(a) Unlicensed Dogs. The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded unlicensed dog upon payment of the at-large penalties or the impoundment penalties, or both, and the daily board fees and compliance with the rabies vaccination and licensing requirements provided that application for such possession, with payment of required penalties and fees, is made within seventy-two hours after impoundment.
(b) Licensed Dogs. The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded licensed dog upon payment of at-large penalties or impoundment penalties, or both, daily board fees and compliance with rabies vaccination requirements provided that application for such possession, with payment of all required penalties and fees, is made within ten days after impoundment and notice thereof pursuant to the requirements of the Dog Law of 1982.
(c) Adoption Authorized. If the Animal Control Officer, Manager, or their duly authorized representative determines that any unclaimed dog is reasonably healthy, currently vaccinated, and should not constitute a threat to the public health or welfare of the Shenango Valley, the dog shall be placed up for adoption.
(d) Injured or Ill Animals. Any animal detained and/or impounded and suffering from serious injuries, in great pain with probability of recover remote, or having a communicable or infectious disease which would endanger the health of people or other animals may be destroyed in a humane manner. An animal shall be destroyed only as a last resort, and only after determining that no reasonable alternative measure is possible.
(e) Written Release. Any licensed dog may be placed for adoption any time within ten days from date of impoundment if, upon notification of impoundment of said dog, the owner states that he or she does not wish to redeem the impounded dog and subsequently, in writing, releases the dog to the sole jurisdiction of the Board.
(Ord. 13-20. Passed 12-16-2020)