§ 4-11. Surrender of animals.

(a)

An owner who shows proof of residence in Lake County, Florida may, at the discretion of the Director or designee, surrender an animal to Animal Services or Animal Control Officer. Prior to acceptance of the animal, the owner shall sign an ownership release statement and shall pay all applicable fees, as determined by the Director or designee to be due, including the impound fee. Animal Services may permit the adoption of the animal to a new owner, Animal Rescue Organization, or Euthanize the animal. In either event, the owner shall not be entitled to compensation.

(b)

Any person, other than an Animal Control Officer, surrendering an animal not his or her own, shall disclose the identity of the owner, if known, or must sign a statement that he or she does not know the identity of the owner of the animal. The animal may be diverted to a Trap-Neuter-Return program if determined to be a feral cat; or confined for one hundred twenty (120) hours or seventy-two (72) hours if the animal is a cat with no method of identification. At the expiration of the holding time, the animal shall be deemed abandoned and Animal Services may permit the adoption of the animal to a new owner. Animal Rescue Organization, or Euthanize the animal. Neither the person surrendering the animal nor the owner shall be entitled to compensation. If a Community Cat is surrendered to Animal Services, after a period of twenty-four (24) hours, the Director shall determine whether the cat shall be returned to the Trap-Neuter-Return program or Euthanized.

(c)

It is a violation of this section for any person to falsely identify himself or herself as an owner or owner's agent. The recommended penalty for a violation of this section is a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00).

(Ord. No. 2009-47, § 2, 9-1-09; Ord. No. 2015-20, § 2, 6-9-15; Ord. No. 2017-16, § 2, 4-4-17; Ord. No. 2018-22, § 2, 5-8-18)