[R.O. 2011 §5-41]
A. 
An Animal Control Officer may seize and impound any dog which is:
1. 
At large; or
2. 
Is an unconfined, unspayed female dog in estrus.
If a dog found running at large is properly licensed, the Animal Control Officer shall return the dog to its owner in lieu of impounding the dog upon payment of any seizure or release fee which may be required.
B. 
An Animal Control Officer may seize and impound any animal which:
1. 
Is required to be observed for rabies symptoms and impoundment of such animals to be in compliance with Section 205.460(D),(F); or
2. 
Is, or appears to be, abandoned, abused or neglected; or
3. 
Is a domestic animal, appears to be sick or injured, and whose owner cannot be identified or located; or
4. 
Is being kept or maintained contrary to the provisions of this Division or State law.
[R.O. 2011 §5-43; Ord. No. 2832 §5-55, 5-16-1994]
After receipt of any animal impounded, Dent County Animal Welfare Society personnel, or if impounded at another location the Animal Control Officer, shall, if the owner is known, as soon as practicable, give notice in person, by letter, or by telephone upon the owner of the animal's impoundment and disposition alternative, notice mailed by ordinary first class mail to the last known address shall satisfy the requirement. If the animal's owner is unknown at the time of impoundment, Dent County Animal Welfare Society personnel, or if impounded elsewhere the Animal Control Officer, shall take all reasonable steps to identify the owner and provide such notification. If the animal's owner still cannot be established, disposition authorized by this Article shall proceed. "Reasonable steps to identify the owner" shall mean only that the Animal Welfare Society or if impounded elsewhere the Animal Control Officer will use any identification found on said animal such as rabies tag or collar plate and attempt to contact any person named or identified thereby or thereon.
[R.O. 2011 §5-44; Ord. No. 2832 §5-56, 5-16-1994]
A. 
Minimum Period. Except as otherwise provided herein, an impounded animal shall be held at the Dent County Animal Shelter for not less than five (5) operating days, if the owner of said animal is not known. If the owner of said animal is known, the impounded animal shall be held for not less than ten (10) operating days or forty-eight (48) hours after notification to the owner of the animal's impoundment. If the owner does not properly claim and redeem the animal within these periods of impoundment, the animal may be subject to disposition under Article IV, Division 2.
B. 
Sick Or Injured Animal. An impounded animal which is sick or injured and in pain or contagious to other animals and which is not humanely disposed of through euthanasia. If a sick or injured animal is in pain or is contagious to other animals is identifiable to an owner, Dent County Animal Welfare Society's personnel shall diligently attempt to contact the owner within twenty-four (24) hours after impoundment, after which time the animal may be euthanized if unclaimed, unless to delay euthanasia would be inhumane to said animal or dangerous to other animals.
C. 
Dangerous Dog. A dangerous dog shall remain under the control of the Animal Control Officer or other such designated person and may be impounded at a veterinary clinic or the site chosen by said employee and may continue in impoundment during the pendency of any criminal proceeding for violation of Section 205.150(A) of this Chapter. If no such action has been or will be commenced, such dog shall be disposed of pursuant to Division 2 of this Article.
D. 
Observation Period. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, any dog or cat, which is known or credibly alleged to have bitten any person, shall be immediately impounded or quarantined for observation for rabies infection until ten (10) days after the date of the bite and for such further time as deemed necessary by the Animal Control Officer. During the observation period, the dog or cat shall not have any physical contact with any other person or animal outside the immediate family, nor shall it be removed from the location of quarantine unless authorized by the Animal Control Officer. Additionally, the dog or cat shall not be vaccinated against rabies, ownership transferred, destroyed or euthanized unless authorized by the Animal Control Officer or designated personnel. The place of observation shall be a veterinary clinic unless otherwise designated by the Animal Control Officer or other designated personnel.
E. 
Dogs Of Wild Extraction. Any dog of wild extraction, which is known or credibly alleged to have bitten any person, shall be immediately impounded as provided in Subsection (D). Unless otherwise ordered, dogs of wild extraction shall at the discretion of the Chief of Police, or in his/her absence the Animal Control Officer, be quarantined according to the direction of the Missouri State Health Department, or killed by humane euthanasia, avoiding damage to the brain, and the remains tested for rabies as provided by State law.
F. 
Failure To Comply With Order Or Conditions. Any owner of an animal or person harboring or keeping an animal, who has been ordered by an Animal Control Officer to quarantine such animal, shall release said animal only to the Animal Control Officer ordering the quarantine. The Animal Control Officer may allow the owner of the animal to board the animal at a licensed and approved animal hospital, kennel or veterinary facility approved by the Animal Control Officer. The Animal Control Officer may allow the owner to quarantine the animal at the owner's residence providing the owner can establish or maintain conditions of ten (10) day quarantine period to the satisfaction of the Animal Control Officer. No person or owner shall fail to meet the conditions established pursuant to Subsection (D). Failure to comply with a quarantine order or comply with the conditions of quarantine shall result in the animal being impounded by Animal Control and shall be a violation of this Division.
[R.O. 2011 §5-46; Ord. No. 2832 §5-58, 5-16-1994]
No person shall remove any impounded animal from the Dent County Animal Welfare Society or from the official custody of the Animal Control Officer without their consent.
[R.O. 2011 §5-47; Ord. No. 2832 §5-59, 5-16-1994]
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to prevent an Animal Control Officer from taking whatever action is reasonable necessary to protect his/her person or members of the public from injury by any animal.
[R.O. 2011 §5-89; Ord. No. 2832 §5-86, 5-16-1994]
The Animal Control Officer may humanely euthanize any animal so seriously injured or so sick that to delay said act would itself be inhumane. Such a condition would be deemed to exist when the Animal Control Officer reasonably believes that animal incapable of recovery from its condition and in severe pain.
[R.O. 2011 §5-56; Ord. No. 2832 §5-60, 5-16-1994]
Any dog or animal may be claimed and redeemed from impoundment by the owner and released from the Dent County Animal Welfare Society only upon timely demand at the Dent County animal facility by a properly identified owner and upon payment of all seizure fees, impoundment fees, license fees, veterinary charges, charges for care and feeding, redemption fees and such other costs or fees as may be reasonably set by the Dent County Animal Welfare Society or the Board of Aldermen.
[R.O. 2011 §5-57; Ord. No. 2832 §5-61, 5-16-1994]
Any animal not properly redeemed by the end of the required impoundment shall become the property of the Dent County Animal Welfare Society. The animal may then be disposed of by the Welfare Society personnel by sale, donation, adoption to a suitable owner, or by humane euthanasia. No animal shall be knowingly released from the Dent County Animal Welfare Society for the purpose of medical research or experimentation.