Impounding - 6.05

The code enforcement officer, as soon as practicable after impoundment, shall notify or attempt to notify the owner that the animal has been impounded. If the owner cannot be determined, or if the address of such owner cannot be determined, the code enforcement officer shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous place within the Town for a period of three (3) business days a notice of impoundment with a description of the animal.

Any animal, unredeemed within three business days after the notification provided for in Section 6.05.010 Notification of this Chapter shall be deemed abandoned and un-owned.

If any animal impounded as hereinabove provided has been deemed abandoned and un-owned the code enforcement officer may offer the animal for adoption.

Any impounded animal, which has not been redeemed and has not been adopted, may be disposed of as set forth in Chapter 6.06 Disposition of Owned Animals and Feral Cats of Title 6 Animals.

Any impounded animal, which is properly licensed, may be redeemed by the owner upon payment to the Town manager of the impoundment fee, room and board charges, veterinarian charges, if any, and such other costs as are provided for in this Title 6 Animals.

Any dog impounded which is not properly licensed may be redeemed by the owner upon payment to the Town manager of the impoundment fee, room and board fees, veterinarian charges, if any, and purchasing of an appropriate license prior to release of the dog. The code enforcement officer shall have the discretion to release an unlicensed dog to its owner if necessary to enable the owner to obtain rabies vaccination for his dog. The owner shall present the rabies certificate to the Town manager and obtain an appropriate license within fourteen (14) days from the date of release or the dog shall be subject to immediate reimpoundment by the code enforcement officer.

Any cat found not to have a current rabies vaccination may be redeemed by the owner upon payment to the town clerk all applicable fees as stated in Section 6.05.050 Redemption of this Chapter and presentation of a current rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. The code enforcement officer shall have the discretion to release an unvaccinated cat to its owner if necessary to enable the owner to obtain a rabies vaccination for his cat. The owner shall present the rabies certificate to the Town manager within fourteen (14) days from the date of release or the cat shall be subject to immediate re-impoundment by the code enforcement officer.

Impoundment fees as established by resolution of the Town council for the first impoundment offense within any calendar year and for the second impoundment offense and any subsequent offense within any calendar year shall be paid by the owner prior to the release of his animal.

There shall be a charge established by resolution of the Town council for each day or portion of such day that any animal remains in the animal shelter. Livestock shall not be impounded but shall be controlled and managed by the code enforcement officer as he may determine.

It shall be unlawful for any person to break open, destroy, or damage any door, window, screen, gate, fence, or enclosure used by the Town as an animal shelter or impoundment facility or attempt to take there from any animal impounded therein without its being released by the code enforcement officer.