(a) As soon as practicable after an impoundment of a dog or cat or other pet animal is known, reasonable attempts shall be made by the Animal Services Division to notify the owner. Any impounded dog or cat or pet animal may be redeemed by the payment of any applicable fees, including wihtout limitation, if applicalbe, a microchipping fee, veterinary charges, if any, and rabies vaccination fee if the animal was unvaccinated at the time of impoundment. If such animal is not redeemed within 72 hours of its impoundment, it shall be the sole property of the City of Longview as provided in Section 13-4 of this chapter. Any impounded animal which appears to be seriously ill, injured, or visibly affected with any sign of communicable disease or to be a risk to other animals in the animal shelter before the end of the 72 hour waiting period, may be humanely euthanized.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any animal from the animal shelter without the consent of the manager of the animal shelter.
(c) An individual may adopt a dog or cat from the animal shelter under such terms and conditions as shall be established and approved by the city, this chapter, and the Animal Services Division.
(d) Any veterinary procedure, testing, or treatment for any animal in the custody of the animal control authority, shall be the expense of the owner or person maintaining the animal.
(e) When a person reclaims a dog or cat that has been impounded for running at large, and the dog or cat is intact, the person shall provide proof of sterilization of the dog or cat to the Animal Services Division within 14 calendar days of reclaiming the animal. If such proof is not provided within 14 calendar days, the person reclaiming the dog or cat shall be fined in accordance with Section 1-4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Longview, with the minimum fine being $250.00. When a person reclaims a dog or cat that has been impounded for running at large on more than three occassions, the Animal Services Division is authorized to sterilize the animal, and the person reclaiming the animal shall be required to pay, in addition to any other applicable fees and fines, the cost of sterilizing the animal.
(f) Immediately upon intake, the Animal Services Division is authorized to provide each appropriately aged impounded animal with core immunizations as defined by the Association of Shelter Veterinarian guidelines. Said immunizations shall be performed by a licensed veterinarian or by a person under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(g) Immediately upon intake, the Animal Services Division is authorized to provide or obtain for each impounded animal such treatment as a licensed veterinarian determines is appropriate for the animal.
(h) The Animal Services Division is authorized to implant an identification microchip in any impounded animal and in any animal determined to be a fierce or dangerous dog in accordance with Article V of this chapter.
(i) The Animal Services Division is authorized to collect such fees as may be authorized by resolution of the City Council or by such interlocal agreements as may be approved by the Longview City Council. In extenuating circumstances the City Manger or the manager of the Animal Services Division may waive a fee assessed against an owner reclaiming an impounded animal or for adoptions or rescues. Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to, circumstances in which the animal is unruly, infirm, sick, aged, eight weeks of age or younger, or sterile before impoundment.
(j) The Animal Services Division is authorized to act on behalf of the City of Longview with regard to any animal owned by the City of Longview and housed in the animal shelter. Accordingly, the Animal Services Division is authorized to sterilize such animals, implant identification microchips in such animals, obtain immunizations and medical treatment for such animals, euthanize such animals, and otherwise care for and dispose of such animals on behalf of the City of Longview.
(Ord. No. 3141, § 3, 8-8-02; Ord. No. 3728, 11-11-10; Ord. No. 4054, § 6, 5-24-16)