(a) Fees shall be charged and collected by the Department for dog licensing and for other animal control services and enforcement, as provided in the fee schedule in section 364.8 of the Code of Administrative Ordinances. Such fees shall be collected by County personnel or deputized personnel and deposited in the County treasury.
The owner of any animal which is lawfully impounded shall pay all fees and expenses related to such impoundment including, but not limited to, impound, board, vaccination, examination, and any medical treatment fees for the animal, whether or not the animal is claimed.
(b) Fees shall be paid when due unless the Director, in accordance with Department policy, authorizes a payment arrangement or waives such fees in full or in part.
Specified fees may be deferred subject to the conditions of the Department policy, if the owner claims an economic hardship or the lack of ability to pay the fees when due, provides satisfactory evidence of personal identification, and agrees to pay the fees within a thirty (30) day period.
An owner claiming an economic hardship in paying the fees may submit an application for waiver on forms provided by the Department. The forms shall be executed under penalty of perjury and contain a declaration as to the truthfulness and correctness of the information contained therein. Upon submittal of the completed forms, the fees may be waived if no disqualifying conditions, as set forth in the Department policy, exist. The Department may also waive fees if necessary in order to accomplish the protection of animal or public health, safety or welfare or if the owner provides satisfactory evidence that he/she was not at fault for the violation or incident which led to the Department action and that such action was not justified.
(Added by Ord. No. 10612 (N.S.), effective 7-4-19)