(A) An owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded animal upon the following criteria being met:
(1) The owner of any impounded animal shall be held responsible for all the costs of impoundment including medical treatment and boarding and such costs shall be fully paid prior to the release of the animal. In addition, prior to the release, the owner shall pay for rabies inoculation or provide proof of efficacious rabies vaccination.
(2) The owner must claim the animal within 73 hours after its impoundment.
(3) The owner must show proof that the impounded animal is current with its vaccination and registration requirements. The owner must show proper identification and proof of ownership.
(B) Unclaimed animals. Any animal not claimed by the owner within 73 hours and deemed to be in good health and not to constitute a threat to the public or animal health and safety may be placed up for adoption.
(C) When space considerations make population reduction necessary, any animal left unclaimed may be humanely euthanized as prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas unless there are mitigating circumstances that would warrant the continued holding of the animal.
(D) In the case of diseased, sick, injured or otherwise unhealthy animals impounded under this chapter, other than those infected or thought to be infected by rabies, it shall be unnecessary to wait for the expiration of the impoundment or redemption before disposing of such animals.
(E) Animals may be disposed of under 73 hours from the time of the impoundment if, upon notification of impoundment of the animal, the owner states that he or she does not want to redeem the animal and releases the animal to the sole jurisdiction of the city.
(Ord. 2016-03, passed 3-17-2016; Ord. 2016-03-A1, passed 1-19-2017; Ord. 2016-03-A2, passed - -; Ord. 2016-03-A2, passed 9-19-2019; Ord. 2016-03; A3, passed 7-20-2023)