(A) Upon reasonable belief that an animal, commonly classified as a pet, is not being provided with adequate food, water, exercise, shelter, and a sanitary living space, or is being cruelly treated, the A.C. Officer may impound the animal, and proceed as provided herein.
(B) The A.C. Officer may capture and impound animals left vulnerable due to, without limitation, natural disasters, household fires, a vehicle accident, left unattended in a hot vehicle, and abandonment.
(C) After impounding any animal, it shall be the duty of the A.C. Officer/S. Worker to enter upon the records of the County Animal Control Shelter, in a file to be kept by the A.C. Officer/S. Worker for such purposes, the date of impounding, a description of the animal impounded with a photo, if possible, and a description of the circumstances that led to said impoundment.
(D) Public notice of the impounding of all animals shall be given by posting one copy of such notice at the County Animal Control Shelter. Within two days of impoundment, it will also be the duty of the A.C. Officer/S. Worker to cause notice of impoundment to be served to the owner by telephone or first class mail, if the owner is known. Any such animal not reclaimed by the owner thereof within seven calendar days after impoundment becomes the legal property of the county, and may be euthanized or made available for adoption.
(E) The owner of any animal impounded may reclaim the same by meeting the following requirements.
(1) Any impounded animal, admitted under § 91.02(A) or (B), may be reclaimed if the owner provides documentation that the animal is his or hers, and pays a shelter reclaim fee. The owner must also pay all veterinarian fees and other necessary expenses incurred at the shelter for proper upkeep and safety of the animal.
(2) The reclaim fee of an impounded animal will double on the second offense of the same animal. Fees for subsequent impoundments of the same pet will remain the same as the second offense.
(F) Reclaiming fees and adoption fees collected at the shelter shall go into the County General Fund.
(G) Fees paid for vaccination and spay/neuter services will go to the performing veterinarian.
(H) Other donations received by the County Animal Control Board shall be deposited into a separate, non-reverting Animal Control Fund maintained by the County Auditor.
(I) Adoption of any unclaimed animal from the County Animal Control Shelter shall be handled by the A.C. Officer/S. Worker, and can occur on the eighth calendar day of impoundment.
(J) Any pet being adopted must be spayed/neutered and vaccinated for rabies prior to release.
(K) Qualified rescue groups having Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) tax exempt status may remove animals from the animal shelter with the intent of adopting them through their organization. Such animals require only a rabies vaccination prior to leaving the facility. A health certificate can be provided upon request.
(L) If an animal is admitted to the animal shelter with a serious physical injury or illness, it may be euthanized immediately.
(Ord. 2018-04, passed 6-5-2018)