§ 2.7-35. No encroachment on other official duties.

(a)

Definition . All dogs and cats in the rural areas of the County that do not have identifying information affixed to them shall be deemed "stray." Identifying information is defined as any type of information in writing or otherwise that would clearly put a person on notice as to whom the dog or cat belonged and how to contact said owner.

(b)

Impoundment of stray dogs and cats. The Animal Control Officer of the County Sheriff's Office or any other deputy is authorized to take charge and impound said stray dogs and cats at the owner's expense. Failure to claim said dog or cat within three (3) days shall subject the dog or cat to adoption or euthanasia.

(c)

Dogs or cats with identifying information; return to owners; and impoundment. Dogs or cats that have identifying information will be returned to the owner at no cost, unless said owner cannot be contacted within twenty-four (24) hours, at which time said dog or cat shall be subjected to impoundment at the owner's expense. Failure to claim said dog or cat within ten (10) days of impoundment shall subject the dog or cat to adoption or euthanasia.

(d)

Violation . This section shall be amendatory to Ordinance No. 92-34 and a violation of this section will be punishable as set out therein.

(e)

Upon the first violation of the ordinance from which this section was derived, said stray dog or cat shall be micro-chipped at the expense of the owner. Any dog or cat impounded more than once shall be spayed or neutered at the owner's expense before being released to the owner. In accordance with State statute, all required vaccinations shall be current before the dog or cat leaves the shelter.

(f)

Subject to subsection (c) above, the owner of any stray dog or cat to whom said dog or cat is returned shall pay either:

(1)

Twenty dollars ($20.00) per day to the County, beginning twenty-four (24) hours after intake, if the animal is spayed or neutered; or

(2)

Two hundred dollars ($200.00) to the County, if the animal is returned, at the owner's option, without being spayed or neutered unless deemed medically inappropriate by the shelter veterinarian. At which time the medical condition has abated, the animal will be required to be spayed/neutered. Provided, however, that if a dog or cat was spayed or neutered at the time it came into County custody, the return fee provided in subsection (f)(1) shall apply.

(Ord. No. 2016-22, Art. 1, 4-25-16; Ord. No. 2016-47, Art. 1, 7-21-16)