§ 5-87. Payment for cost of confinement.

(a)

The owner of a dog impounded by the department must pay the costs of care of the dog while it is in the custody of the department prior to the release of the dog to the owner. Reasonable expenses for this care include, but are not limited to the cost of housing, feeding, emergency veterinary medical care, immunizations and routine veterinary medical care for the dog.

(b)

If a dog is held in impoundment by the department for more than twenty (20) days, the owner of the dog must pay the actual costs accrued for the first twenty (20) days of impoundment, and every twenty (20) days thereafter until the matter for holding the dog has been finalized. The department will mail a notice and statement of costs to the owner of the dog at the address on file with the department. All costs must be paid within a maximum of three (3) business days following the receipt of the notice and statement. If the costs have not been paid within the allotted three (3) business days, this will be considered a voluntary relinquishment of the dog by the owner and the dog shall immediately become the property of the city.

(c)

Costs must be paid to the department in cash or certified funds only. The costs shall be deposited into the city's general trust fund, in a subaccount specific for each case.

(Ord. No. 2017-10-05-0755 , § 1, 10-5-17)