All animals found running-at-large shall be taken up by the animal warden or law enforcement officer, at his or her discretion, and impounded in the county animal shelter. Animals impounded and not claimed by their owners at the expiration of 3 days may be destroyed. When animals are found running- at-large, and their ownership is known to the animal warden or law enforcement officer, the animals need not be impounded, but the animal warden or law enforcement officer may at his or her discretion, cite the owners of the animals to appear in court to answer charges of violations of this section. Should the animal warden or law enforcement officer know the identity of the owner of any animal he or she has caused to be impounded, he or she may notify the owner and inform him or her of the conditions whereby he or she may regain possession of the animal.
(1992 Code, § 2-1-5) (Ord. 44A, § 1.0102, passed 2-18-1987; Am. Ord. passed 7-18-2012)
Statutory reference:
Authority, see SDCL §§ 9-29-12, 9-29-3