(A) Any domesticated or exotic animal that is found to be unowned or to be in violation of any provision of this chapter is subject to immediate impoundment if the animal's owner is nonexistent, unknown, or found to be unavailable after a reasonable attempt to identify, locate and/or notify the animal's owner has been made. Any animal that is so impounded shall be held by the Bureau for three working days, excluding the day of impoundment.
(B) If the owner of the animal appears during the three-day holding period, the owner may redeem the animal by paying the applicable impoundment and boarding fee, any and all outstanding civil citations that may have been issued pursuant to a violation of this chapter, and also by bringing the animal into full compliance with all provisions of this chapter and any applicable state law. The animal shall not be released to the owner until the owner has fully complied with the above requirements. The owner shall have ten calendar days from when he or she first appears and claims the animal in which to accomplish this compliance and redeem the animal. The owner shall be responsible for a boarding fee for the entire time the animal is held by the Bureau. Failure to do so shall result in the forfeiture of the animal to the Bureau. The Bureau Manager may grant a time extension to any owner actively attempting to redeem his or her animal.
(C) Any animal for which no owner appears within the three-day holding period shall be deemed abandoned and shall be forfeited to the Bureau.
(D) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Bureau from seizing and/or forfeiting an impounded animal pursuant to any other provision of this chapter or state law.
(Ord. 2005-02, passed - -2005)