(A) Any dog without a proper and current registration tag as ordained in § 90.25, or any dog which is running unrestrained as described in § 90.29, or any dog which has committed any one or more of the nuisances defined in § 90.28, may be taken up and impounded at any time by those persons officially appointed to serve as dog wardens by the Madison County Fiscal Court or by any peace officers of this city, county or state; or the owner, custodian or possessor of such dog may be cited to appear in court to answer to charges of violation of this subchapter and shall be subject to the penalties stipulated in this chapter.
(B) For the purpose of discharging the duties imposed by this subchapter and to enforce its provisions, any dog warden who has been appointed as a peace officer or any dog warden when accompanied by a peace officer is empowered to enter upon the premises on which the dog is kept or harbored to request the exhibition of such dog and to take it for impounding.
(C) It shall be the duty of all peace officers within the county and its urban areas to support and aid the dog wardens in their duties if called upon, and this shall include the issuing of a summons to the keeper, harborer or owner of any dog whether licensed or unlicensed, which has been permitted to be a public nuisance as defined in § 90.28, or at large as in § 90.29.
(D) Impoundment shall be at the Madison County Animal Shelter, or any other place which meets the specifications of the humane society and which is officially designated by the City of Richmond.
(E) Immediately upon impounding a dog, the dog warden shall make every possible effort to notify the owners of such dog so impounded and inform the owners of the conditions whereby they may regain custody of such animal.
(F) Dogs shall be confined in a humane manner under the supervision of the Madison County Humane Society.
(G) Unlicensed dogs suffering from injury, infections disease or severe illness shall be destroyed by the dog warden in a humane manner. All other dogs, licensed or unlicensed and which are healthy, may be kept for no less than seven days after pickup, and then, if unclaimed, may be destroyed by the dog warden in a humane manner. All carcasses shall be disposed of according to applicable laws and regulations.
(‘79 Code, § 4-27) (Ord. 76-22, passed 1-4-77; Am. Ord. 78-43, passed 12-19-78; Am. Ord. 20-13, passed 6-16-20)