Sec. 4-15. Impoundment; notice to owners; release and disposition of impounded dogs or cats.

(a) Picking up stray and vicious dogs or cats. The animal control officer or his delegates shall have authority to seize all dogs or cats running at large, stray and vicious dogs or cats and take such dogs or cats to a designated place of impoundment. Any person on whose property a vicious or stray dog or cat or dog or cat running at large is found may seize such dog or cat and deliver it to the designated animal shelter for impoundment or contact the county animal control officer for pickup. The officer, at his discretion, may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation in lieu of impoundment of a dog or cat found running at large.

(b) Notice to owners. Dogs or cats impounded pursuant to this article shall be kept at a designated animal shelter. Upon impoundment of such an animal, the animal control officer shall exercise due diligence to ascertain the owner of such animal and if such owner is discovered or claims such animal within five (5) business days of impoundment, the officer shall notify him of the terms for the animal's release.

(c) Release of impounded dogs or cats. An original owner may obtain release of his impounded dog or cat within five (5) business days of impoundment upon payment of an impoundment fee per dog or cat, per owner, as listed in the fee schedule below and a boarding fee as hereinafter provided and upon presentation of a current rabies inoculation certificate.

(d) Schedule of fees. Five dollars ($5.00) per day kennel fee, plus:

(1) First offense . . . $ 35.00

(2) Second offense . . . 40.00

(3) Third offense . . . 50.00

(4) Fourth offense . . . 100.00

(5) Fifth offense . . . 200.00

(e) Period of impoundment and disposition of unclaimed dog or cat. An impounded dog or cat which remains unclaimed by an owner after five (5) business days shall be deemed abandoned and shall automatically and irrevocably become the sole property of the county to convey, devise, dispose or otherwise destroy as the county sees fit in accordance with this article. Thereafter, such dog or cat may be disposed of humanely or offered for adoption to a suitable home.

The adoption fee for an animal shall be set by the operator of the animal shelter. No dog or cat shall be adopted unless and until it has been neutered or spayed by a veterinarian licensed by the state; provided, however, that a former owner may adopt his dog or cat, which has become the property of the county, more than five (5) business days after impoundment without neutering or spaying if said procedure has not already been performed upon payment of a one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) fee.

(f) Disposition of fees. All fees so collected shall be delivered to the county treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county.

(Ord. No. 731, § 6; Ord. No. 1645, § 2, 3-3-87; Ord. No. 1954, §§ 2--6, 3-21-89; Ord. No. 2130, § 2(a), 6-5-90)