Any animal may be redeemed from the animal shelter by the owner or their designated person within the time stated in this chapter by payment to a staff member of the Animal Control Department.
(A) Redemption fees.
(1) First offense.
(a) The animal is implanted with a microchip and redeemed within 24 hours of impoundment will result in a fee of $0.
(b) The animal is not implanted with a microchip and redeemed within 24 hours of impoundment will result in a fee of $10 for a microchip implant.
(c) The animal is redeemed within 48 hours of impoundment will result in a fee of $25 in addition to a $10 microchip implant fee if applicable.
(d) Each additional 24 hour period following 48 hours will result in a $5 fee in addition to the above fees.
(2) Second offense.
(a) The animal is redeemed within 24 hours will result in a fee of $50.
(b) Each additional 24 hour period following 24 hours will result in a $5 fee in addition to the above fee.
(3) Third offense.
(a) The animal is redeemed within 24 hours will result in a fee of $75.
(b) Each additional 24 hour period following 24 hours will result in a $5 fee in addition to the above fee.
(4) Fourth offense. The animal becomes the property of the animal shelter and will not be returned to the owner.
(B) If the animal required veterinarian care or other additional costs, the owner will be required to pay the costs incurred by the shelter.
(C) Owners are required to produce an unexpired rabies certificate with a veterinarian signature if over the age of four months and veterinarian record of current disease prevention vaccination, such as DA2PP, DHLP, or FVRCP, within seven days of redemption.
(D) Redemption fees renew after 12 consecutive months.
(E) If the owner is identified, but does not redeem or properly surrender the animal, the agent of the Animal Control Department can issue a citation in the maximum appropriate amount for the applicable redemption offense not to exceed the applicable hold period and citation offense as provided in § 130.99, Penalty, and any additional costs incurred by the shelter deemed necessary during impoundment (i.e. first offense redemption of $40 for a three-day hold plus first citation offense of $25 plus flea treatment of $5).
(F) No owner will be allowed to redeem their animal until all assessed fees are paid to a staff member of the Animal Control Department.
(G) An owner/harbor may redeem their animal past the applicable hold period if the animal is available for adoption and if they pay all assessed fees, including the applicable redemption offense, adoption fee, and any veterinarian care or additional costs incurred by the shelter. At the discretion of the Director, the owner/harbor may be exempt from the fee of $5 for each day the animal was in care past the applicable hold period.
(Ord. 1997-5, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 2007-11, passed 8-7-2007; Am. Ord. 2013-1, passed 1-2-2013; Am. Ord. 2019-03, passed 4-2-2019)