(A) If the person owning, keeping or harboring an animal which has been impounded, notifies the Shelter Keeper within three days of his claim to such animal, the Shelter Keeper shall permit such persons to redeem the animal by paying a shelter fee plus a maintenance fee for each day or fraction thereof during which the animal was impounded; also, in the case of dogs, by paying to the township assessor any license fee due for the current year. If such impounded animal has received medical or surgical attention, the person redeeming such animal shall also pay the cost thereof to the City Clerk-Treasurer who will authorize release to the owner by the Shelter Keeper. Such shelter fees and maintenance fees shall be as established from time to time by the Board of Public Works and Safety.
(B) Any animal, except for licensed dogs, may be redeemed by anyone upon paying to the Shelter Keeper all accrued fees anytime after the three day period as also set forth in division (A), above.
(C) Licensed dogs shall not be redeemed by other than the owner prior to the expiration of three days. The owner shall be liable for the shelter fee and maintenance fee set forth in this subchapter; provided however, that wherever the Shelter Keeper can reasonably determine the owner of an animal, he shall notify such owner, in writing, that he has three days to redeem said animal by paying the accrued shelter and maintenance fees and tax, if any, by depositing such notice in the U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such owner at his last known address certified with return receipt requested.
(D) An animal which appears to be suffering from rabies, mange or other infectious diseases shall not be released, but shall be forthwith destroyed, if it has not bitten anyone. If a dog is suspected of having rabies, or has bitten a person and has not been immunized for rabies, such dog shall be immediately confined by a leash or chain on the owner's premises and shall thereafter be impounded by the city at the expense of the owner for a period of 15 days for observation. Every owner, or other person, upon ascertaining or suspecting a dog is rabid, shall immediately notify the city police who shall either remove the dog for observation or summarily destroy it.
(E) Where the Shelter Keeper is a licensed veterinarian and determines that any impounded animal requires medical and/or surgical or dental treatment he may provide such treatment immediately, and the prior consent of the owner of said animal to said treatment shall not be required.
(F) Except for licensed dogs, any animal which is not redeemed may be destroyed by the Shelter Keeper anytime after the three-day period set forth above.
(G) Licensed dogs which are not redeemed by their owners may be destroyed by the Shelter Keeper anytime after the three-day period set forth above, or upon expiration of the three-day notice to the owner, whichever is later.
(H) The Shelter Keeper may also give any impounded animal away, rather than destroying it, if a suitable home can be found for the animal.
(I) Where the Shelter Keeper is a licensed veterinarian and determines that an impounded animal is incurably ill or injured, or is suffering unduly, he may destroy the animal immediately, and the prior consent of the owner of said animal shall not be required.
('77 Code, § 3-43) (Ord. 318, passed 1-7-75; Am. Ord. 92-8, passed 8-3-92)