§ 4-10. General impoundment; notice, redemption.

Any animal control officer, any health officer or any other person authorized may impound any animal found in violation of this chapter, or may institute criminal process in lieu of impoundment. The impounding person shall file with the animal shelter a record giving sufficient or satisfactory identifying marks or description of the animal and the circumstances of impoundment. The impounding officer shall immediately notify the owner or keeper, if known or as identified by any tag. In the event there is no tag, notice of impoundment shall be posted at the animal shelter. The date and method of providing notice shall be made as part of the public record, whether in writing, orally or by posting. The notice shall inform the hearer or reader of the description of the animal, and shall inform that unless redeemed, the animal may be sold, adopted or subject to euthanasia, in the discretion of the animal shelter within five days of the notice, counting the day of the notice. Impounded animals may be redeemed, except as prohibited in this chapter. No animal may be redeemed without the full payment of all applicable fees, charges and fines. Applicable fees, charges and fines shall be posted at the place of redemption. The fee schedule shall be approved by city council from time to time. Any fee or charge made by the city or its agent under this chapter for the administration of this chapter, or for reimbursement of expenses incurred shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of any criminal penalty. Once impounded, the animal control officer shall have the discretion to employ euthanasia, if the animal is diseased or a carrier of contagion or observed to be of such disposition or temperament so as to constitute a continuing threat to humans or other animals therefore rendering the animal unadoptable.

(Ord. No. 2001-17, 7-10-01; Ord. No. 2013-58, 9-24-13)