(A) When authorized. A police officer or city enforcement agent who finds an animal under conditions hazardous to the animal's health in a motor vehicle in violation of any provision of this code or city ordinance may break and enter the motor vehicle if necessary to remove the animal. ('80 Code, § 6-9)
(B) Removal, notice. The police officer or city enforcement agent removing an animal from hazardous conditions in a motor vehicle shall take the animal to an animal shelter or other place of safe keeping and shall, in the event the person having custody cannot be otherwise contacted, leave in a prominent place in the motor vehicle a written notice bearing his name and office and the address where the animal may be claimed by the owner thereof. ('80 Code, § 6-10)
(C) Time limit for claim. The animal removed from hazardous conditions in a vehicle will be surrendered to the owner if the owner claims the animal within five business days from the time the animal was removed from the motor vehicle and pays all applicable charges, fees and penalties. ('80 Code, § 6-11)
(D) Attempt to contact owner. If the owner fails to claim the animal within three business days after its removal from a motor vehicle, the person or animal shelter having custody of the animal will make reasonable effort to contact the owner and give notice that the animal is in their custody and may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of the reasonable maintenance charges. ('80 Code, § 6-12)
(E) Disposition of animal. In the event the owner of an animal cannot be contacted, or expresses no interest in reclaiming the animal within five business days after removal from a motor vehicle, the person or animal shelter having custody of the animal may dispose of the animal in any reasonable humane manner. ('80 Code, § 6-13)
(Ord. 1798, passed 12-20-78; Ord. O2011-03, passed 3-2-11)