A. Authority To Impound: It shall be the duty of every animal control officer or other dog enforcement officers to impound any dog which is not wearing a dog tag as herein provided and any dog which they reasonably feel to be in violation of any of the provisions of this article, whether such dog is wearing a tag or not. It shall be lawful for any animal control officer or other dog enforcement officer to go upon private property for the purpose of catching any dog to be impounded. (Ord. 162, 4-7-1986)
B. Dog Pound: The town may contract with the owners or managers of a qualified kennel or pound located in the vicinity of the town to house the dogs which the town may impound pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. In the event of such impoundment, any owner of such impounded dog upon taking action to redeem such dog, shall be responsible for the costs of such impoundment, including the cost incurred by the town in impounding the dog at such kennel or pound, the cost of food or medical care given to the dog while at the kennel or pound, and the cost incurred by the town in transporting the dog to the kennel or pound. Such costs shall be paid by the owner to the town prior to the dog being released to the owner. (Res. 88-1998, 10-10-1998)
C. Court Proceedings: If a dog is impounded, it shall be the duty of an animal control officer or other dog enforcement officer immediately to institute proceedings in the municipal court on behalf of the town against the owner, possessor or keeper of such dog, if known, charging the owner, possessor or keeper with a violation of the appropriate section of this article. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing the animal control officer from instituting a proceeding in the municipal court for violation of this article where there is no impoundment.
D. Notice Of Impoundment: Not later than two (2) days after impoundment, the animal control officer shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous place at the town hall for three (3) consecutive days, a notice of impoundment. The notice posted shall describe the dog, set forth the date of impoundment and set forth the location from which the dog was taken up. In case of impoundment of a dog wearing the tag described in subsection 4-1A-2E of this article, the animal control officer shall also use other reasonable means in a diligent effort to notify the owner, possessor or keeper of said dog.
E. Redemption Of Impounded Dog; Fees:
1. If a complaint has been filed in the municipal court of the town against the owner, possessor or keeper of any impounded dog for a violation of this article, then such dog shall not be released from impoundment except when requirements of this article are met. In addition to any penalties which may be provided for in this article for violation hereof, the animal control officer shall require such owner, possessor or keeper to pay the fees herein provided for in subsection E2 of this section. The dog will not be released until all regulations are met. (Ord. 162, 4-7-1986)
2. Any owner, possessor or keeper of a dog desiring to redeem such dog from the kennel or pound in which the town has boarded the dog, shall pay the town the sum of twenty dollars ($20.00) as an impoundment fee together with all costs incurred by the town concerning the impoundment of the dog as set forth in subsection B of this section. (Res. 88-1998, 10-10-1998)
F. Disposal Of Unredeemed Dogs: If a complaint has not been filed in municipal court because the owner, possessor or keeper of an impounded dog is not known or cannot be located and such dog has not been claimed within five (5) days for an untagged dog and fourteen (14) days for a tagged dog from the date of impoundment not counting the first day of impoundment, the dog may be disposed of in any humane manner prescribed by the animal control officer's office, or by persons so authorized to do so by the mayor; provided, however, that in the case of a dog wearing a tag as described in subsection 4-1A-2E of this article when impounded, it may be disposed of only after fourteen (14) days of impoundment, not counting the first day of impoundment and upon the animal control officer's certification of the diligent effort to notify the owner, possessor or keeper of the dog of its impoundment and that same has been unsuccessful. (Ord. 162, 4-7-1986; amd. Ord. 319, 8-11-2020)