(A) (1) An animal surrendered by its owner to the Animal Control Officer and not reclaimed by its owner, adopted or rescued by a humane or breed rescue organization, may be kept or otherwise humanely disposed of, in the reasonable exercise of discretion of the Animal Control Officer, but consistent with the provisions of the county’s Humane Society regarding the capture, surrender, impoundment, adoption, sale and destruction of animals.
(2) No owner-surrendered animal shall be humanely disposed of, while there is sufficient room in the kennel to reasonably house such animal at the animal care and control shelter; provided, however, that, empty spaces for animals shall exist for the purposes of moving animals during cleaning.
(B) (1) An animal impounded under this section which is not claimed by its owner shall be confined by the Department of Public Health and Safety in a humane manner for a period after capture of not less than four days.
(2) An animal not claimed within the four-day impoundment period may be kept or otherwise humanely disposed of, in the reasonable exercise of discretion of the Animal Control Officer, but consistent with the provisions of the county’s Humane Society regarding the capture, surrender, impoundment, adoption, sale and destruction of animals.
(3) Even after the expiration of the four-day impoundment period, no animal shall be humanely disposed of, while there is sufficient room in the kennel to reasonably house such animal at the animal care and control shelter; provided, however, that, empty spaces for animals shall exist for the purposes of moving animals during cleaning.
(C) Following the four-day impoundment period, a person other than the animal’s owner or a member of the owner’s family who wishes to adopt an impounded animal which has not been claimed, and which is otherwise available for adoption, may adopt the animal. It is declared that the adoption of as many animals as possible is the priority of the Department of Public Health and Safety. Such person wishing to adopt an animal from the animal control shelter shall pay to the city an adoption fee of $50 to cover the enforcement authorities expenses, including all expenses of vaccinations, identification and impoundment.
(D) A person who wishes to adopt an animal that has been impounded under this chapter or is otherwise available for adoption, that has not been spayed or neutered, must have the animal sterilized at that person’s expense prior to the adoption.
(1994 Code, § 91.58) (Ord. 07-07, passed 11-13-2007)