(a) Subject to constitution or statutory restrictions governing search and seizure:
(1) The animal control officer 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 control officer may take up and impound any animal found to be creating a serious and imminent risk of physical harm to a person.
(3) If a person is subject to arrest while an animal is in his or her custody, the animal control officer may impound each 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 control officer, subject to the specific restrictions of the Ohio Revised Code.
(c) With respect to animals that have been impounded, the animal control officer shall proceed as follows:
(1) If the animal has been licensed or registered and can be so identified, or if the owner, keeper or harborer of the animal is otherwise known by the animal control officer, the animal control officer shall attempt to contact the owner via telephone call, if possible. If such an attempt is unsuccessful, the animal control officer shall give written notice, by certified mail or in person, to such owner, 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 control officer 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, keeper or harborer of an impounded dog or cat is not known to the animal control officer, 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 of the dog or cat for three days.
(3) Any dog or cat, the owner, keeper or harborer which is not known to the animal control officer will be kept for three days (three working days), exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from the date of impoundment.
(4) When an animal is impounded, it shall be provided with proper and sufficient water and food.
(d) Animals which have not been claimed and redeemed within the time periods established in division (e) of this section may be offered for adoption to any interested person who agrees to enter into an adoption agreement on a first-come, first-serve basis. A person who enters into an adoption agreement may also be subject to forfeiture of the animal for any violation of the agreement or any violations of this chapter.
(e) In order to claim and redeem any impounded animal, the owner, keeper or harborer thereof shall submit to the animal control officer proof of ownership.
Further, as a condition of release, the owner, keeper or harborer shall obtain a valid license, if applicable, and pay all fees appurtenant thereto. Finally, as a condition of release, the owner, keeper or harborer shall pay all fees and costs accrued in connection with the impoundment.
(f) The following fees and costs shall accrue incident to impoundment of animals:
(1) For seizing and impounding an animal: $25.00;
(2) For housing and feeding, per day: $10.00;
(3) For adoption of an impounded animal: $80.00;
(4) For certified mail service of notice: Actual cost.
(g) Fees and costs associated with impoundment shall double with repeat impoundment for violations of this chapter, not to exceed $200.
(Ord. 2019-3. Passed 2-11-19.)