(a) Subject to constitutional or statutory restrictions governing search and seizure:
(1) The Animal Warden shall take up and impound every animal found in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, in addition to the other applicable penalties for such violation.
(2) The Animal Warden may take up and impound any animal found to be creating a serious and imminent risk of physical harm to any person.
(3) If a person is subject to arrest while an animal is in his or her custody, the Animal Warden may impound such animal.
(b) Any animal that has been impounded, which creates a serious imminent threat to the health or safety of any person or other animal, or which has been so seriously injured or diseased that reasonable veterinary measures are not expected to return the animal to full health, may be immediately and humanely destroyed by the Animal Warden, subject to the specific restrictions of the Ohio Revised Code.
(c) With respect to wild animals under the jurisdiction of the State Division of Wildlife, the Animal Warden is authorized to take up, impound and release such wild animals in compliance with the procedures and restrictions of the Division.
(d) With respect to animals that have been impounded, the Animal Warden shall proceed as follows:
(1) If the animal has been licensed or registered and can be so identified, or if the owner/guardian, keeper or harborer of the animal is otherwise known to the Animal Warden, the Animal Warden shall give written notice, by certified mail or in person, to such owner/guardian, keeper or harborer, of his or her right to claim and redeem the animal. Dogs and cats shall be kept for 14 days from the date of notice.
(2) The Animal Warden shall establish a bulletin board at a location upon City property that is available to public inspection during business hours and shall notify the Clerk of Council of its location. If the owner/guardian, keeper or harborer of an impounded dog or cat is not known to the Animal Warden, he or she shall post a notice at the designated site, describing the animal and the date, time and place where the animal was seized, and advising the unknown owner/guardian that the dog or cat will be kept for 72 hours.
(3) Any dog or cat, the owner/guardian, keeper or harborer of which is not known to the Animal Warden, will be kept for 72 hours (three working days), exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from the date of impoundment.
(e) Animals which have not been claimed and redeemed within the time periods established in division (d) of this section may be offered for adoption to any interest person who agrees to enter into an adoption agreement with the City on a first come-first serve basis, may be transferred to the Animal Protective League, or may be humanely destroyed.
(f) In order to claim and redeem any impounded animal, the owner/guardian, keeper or harborer thereof shall submit the Animal Warden proof of owner/guardianship. Further, as a condition of release, the owner/guardian, keeper or harborer shall obtain a valid license, if applicable, and pay all fees appurtenant thereto. Finally, as a condition of release, the owner/guardian, keeper or harborer shall pay all fees and costs accruing in connection with the impoundment.
(g) (1) The following fees and costs shall accrue incident to the impoundment of animals:
For seizing and impounded an animal | $20.00 |
For housing and feeding, per day | 10.00 |
For certified mail service of notice | 5.00 |
(2) If any such animal cannot be harbored at the Parma Animal Shelter, then the owner/guardian of such animal shall be responsible for all costs of harboring such animal at other facilities.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 157-11. Passed 7-5-11.)