(A) The Director and all officers of Animal Control shall have the powers of a peace officer for the purpose of enforcing animal control laws or ordinances in the county, if they otherwise qualify as a peace officer under the laws of the commonwealth.
(B) All officers of Animal Control shall comply with KRS 61.300.
(C) Whenever it is necessary for Animal Control to make an inspection in order to perform any duty or enforce any provision of this chapter or any other applicable state statute, they are hereby empowered to enter property at a reasonable time and inspect the premises. Animal Control shall not have the power
to enter enclosed building and structures unless the consent of the owner or occupant of the property is freely given, a search warrant is obtained or such exigent circumstances exist that a warrantless, non-consensual search is required.
(D) All animals, of any age, running at large, as defined in this chapter, and found in the county, may be picked up by Animal Control and impounded in the animal shelter. All animals of any age which have bitten or scratched a human being and which can not be properly quarantined or found not properly quarantined may be picked up by Animal Control and impounded in the animal shelter for any applicable quarantine period. A law enforcement officer or Animal Control Officer may order any animal which has bitten or scratched a human being to be quarantined at the animal shelter if the officer has reason to believe such animal is vicious or may pose a threat to the safety of the community. In the event an animal is impounded for a quarantine period, the owner shall be responsible for a reasonable fee for board, administration and medical attention during the impoundment.
(1) Fee required of any owner or person for first-time animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day |
Dog license fee | $10 (if not currently licensed) |
Impoundment fee | $30 per incident |
(2) Fee required of any owner or person for each subsequent animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day |
Dog license fee | $20 (if not currently licensed) |
Impoundment fee | $60 per incident |
(E) Any animal required to be licensed, but found unlicensed, or any animal, except cats, whose owner is unknown, shall be impounded until its owner claims it. Subject to KRS Chapter 258, the polices of the county, and the policies of the animal shelter, if the animal is not claimed by its owner, the animal may then be offered for adoption or may be euthanized at the discretion of the Director of Animal Control, Animal Shelter Director and veterinarian. Any person claiming or reclaiming an animal pursuant to this section shall pay a reasonable fee for board, administration and medical attention for the animal during impoundment and obtain proper licensing for such animal, if applicable, from Animal Control.
(1) Fee required of any owner or person for first-time animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day |
Dog license fee | $10 (if not currently licensed) |
Impoundment fee | $30 per incident |
(2) Fee required of any owner or person for each subsequent animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day |
Dog license fee | $20 (if not currently licensed) |
Impoundment fee | $60 per incident |
(F) Any cat impounded by Animal Control shall be held at the animal shelter until claimed by its owner, the animal may then be offered for adoption or may be euthanized at the discretion of the Director of Animal Control, Animal Shelter Director and veterinarian. Any person claiming or reclaiming an animal pursuant to this section shall pay a reasonable fee for boarding, administration and medical attention for such animal during impoundment.
(G) When any licensed animal is impounded in the animal shelter, Animal Control shall notify the owner of the impoundment. The animal shall be held a minimum of seven days from the date of impoundment, before the animal may be adopted or euthanized at the discretion of the Director of Animal Control, Animal Shelter Director and veterinarian.
(1) Fee required of any owner or person for first-time animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day (or fraction thereof) |
Impoundment fee | $30 per incident |
(2) Fee required of any owner or person for each subsequent animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day |
Impoundment fee | $60 per incident |
(H) Any dog found by Animal Control not bearing a valid rabies tag shall be impounded. Subject to the polices of the county and the animal shelter, if the dog is not claimed by its owner, the animal may then be offered for adoption or may be euthanized at the discretion of the Director of Animal Control, Animal Shelter Director and veterinarian.
(1) Fee required of any owner or person for first-time animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day |
Dog license fee | $10 |
Impoundment fee | $30 per incident |
(2) Fee required of any owner or person for each subsequent animal impoundment.
Boarding fee | $8 per animal per day |
Dog license fee | $20 |
Impoundment fee | $60 per incident |
(I) An Animal Control Officer may choose to issue a misdemeanor notice in lieu of a uniform citation. The misdemeanor notice will stipulate the violations observed, associated fee and compliance date. The misdemeanor notice shall allow up to, but not exceed, seven days to correct certain violations. Should the violation not be corrected and/or fees paid within the allotted time, then the notice shall serve as a uniform citation and the violating party shall report to County District Court at the designated court date and time.
(J) Any animal observed by a law enforcement officer or Animal Control Officer to be in immediate danger may be removed from such situation by the quickest and most reasonable means available.
(K) In the event that any law enforcement officer or Animal Control Officer witnesses a vicious animal, as defined, the animal may be impounded and the owner cited for violation of this chapter. If the owner is cited and the animal impounded, the animal shall remain in the custody of the animal shelter pending a decision by District Court, unless ownership is voluntarily relinquished to Animal Control.
(L) It shall be unlawful for any person or owner to interfere with, hinder, harass or abuse any officer or individual authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(M) Unless otherwise provided by this chapter, Animal Control Officers may impound any animal(s) found to be in violation of any part of this chapter. All animals shall be held a minimum of seven days at the animal shelter, unless redeemed by their owner and the impounding officer or the Director of Animal Control authorizes its release. After seven days, Animal Control may release the animal(s) for adoption or euthanasia.
(N) If a person has been charged with possessing a vicious animal, inhumane treatment of an animal, cruelty to an animal or a similar charge, Animal Control Officers or law enforcement officers are authorized to impound all animals or livestock related to the charge. The animal(s) shall be held pending a decision by the District Court unless the animal(s) are voluntarily surrendered to Animal Control. Animal Control may then offer the animals for adoption, release them to the animal shelter, sell the animals at public auction, or otherwise arrange for their final disposition in a manner that is in the interest of the county.
(O) Upon first warning of a violation, the Animal Control Officer shall issue to the owner a summary of the county animal control ordinance.
(Ord. 2013-2, passed 5-28-2013) Penalty, see § 50.99