A. It shall be the duty of the Sheriff to seize and impound any and all dogs at large, with or without a collar or harness, and with or without a current license and rabies vaccination tag attached thereto.
B. A Deputy Sheriff or animal control officer who impounds a dog shall make reasonable efforts to notify the owner of the dog's whereabouts. Such notification shall include information concerning requirements for redemption of the dog, including all applicable fees.
C. The owner may redeem the dog by paying an impoundment fee, and a daily care fee for each day that the dog is impounded, as set by resolution of the Board. If the dog is not a licensed dog, the owner should also comply with all of the requirements for the purchase of a dog license before the dog may be redeemed. Any proceeding to contest fees imposed pursuant to this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the procedure for appeals of civil penalties as set forth in section 5.1.113 of this article.
D. Five (5) days after impounding the dog, excluding weekends and holidays, if the owner of the dog has failed to redeem the dog and to pay all amounts due under subsection C of this section, the Sheriff may sell the dog for a price set by resolution of the Board, have the dog destroyed in a humane manner, or otherwise dispose of the dog pursuant to the terms of any contract between the County and a County animal shelter, as defined in this article, then in effect.
E. Injured or diseased animals may be humanely destroyed without regard to the holding time prescribed in this section in order to alleviate suffering or to protect humans or other impounded animals from exposure to a contagious disease. (Ord. 539, 7-16-2019)