(A) Domestic animals found to be running at large may be considered a stray and taken by an agent of the Animal Control Department and/or Police Department and impounded at the animal shelter. Community cats shall not be considered stray or at large. The domestic animal shall be impounded for a period of three days or until such time is claimed by the owner thereof, whichever comes first. Healthy free-roaming cats eligible for a community cat program do not have to be held for three days if they can be sterilized and returned to where they were found in a timely manner.
(B) All reasonable effort will be made to locate owners, harborers, or community cat providers of any animal within the appropriate time period. Redemption fees and release requirements will be applicable as stated in § 91.10 Redemption and Release.
(C) In the event an animal is found running at large and to be irremediably suffering from injury or illness and an owner/harborer/community cat provider is unable to be located/contacted in a timely fashion, the animal may be euthanized by injection to the applicable hold period end date.
(1) The Director or the assigned staff member to act on the Director's behalf when not reachable will make the ultimate decision after verifying the condition of the animal and all possible options to identify an owner have been exhausted.
(2) The animal will be thoroughly documented, including photos from multiple angles, and held for a minimum of five days before disposal.
(3) The owner will be responsible for the applicable fees listed under § 91.04 Owner Requested Euthanasia.
(Ord. 1997-5, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 2015-19, passed 12-15-2015; Am. Ord. 2019-03, passed 4- 2-2019; Am. Ord. 2023-06, passed 7-3-2023)