§ 7.16.020. Redemption—Disposition.

A.

The owner of any impounded dog or cat shall be entitled to resume possession of such dog or cat upon payment of the established impoundment and daily handling fees and compliance with vaccination, registration, microchipping, spaying or neutering requirements, and other legal requirements for keeping such dog or cat.

B.

An additional fee in the amount established by the council shall be paid by the owner of an unaltered dog or cat more than four months of age that is impounded by the program for a second time within a one year period, upon a third time within a two-year period or upon a fourth and each subsequent time during the animal's life. To further the city's interest in combating pet overpopulation and promoting spaying and neutering of pets as part of responsible dog and cat ownership, the city will refund the additional established fee to the owner if the owner provides evidence to the program that the dog or cat was spayed or neutered within thirty days after the day the owner resumed possession of the dog or cat. All requests for a refund under this section shall be submitted to the program no later than the 60 ^th day after the date the dog or cat was spayed or neutered and only one fee paid under this subsection is eligible for a refund.

C.

Any animal other than a dog or cat impounded may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of impoundment and daily handling fees and compliance with other legal requirements for keeping of such animal.

D.

Any animal impounded and not claimed by the owner may be humanely destroyed after being held for at least three days after the day of impoundment; provided however, that any impounded dog, cat or ferret found to be microchipped or displaying a current vaccination and/or registration tag shall be held for at least six (6) days after the day of impoundment.

1.

Notwithstanding the foregoing:

a.

Litters of animals including the nursing mother, and unweaned animals without a mother, may be transferred to an animal welfare organization immediately after impound; and

b.

Injured and ill animals may be transferred to an animal welfare organization immediately after or at any time during impoundment upon the representation by such animal welfare organization that it will seek immediate veterinary care for the animal.

c.

For all animals transferred to an animal welfare organization under this section, the organization shall hold the animals for reclaim by the owner the requisite number of days set forth above and may request charges to recover the fair and reasonable costs of care of such animals upon being reclaimed.

d.

In the event an ear tipped cat indicating that is has been processed through the trap-neuter-return protocol is impounded, said cat shall not be subject to the stated impoundment holding period and shall be returned by the program to the location where the cat was trapped as soon as the program's resources permit, subject to Subsection 7.16.020G of this Chapter.

e.

In the event any cat not showing evidence of ownership (whether by collar and tags, microchip, identifying tattoo or other method of displaying identification), is impounded, said cat may become a trap-neuter-return cat, and in that case shall be processed through the trap-neuter-return protocol, subject to Subsection 7.16.020G of this Chapter.

E.

The department shall establish policies and procedures which shall be used in determining the health and potential identity of impounded animals.

F.

If the director or veterinary officer determines that any unclaimed animal is reasonably healthy, currently vaccinated against rabies or vaccinated prior to release for adoption as required, and would not constitute a threat to public or animal health of the community, he may, after the holding period, offer such animal for adoption by using selection criteria established by the director. Individual animals not fitting the selection criteria will not be eligible for adoption, but may be released to an animal welfare organization.

1.

Any dog or cat adopted from the center must be spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated against rabies. Adoption of animals previously unvaccinated against rabies shall not be allowed if a domestic case of rabies is confirmed in the community and the director imposes a rabies quarantine.

2.

If any impounded animal, other than a dog or cat, is unclaimed by the owner, the animal shall be held for such time as the veterinary officer deems reasonable, considering the animal's probable value, conditions of health, and suitability for use. Upon expiration of such reasonable time he may offer the animal for sale or adoption to the city zoo or any animal welfare organization, or may have it humanely destroyed.

G.

Any animal impounded and suffering from serious injuries may be humanely destroyed after reasonable efforts to determine ownership have failed. Any impounded animal who is in severe, unremitting pain and symptomatic animals with suspected cases of communicable disease or a suspected case of rabies, as determined by the veterinary officer, shall be euthanized without delay.

H.

Animals may be offered for adoption, transferred to an animal welfare organization or euthanized before the end of the required holding period if upon notification of impoundment of the animal the owner states he does not wish to redeem the animal and subsequently in writing releases the animal to the sole jurisdiction of the program.

I.

The owner of an animal impounded or quarantined and not redeemed within the required holding period shall be responsible for all associated fees (impoundment, daily handling, euthanasia) whether such animal is claimed or not.

(Ord. 16807 §§ 4 (part), 15, 2007; Ord. 16229 § 1 (part), 2006)

(Ord. No. 17428, § 17, 10-5-2010/eff. 1-1-2011; Ord. No. 17635, § 12, 8-30-2011; Ord. No. 18472 , § 7, 2-23-2016)