A domestic animal impounded by Animal Control for any reason including, but not limited to, being a stray or at large animal shall be returned to the lawful owner, placed for adoption, or humanely destroyed and disposed of in accordance with applicable law.
(A) Reclamation by and return to owner.
(1) Animal Control shall undertake reasonable steps to locate the owner of any impounded domestic animal with apparent sign of ownership, such as an identification tag, animal license tag, rabies tag, tattoo, and/or microchip.
(2) An impounded domestic animal shall not be returned to the owner until each of the following is met:
(a) Proof of ownership;
(b) The owner making payment of all fees established under this chapter and imposed by Animal Control;
(c) The owner obtaining all licenses;
(d) The owner providing proof of rabies vaccination (where applicable) or proof of prepayment of vaccination fees and licensing; and
(e) The animal being identified by a rabies tag denoting ownership.
(B) Impounded domestic animal to become property of Animal Control. An impounded domestic animal shall become the property of Animal Control if unclaimed:
(1) After being held ten working days for an animal with apparent sign of ownership, such as an identification tag, animal license tag, rabies tag, tattoo, and/or microchip.
(2) After being held three working days for an animal with no apparent sign of ownership.
(C) Unclaimed animals. Unclaimed animals becoming the property of Animal Control shall be placed for adoption or humanely destroyed.
(D) Adoption.
(1) A person who adopts a domestic animal shall have the animal examined and vaccinated in accordance with law by a licensed veterinarian within three working days after adoption.
(2) A domestic animal examined by a licensed veterinarian within three working days and found to be in poor or ill health by the veterinarian may be returned to Animal Control with full exchange privileges.
(E) Humane destruction.
(1) Euthanasia of an animal shall be accomplished by drugs approved as humane, as legalized by state law and shall be administered by the Director, by licensed veterinarians, by supervised veterinary technicians, or by euthanasia technicians.
(2) Any injured or unhealthy impounded animal may be euthanized when the act is, in the judgment of the Director, the humane action.
(Ord. 1280C, passed 10-10-2006)