§ 5-1-117. Impoundment—Records—Disposition of animals—Adoption—Licensing of dogs and cats.

A.

Any dog or cat or other small animal found running at large may be impounded in the animal shelter. Any animal not redeemed by the owner or keeper before the expiration of seventy-two (72) hours, exclusive of Sundays, Mondays and city holidays, shall become the property of the city and may be disposed of at the discretion of the city.

B.

The animal welfare officer, upon receiving any animal for impoundment, shall record or cause to be recorded the description, breed, color and sex of the animal and whether or not it is licensed, and the date and time of impoundment. If the animal is licensed or if the owner or keeper is known, the officer shall enter the name and address of the owner or keeper, or the city license or rabies tag number as may be shown on the impoundment records. If the owner or keeper is known or can be determined from city records or identification attached to the animal, the animal welfare division will attempt to telephone the owner or keeper, or post written notice at the address shown on city records to be that of the owner or keeper, to notify the owner or keeper that unless redeemed in accordance with this code within seventy-two (72) hours after impoundment, Sundays, Mondays and city holidays excluded, the animal will be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the city. Attempts to contact the owner or keeper will be recorded on the reverse of the impoundment record.

C.

At the end of the redemption period prescribed in this section, animals that have not been redeemed by the owner or keeper thereof may be destroyed, adopted or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the city. If in the judgment of the animal welfare personnel an animal has been well maintained, the animal may be retained for an additional seventy-two (72) hours for the purpose of adoption or transferred to an animal adoption agency or National Breed Rescue Organization.

D.

Before any dog or cat is released for adoption from the city's animal shelter, such dog or cat shall be issued a license, as provided for in this chapter, if such dog or cat has not previously been licensed.

E.

No animal may be adopted from the animal shelter by any employee of the shelter for any reason, nor may any employee of the shelter adopt, give away or sell any animal from the shelter except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

F.

There is hereby established a grace period of seven (7) days beginning on the day of adoption and ending at the close of business on the seventh day thereafter, during which period an animal adopted from the city's animal shelter may be returned to the animal shelter for a refund of the adoption fee, spay/neuter deposit, vaccination deposit and license fee or, at the option of the adopting party, a replacement animal, conditioned solely upon the presentation of written certification of a licensed veterinarian that the adopted animal is in poor health.

G.

The city council, by duly enacted resolution, may designate certain days in which animals eligible for adoption may be adopted from the city's animal shelter without the payment of the adoption fee as required in the fee schedule. Provided, however, that the other provisions of this chapter shall apply to the animals adopted under this subsection.

H.

There is hereby established a "No Questions Asked" period of three (3) days from the date of the adoption whereby an adopted animal can be returned for any reason to the animal welfare division for a full refund of fees and any deposits received.

I.

The animal welfare division reserves the right to refuse an adoption based on noncompliance with agreements required by a previous adoption, previous animal related citations issued within the last twenty-four (24) months of the application that resulted in a conviction or payment of costs, inability or refusal to provide a picture I.D. at time of adoption, inability to show proof of an established residence, and out-of-town residents who express refusal to comply with adoption spay/neuter policies mandated for city residents.

(Ord. 2001-09, Amended, 02/27/2001; 97-33, Amended, 07/22/1997; 95-26, Amended, 06/27/1995)

(Ord. 2007-06, Amended, 03/15/2007)

(Ord. No. 13-26, § 5, 8-13-2013)

State law reference

Destruction of animals, sodium pentobarbital and other approved methods, 4 0.S. Secs. 501 to 508.