(A) (1) Any member of the Department who has probable cause to believe that there has been a violation of this chapter, or that there is a need to impound a potentially dangerous animal or a dangerous animal (each as defined herein) to protect public safety, may take custody of the animal. The animal shall be impounded, at the owner’s expense, at a veterinarian hospital, animal shelter or animal clinic designated by the Department for evaluation. There, a veterinarian or veterinarian’s designee shall:
(a) Investigate the condition of the animal and the circumstances relating to the animal’s condition; and
(b) Make a recommendation regarding the confiscation and/or disposition of the animal.
(2) The owner of the impounded animal may obtain release of such animal upon compliance with provisions of this chapter and the payment of the appropriate impoundment fee and any other fees and fines as applicable.
(B) An animal impounded under this section and which is not claimed by its owner shall be confined by the Department in a humane manner for a period of capture of not less than ten days. An animal not claimed within the ten-day impoundment period may be kept otherwise humanely disposed of in the discretion of the Department.
(C) Following the ten-day impoundment period, a person other than the animal’s owner may adopt the impounded animal which has not been claimed, and shall pay the appropriate impoundment fee and any other fees and fines as applicable. The person who adopts such animal which has been impounded under this section shall first agree in writing to:
(1) Immunize the animal again rabies as required by state law; and
(2) Attach a permanent identification tag or microchip to such animal.
(1996 Code, § 9-44) (Ord. 2001-7, passed - -; Ord. 2004-14, passed - -; Ord. 2007-18, passed - -; Ord. 2013-14, passed 10-7-2013)