(A) Redemption period. Any animal, including livestock, that is not redeemed by its owner within six days after the posting of such notice shall immediately become the property of Warrick County Animal Control and be subject to disposition by the Warrick County Animal Control, or its designee, in accordance with § 131.33 below.
(B) Except as otherwise provided, the owner of any impounded animal, including livestock, may redeem said impounded animal prior to the expiration of the redemption period by meeting the following requirements:
(1) The owner must be 18 years or older;
(2) Paying the sum of $15 for each day said animal has been impounded, up to and including the day of redemption. Impoundment fees may be modified by Warrick County Animal Control, from time to time, according to its discretion;
(3) Paying to vaccinate the animal for rabies, if needed;
(4) Paying any expenses associated with the implantation of a microchip in any animal, excluding pocket pets or livestock; and
(5) Paying any expenses provided to the animal for adequate housing, food, medicine, and/or reasonable and necessary veterinary care.
(C) After an animal's third impoundment, excluding pocket pets and livestock, owner of said animal shall pay any expenses to spay or neuter said animal. Fees and expenses payable for the spaying and neutering of an animal under this section are determinable by Warrick County Animal Control and may be modified from time to time.
(D) Upon an animal's fourth impoundment, or upon the impoundment of an animal belonging to the same owner who, in the aggregate, has had one or more animals impounded by Warrick County Animal Control no less than three times during the immediately preceding two years, said impounded animal becomes the property of Warrick County Animal Control and shall not be redeemable by the owner. By way of example only, if, within a two year period, one animal belonging to an owner is impounded three times, and a second animal belonging to the same owner is subsequently impounded within two years of the initial impoundment of the first animal, then upon the second animal's impoundment, said animal becomes the property of Warrick County Animal Control and shall not be redeemable by the owner.
(E) An owner's attempted sale or other disposition of an animal that is impounded at the animal control facility does not affect the application of this chapter.
(F) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, prior to Warrick County Animal Control releasing an animal to a person under this chapter, Warrick County Animal Control, in its sole and absolute discretion, may require said animal to be implanted with a microchip at the expense of the person seeking the animal's release. Fees and costs associated with implanting a microchip in an animal for purposes of identification are to be determined by Warrick County Animal Control and may be modified from time to time, according to its discretion.
(G) An owner in violation of this chapter shall not be permitted to redeem a dog determined to be a dangerous dog pursuant to § 131.12.
(BC Ord. 1992-2, passed 2-10-92; Am. BC Ord. 2003-15, passed 7-16- 03; Am. BC Ord. 2018-26, passed 9-24-18; Am. BC Ord. 2018-34, 12-10-18; Am. BC Ord. 2021-19, passed 4-26-21; Am. BC Ord. 2021- 35, passed 9-27-21; Am. BC Ord. 2023-27, passed 12-27-23) Penalty, see § 131.99