City of Las Vegas, NM Article II Administration

§ 118-3 Powers and duties of City Manager.

The City Manager is responsible for the administration of this chapter. Reasonable rules and regulations shall be prescribed by the City Manager to carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter pursuant to the standards created by this chapter. Powers delegated to the City Manager may be delegated by the City Manager to his duly appointed animal control officers as he may deem expedient for the effectuation of this chapter.

§ 118-4 Impoundment of animals.

It is the duty of the animal control officers to take up and impound any estray or any animal kept or maintained contrary to this chapter.

§ 118-5 Surrender of estrays; disposition of animals; costs; records.

[Amended 4-17-1997 by Ord. No. 85-25]

A. No person shall, without the knowledge or consent of the owner, hold or retain possession of any animal of which he is not the owner, for more than 24 hours without first reporting the possession of an animal to the Police Department, giving his name and address, a true and complete statement of the circumstances under which he took up the animal, a description of the animal and the precise location where such an animal is confined.

B. It is unlawful for a person taking up an animal to fail to give the notice required above and for any person having such animal in his possession to fail or refuse to immediately surrender such animal to the City or his designee upon demand thereof.

C. An estray may be confined at the Animal Control Shelter for a period of at least three working days, during which time the City will make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner, if known. If identification of the owner is not possible, the City may, without notice, dispose of any estray impounded under this section. After the impoundment period, the City may place the animal in an adoptive home, if possible, or may destroy the animal in a humane fashion, including but not limited to cremation.

D. No animal that has been impounded by the City will be adopted out for the purpose of breeding or sale. Every dog and cat adopted from the Animal Control Center shall be neutered or spayed by a licensed veterinarian and vaccinated in compliance with state statutes. The cost of these activities shall be paid to the City by the person adopting the dog or cat prior to release of the animal. Neutering and spaying and vaccinations will not apply to animals which are less than five months old. Nothing in this section shall be construed as applicable to any dog or cat returned to the owner thereof.

E. Any estray animal, equine, ovine, porcine, or caprine animal which cannot be adopted may be destroyed. Any other estray not redeemed by its owner or placed with a new owner may be disposed of by the City, at its discretion.

F. It shall be the responsibility of an animal owner redeeming an animal legally impounded to pay for animal boarding and other costs. The City of Las Vegas shall establish, by resolution, appropriate fees. In addition, the owner shall pay any license fees due, cost of inoculations or other costs incurred in the care and maintenance of said animal.

G. The City shall maintain records for a reasonable period of time as determined by the City Manager of all animals impounded in the shelter. The record shall contain at least the following information:

(1) A complete description of the animal;

(2) The manner and date of its acquisition by the center;

(3) The date and manner of its disposal;

(4) The name and address of the purchaser of any animal; and

(5) All fees received.

§ 118-6 Cremation and disposal of impounded animals.

[Amended 4-17-1997 by Ord. No. 85-25]

It shall be the responsibility of the City of Las Vegas to dispose of any animal by the use of an incinerating device. This is to assure a humane disposal procedure and assure a healthy environment. The City of Las Vegas shall establish, by resolution, appropriate fees. Payment for disposal through cremation, whether at the owner's personal request, or through enforcement of §§ 118-4 and 118-5, will be the responsibility of the owner per the following fee schedule:

A. If an individual, laboratory, or business has a small animal which belongs to it which has been impounded and desires to have the same disposed of by cremation, the fee shall be $30.

B. If an individual, laboratory, or business has a large animal which belongs to it which has been impounded and desires to have the same disposed of by cremation, the fee shall be $100.