(A) If a person has been charged with possessing or owning a vicious animal, inhumane treatment of an animal, or cruelty to an animal, 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 animal(s) for adoption, release them to the Animal Shelter, sell the animal(s) at public auction, humanely euthanize the animal(s), or otherwise arrange for their final disposition in a manner that is in the interest of the county and is approved by the County Administrator.
(B) Unrestrained animals, excluding community cats, may be taken by the ACO or police, and impounded in the Animal Shelter and confined in a safe and humane manner. However, if after a reasonable effort the seizure of any such unrestrained animal cannot be made or should the animal present a hazard to the public safety or property, or have an injury or physical condition that causes the animal to suffer, the ACO or police may immediately destroy the animal by the most reasonable and expedient means then available. All impounded dogs not currently microchipped, shall be microchipped upon intake. Impounded unrestrained animals, excluding community cats, shall be kept for not less than five days, unless reclaimed by owners. If the owner can be identified by means of a license tag or otherwise, the impounding agency shall notify the owner, by the most expedient means available, of the impoundment of the animal. Unrestrained animals not claimed within five days of their impoundment or of notice to their owner, and not placed in suitable new homes after such time, may be humanely euthanized by the agency. However, if an impounded animal has an injury or physical condition, or aggression, which causes the animal to suffer or endangers the kennel, then the ACO or its agent may immediately euthanize the animal.
(C) Every owner reclaiming an impounded animal which is subject to the terms of this subchapter shall pay a fee per the fines and fee schedule of the County Animal Control.
(D) Proof of vaccination against rabies for dogs and cats, and current license for dogs, shall be required before any dog or owned cat is released. If an animal is unvaccinated, then the owner must have the animal vaccinated within two weeks by a veterinarian, and duly licensed if a dog.
(E) Any animal, excluding wildlife, which has bitten or scratched someone with its teeth shall be quarantined for ten days from the time of the bite. Any owner who fails to properly quarantine their animal is subject to criminal complaint for violation of this section, and the animal shall be removed to the Animal Shelter for the remainder of its quarantine period. The owner of the animal shall be responsible for the quarantine fee per the fines and fees schedule of the County Animal Control. An owner who is unavailable or incapable of quarantining the animal may have their animal taken by the ACO and quarantined at the Animal Shelter for the prescribed period at the owner's expense and shall be responsible for the quarantine fee per the fines and fees schedule of the County Animal Control.
(Ord. KOC 04-840-184, passed 11-2-2004; Ord. KOC 12-840-138, passed 9-4-2012; Ord. KOC 19-840-504, passed 5-7-2019)