§ 4-9. Impoundment of animals.

(a)

The Board of County Commissioners and its authorized agent(s) may construct, operate and maintain the Animal Shelter or subshelter. Animal Control Officers may impound any animal found in violation of any provision of this chapter.

(b)

When an animal is impounded it shall be held by the Animal Shelter for a period of at least one hundred twenty (120) hours; with the exception that a cat with no method of identification shall be held for at least seventy-two (72) hours. During this period Animal Services shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain or notify the owner, except as provided in subsection (c) below. This section shall not apply to Community Cats diverted to a Trap-Neuter-Return program.

(c)

When an animal appearing to be feral is impounded, it shall be held for a period of at least twenty-four (24) hours, after which period Animal Services shall make a determination of whether the animal is a feral animal. If Animal Services determines the animal is feral, the animal may be diverted to a Trap-Neuter-Return program, or shall be humanely destroyed unless the owner requests a hearing pursuant to section 4-60, below.

(d)

The Director or designee may transfer ownership or custody to an Animal Rescue Organization, place for adoption, or divert to a Trap-Neuter-Return program, any animal impounded pursuant to this chapter where:

(1)

No owner exists;

(2)

An owner cannot be identified;

(3)

An owner is identified but cannot be notified;

(4)

An owner is notified but, by his or her statements, actions, or failure to act, indicates an intent to abandon the animal;

(5)

An owner does not claim the animal within the holding time set in section 4-9(b); or

(6)

The animal is determined by Animal Services to be a feral animal or Community Cat.

The Director may consider euthanasia if a safe and appropriate live outcome cannot be achieved with the available resources or with the willingness of a partner organization to receive the animal.

(e)

Upon compliance with the provisions herein, the county shall be deemed to have complied fully with due process of law and the owner shall not be entitled to compensation for loss of the animal.

(f)

Live animals may not be disposed of to any medical school, college, university, person, firm, association or corporation, for experimentation or vivisection purposes, or to any person providing, selling, or supplying dogs and cats and other animals to any medical school, college, university, person, firm, association or corporation for experimentation or vivisection purposes.

(g)

The County may retain the services of a licensed veterinarian(s) to spay or neuter any impounded fertile dog or cat, and/or to treat any sick or injured animal retained in the Animal Shelter. When the owner is identified, the owner shall be liable for payment of the veterinary expenses or reimbursement of the county's expenses in treating the animal. Animal Services employees and Animal Control Officers may administer medication and veterinary care as prescribed by a veterinarian. Neither the Animal Control Officers, nor the county, its employees and agents, shall be liable for any act or omission in rendering care.

(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)