§ 5-9. Impoundment.

(a)

Impounding of animals:

(1)

Any nuisance animal may be impounded by the animal control/services officer.

(2)

In lieu of impounding, any animal exempt from wearing a tag and license as defined in subsection 5-7(c), the animal control/services officer shall verify with the owner that said animal possesses a current rabies vaccination and registration/license as provided in this chapter.

(b)

Redemption of impounded animals:

(1)

Where an animal bears an indication of ownership, the animal control/services officer will attempt to notify the owner of said animal, if possible, of the animal's impoundment. The impounded animal shall be claimed by the owner as soon as possible. From the time of notice, owners shall have five (5) calendar days in which to claim their animal. At the expiration of said five (5) calendar days, if no owner has appeared to claim said animal, said animal shall be deemed unowned and may be disposed of as provided in subsection (c) below. If the animal is severely injured or sick and suffering and no owner can be found, said animal may be humanely euthanized prior to completion of the five-day stray period.

(2)

The final day of the five-calendar-day period shall occur only on a day in which the impounding facility is open for normal operating activities.

(3)

If an owner cannot provide proof of current rabies vaccination and registration/license, said animal must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian and a registration/license obtained within five (5) calendar days after release of said impounded animal and the owner shall provide proof of the vaccination and registration to the animal control/services officer. There will be a ten dollar ($10.00) impoundment charge for any animal picked up as a stray; a daily care fee will also be charged by the animal care facility which impounds the animal. Additional charges may be incurred for medical care and/or an emergency pickup fee for calls that are received after business hours, calls on dogs who have previously been declared dangerous or on bite cases etc. These fees are due at the time the animal is returned to the owner.

(4)

If the owner comes to claim an animal after the five-day stray period, that owner may be required to adopt the animal, thus requiring the animal to be sterilized.

(5)

An unaltered animal that is impounded as a stray three times shall be required to be altered at the pet owner's expense prior to being returned to the owner. In the event that the animal is deemed by a licensed veterinarian to be too unhealthy to undergo surgery, that animal must be altered as soon as said animal is deemed healthy.

(6)

If ownership is proven, yet pet owner does not claim the animal, civil infractions, liability for bite cases, abandonment/cruelty charges etc. may be pursued by the animal control/services officer.

(c)

Disposition of impounded animals. Any unclaimed animal shall become the property of the city and may be humanely destroyed, transferred to a Humane Society, or placed in the custody of a person deemed to be a suitable owner, who will agree to comply with all of the provisions of this chapter and adoption procedures in F.S. § 823.15.

(Ord. No. 2002-30, § 1(Exh.A), 12-12-02)