Impoundment of dogs and other animals

A. Any dog found running at large shall be seized and impounded by the enforcement or animal control officer in an animal shelter and confined in a humane manner. Immediately upon impounding a dog, the enforcement or animal control officer shall notify the owner and inform such owner of the conditions whereby custody of the animal may be regained. B. Dangerous dogs. 1. Any dangerous dog which is not restricted in movement as required by this chapter shall be seized and impounded by an enforcement or animal control officer in an animal shelter and confined in a humane manner. The enforcement or animal control officer may euthanize any previously adjudicated dangerous dog which cannot be safely tranquilized and seized. 2. The enforcement or animal control officer, if reasonably necessary for public safety, may, at the time of designation, immediately seize and impound the dog. 3. When a dangerous dog is seized and impounded, the enforcement or animal control officer shall issue a notice to the owner to report to the board. Failure by the owner to report to the board shall result in ownership of the dog being deemed forfeited and the board may thereafter order disposition of the dog as it deems appropriate. 4. Notwithstanding any forfeiture of ownership or voluntary relinquishment of ownership of the dog, the owner shall remain responsible for all expenses of boarding the dog and any fees which may be imposed by the board. 5. At the owner's request, such impoundment may be at the premises of a licensed veterinarian or at a commercial kennel of the owner's choice. C. Licensed dogs, not claimed by their owners within a period of nine days, shall become the property of animal control. D. Unlicensed dogs, unclaimed after two days in which the shelter is open to the public, shall become the property of animal control. E. Any animal, other than a dog or cat, seized and impounded by animal control, that remains unclaimed by its owner for a period of fourteen days shall become the property of animal control. F. Regardless of the location of the impoundment, all expenses of the boarding and retention of an animal shall be borne by the owner, return of the animal may be withheld until all amounts due are paid in full. G. If an unclaimed animal is sold to a new owner, the original owner may reclaim the animal within thirty days from the date of sale upon payment of the purchase price paid by the purchaser, impoundment fees and any related costs as determined by animal control. H. In the event that an enforcement or animal control officer finds animals to be suffering, he shall have the right forthwith to remove or cause to have removed any such animals to a safe place for care at the owner's expense or to euthanize them when necessary to prevent further suffering. Return to the owner may be withheld until the owner shall have made full payment for all expenses so incurred. I. Disposal of an animal by any method specified in this chapter does not relieve the owner of liability for violations and any accrued charges. (Ord. No. 4082, § 10, 2013; Ord. 3094 § 2, 2002; Ord. 2922 § 5, 2000; Ord. 2578 § 6, 1997: Ord. 1914 § 4, 1990: Ord. 1503 § 2, 1985; Ord. 1482 § 2 (part), 1985)