Anderson 

CHAPTER 5.40

IMPOUNDMENT

Sections:

            5.40.010  Impoundment Procedure

            5.40.020  Redemption of Impounded Animals

            5.40.030  Impoundment Fees

            5.40.040  Confinement of Vicious Animals and Female Dogs or Cats in Heat

            5.40.050  Adoption

5.40.010  Impoundment Procedure.

            A. Animals running at large.  Dogs not wearing a collar and tag and other animals found running at large anywhere in the City limits shall be taken by the Animal Control Officer and impounded in the shelter designated as the City Animal Shelter, and there confined in a humane manner for a period of not less than seventy-two hours, unless sooner claimed by the owner, and may thereafter be disposed of in a humane manner if not claimed by the owners or held for adoption.  Dogs wearing a collar and tag which are found running at large in the City shall be taken up and impounded for not less than one-hundred-twenty hours, and if not claimed by the owner or held for adoption shall then be disposed of in a humane manner.

B. Court Citation.  When a licensed dog or other animal is found running at large in the City and its ownership is known to the Animal Control Officer so finding it, such animal need not be impounded, but the Officer shall cite the animal.  Citation shall show the date, time and place.

C. Pursuit onto Private Property.  The provisions of this section notwithstanding, no Animal Control Officer shall pursue an at-large animal, either licensed or not, onto property posted with a "No Trespassing" sign or onto property where the owner expressly refuses access to the Animal Control Officer.

D.  Notification and Previous Impoundment.  The records provided for in Section 5.20.030 of this title shall include, insofar as it is practical, the name and address of the owner of the animal and whether or not any animal owned by him has been impounded at any previous time.  Immediately upon impounding any animal, the Animal Control Officer shall make reasonable effort to notify the owner, and to inform the owner of the conditions under which he may regain custody of such animal.  The Animal Control Officer may file a complaint against the owner of any animal which has been impounded for being found annoying or running at large, and shall file a complaint against the owner of any animal found annoying or running at large if any animal owned by the owner has been previously impounded within the past year.

E. Vicious Animals.  All vicious animals shall be impounded whenever possible.

5.40.020  Redemption of Impounded Animals.

            A.  Owner's Redemption.  The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded animals, except as may hereinafter be provided, upon the owner's compliance with the license provision of this title, and upon payment of impoundment fees set forth in this title.

            B.  Exception.  When an owner cannot be located, then, if in the judgment of a licensed veterinarian, an animal should be destroyed for humane reasons, such animal shall be disposed of in a humane manner.

            C.  Vicious Animals.  All animals impounded as vicious animals shall not be redeemed, but shall be destroyed in a humane manner, except that no such animal shall be destroyed without the owner's consent, except upon judicial determination that the animal is vicious.

5.40.030  Impoundment Fees.

            A.  Any animal impounded hereunder may be reclaimed as herein provided upon payment by the owner to the City Clerk a fee in accordance with the following schedule in the case of each animal properly licensed under this title, or twenty-five dollars in the case of each animal not properly licensed under this title, plus the additional fee indicated for each day or part of a day such animal is kept.  Fees set herein shall be collected by the City and retained by it to help defray the cost of keeping such animals for the period set forth herein.

IMPOUNDMENT FEES

Unlicensed dogs and other animals             $25.00

Licensed dogs                                              $15.00

Cats                                                                 $5.00

DAILY BOARD FEES

Dogs                                                                  $5.00

Cats                                                                   $3.00

Other animals weighing less than 15 lbs.          $5.00

Other animals weighing more than 15 lbs.      $25.00

Any impounded animal which, by reason of size, strength, or other characteristics cannot reasonably be kept in the normal animal shelter facility may be reclaimed upon payment of a twenty-five dollar impoundment fee plus the actual costs reasonably incurred in transporting and keeping such animal.

            B.  Any animal previously impounded hereunder may be reclaimed as herein provided upon payment by the owner to the City Clerk the sum provided for in subsection A of Section 5.40.030 plus successively increasing fees in increments of twenty-five dollars for each additional impound.

5.40.040  Confinement of Vicious Animals and Female Dogs or Cats in "Heat".

A.  Vicious Animals.  The owner shall confine within a building or secure enclosure every fierce, dangerous or vicious animal, and not take such animal out of such building or secure enclosure unless animal is muzzled or otherwise secured. If any person, being the owner or having control of any dangerous or vicious animal, wilfully or negligently permits or suffers the animal to be at large in the City, such persons shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

B.  Female Dogs or Cats in Heat.  Every female dog or cat in "heat" or during ovulation shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel, in such a manner that the female dog or cat cannot come into contact with a male dog or cat except for planned breeding purposes.

5.40.050  Adoption.

A.  Any dog impounded under this chapter and not properly licensed under this chapter which is determined to be available for adoption may be adopted from the animal shelter upon payment to the City clerk the sum of twenty-five dollars to help defray the cost of keeping such animals for the period set forth herein and the immunization of such animal against rabies and/or distemper.

            B.  Any cat impounded under this chapter which is determined to be available for adoption may be adopted from the animal shelter upon payment to the City Clerk the sum of fifteen dollars to help defray the cost of keeping such animals for the period set forth herein.

            C.  The City of Anderson is authorized to establish a schedule of reasonable fees for the adoption of animals of other species which are determined to be available, in order to help defray any cost associated with the care and adoption of such animals.  Upon payment of the fees so established to the City Clerk any such animal housed at the animal shelter any be adopted.

            D.  No animal may be adopted from impoundment that shows symptoms of infectious or contagious disease.