§ 5-156. Return of captured animal to owner.

(a)

In addition to the issuance of a citation, the animal care officer may return an animal found at large to the known owner.

(b)

The owner may redeem an impounded animal during normal business hours by paying the impoundment fee, sterilization fees if any, boarding fees, and the pre-release rabies vaccination fee if required by law for the subject species and proof of valid current vaccination cannot be produced.

(c)

Upon impound of an intact dog or cat found at large, the department shall conditionally release the dog or cat with the requirement that the owner sterilize the dog or cat within thirty (30) days from the date of the conditional release. The following shall be exempt from this requirement: a dog or cat that qualifies for a certified medical exception from a city veterinarian, or a dog or cat that is an exhibition or competition animal, or a dog that is a police or military service dog. Owners of exhibition or competition animals and police or military service dogs shall provide proof to the department. The owner shall provide proof of sterilization of the dog or cat to the department within thirty (30) days from the date of the conditional release.

(d)

It shall be unlawful for anyone to whom an animal has been conditionally released under this section to fail to have the animal sterilized and provide proof of sterilization to the department within thirty (30) days from the date of the conditional release.

(Ord. No. 2010-06-17-0555, § 1, 6-17-10; Ord. No. 2013-11-21-0802, § 2, 11-21-13; Ord. No. 2015-04-30-0354 , § 2, 4-30-15; Ord. No. 2017-10-05-0755 , § 1, 10-5-17)