(A) Unrestrained animals shall be confiscated by a law enforcement officer or the animal control officer and impounded in an animal shelter and there confined in humane manner.
(B) Unless a dog or animal is reasonably believed to be vicious or has been impounded pursuant to § 94.51 the dog or animal shall be released to the owner or the owner’s agent anytime during the 5-working day period immediately succeeding the impoundment, provided costs and fees entailed in this procedure have been paid.
(C) If by a license tag or other means, the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the animal control officer shall immediately upon impoundment notify the owner by telephone or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(D) An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay all costs and expenses incurred for each day the animal has been impounded.
(E) Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within 5 working days of impoundment or within 5 working days of any court proceeding regarding same or within 5 days of receipt of notice by certified mail, whichever is later, shall become the property of the local government authority, or humane society, and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or humanely euthanized.
(F) In addition to, or in lieu of, impounding an animal found at large, the Animal Control Officer, Humane Officer, or police officer may return the animal to the known owner and issue to the known owner of the animal a notice of ordinance violation and may institute proceedings in district court to subject the owner to the penalties described in this chapter.
(G) The Police Department or Animal Control Officer shall maintain a complete record of all dogs impounded under the provisions of this chapter and the disposition of same.
(H) In addition to the above described provisions, the police officer or Animal Control Officer may petition the District Court for a show cause hearing to have the animal destroyed as set forth in M.C.L.A. § 287.286(a).
(Prior Code, § 6-19) (Ord. 91-8, passed 10-7-1991)