(A) No person shall abandon any animal. Abandonment consists of leaving an animal for a period in excess of 24 hours, without providing and checking on the animal’s condition, or failure to contact Animal Control if a request to contact is left on the property where the animal is. No owner shall leave an animal by a roadside or other area, or leave such animal on either public or private property, without the property owner’s consent. In the event that an animal is found so abandoned, such animal may be taken by an Animal Control Officer and impounded and confined in a humane manner. Such animal, if taken from private property, shall be kept for not less than the prescribed period in accordance with the procedures set forth in section § 91.26. When a caregiver is mandated by the owner of such and the animal is so abandoned, the caregiver may be subject to a citation for violation of this section and all fees associated with the impoundment, care, and treatment of the animal.
(B) Any Animal Control Officer is authorized to impound such animal if the Animal Control Officer deems that the condition of the animal requires immediate care or veterinary treatment and/or upon finding reasonable suspicion of abandonment and/or believe such animal needs to be removed for humane reasons. The Animal Control Officer is authorized to go on and about private property to investigate any abandonment to establish or not reasonable suspicion of abandonment.
(Ord. 12-24, passed 11-15-12) Penalty, see § 91.99