diseases.
(5) The County Board of Commissioners may waive the aforementioned fees in division (B)(1) above for a specific adoption event conducted for a limited duration upon recommendation by the direct of the Animal Shelter.
(6) The County Board of Commissioners may approve the County Animal Control Advisory Group, the County Humane Society, or a similar organization to assist the County Animal Control Department in evaluating the quality of a rescue group before a rescue group receives any animals from the County Animal Control/Shelter under this division (B).
(a) If the County Board of Commissioners does not approve an organization form to assist in the evaluation of rescue groups, the provisions of this division (B), including the waiver of fees, are not applicable. Any rescue group interested in receiving animals from the shelter will complete an application provided by the County Animal Control. After an application has been submitted and the rescue group is approved, the approved rescue group may receive animals from the shelter, and the adoption fees will be waived.
(b) The County Animal Control will place a microchip in animals given to the rescue groups, and the rescue group will be required to register the microchip. There will be no charge for the placement of the microchip.
(Ord. 2000-30, passed 12-26-2000; Ord. 2006-16, passed 7-18-2006; Ord. 2012-20, passed - -; Ord. 2014-10, passed 2-11-2014)