(a) The Rabies Control Authority may authorize a pound or pounds or it may enter into a cooperative agreement with a licensed veterinarian for the establishment and operation of a pound.
(b) A dog found off the premises of its owner, keeper or harborer, which dog is not wearing a valid rabies vaccination tag, shall be impounded. Any unvaccinated cat or ferret found off the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer shall be impounded. Each impounded dog shall be kept and maintained at the pound for a minimum of 14 days or until claimed by its owner, keeper, or harborer, whichever occurs first, in those instances where the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog can be determined from the current year's Butler/Warren Counties registration list, and the dog may be sold or destroyed at the end of such fourteen-day period if it is not claimed. Each impounded dog shall be kept and maintained at the pound for a minimum of three days until claimed by its owner, keeper, or harborer, whichever occurs first, and if not so claimed, it may be sold or destroyed.
(c) Notice of impoundment of all animals, including any significant marks of identification, shall be posted at the pound as public notification of impoundment. Any unvaccinated dog, cat, or ferret may be reclaimed by its owner during the period of impoundment by paying the prescribed pound fees and by complying with the rabies vaccination requirements of this chapter within 72 hours of release of the dog, cat, or ferret. Any vaccinated dog, cat, or ferret may be reclaimed by its owner by furnishing proof of rabies vaccination and paying all impoundment fees prior to release of the dog, cat, or ferret.
(d) At the expiration of impoundment, a dog, cat, or ferret may be claimed by paying the established pound fees and by complying with the rabies vaccination requirements of this chapter within 72 hours of release of the dog, cat, or ferret.
(e) Biting dogs, cats, or ferrets shall be administered pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code Regulations 3701-3-28, 29, and 30.
(Ord. 98-003, passed 7-14-1998)