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[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 1, 2-9-1993]
Unrestrained, unlicensed, abandoned, vicious, and/or nuisance animals shall be seized by the Animal Control Officer, or any Police Officer, and impounded in an animal shelter and there confined in a humane manner.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 2, 2-9-1993; Ord. No. 2015-11 § 1, 4-14-2015]
Impounded animals shall be kept for not less than seven (7) business days from the date of capture if not retrieved earlier by the owner.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 3, 2-9-1993; Ord. No. 2015-11 § 1, 4-14-2015]
If the owner of an impounded animal can, by any reasonable means, be identified and located by inquiring of residents of the neighborhood where the animal was found, by identification of owners using information found on any tags or microchip that may be on the animal, or by utilizing any social media available in the area, the Animal Control Officer shall take immediate action to notify the owner.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 4, 2-9-1993; Ord. No. 96-48 § 3, 3-25-1997; Ord. No. 2002-40 § 1, 9-10-2002]
An owner redeeming an impounded animal shall pay, before release, the following reclamation fees:
1.
First impoundment
$15.00 plus boarding fee
2.
Second impoundment
$30.00 plus boarding fee
3.
Third impoundment
$40.00 plus boarding fee
4.
Fourth impoundment
Not returned
A boarding fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be charged for each twenty-four (24) hours or fraction thereof that the animal has been impounded. Impoundment fees, boarding fees and/or any other related fees shall be paid to the City Collector before a receipt is provided to the owner in order for the animal to be redeemed.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 5, 2-9-1993]
All animals shall be vaccinated, registered, and bear appropriate tags before being released to the owner. The Animal Control Officer shall have authority to cause vaccination-registration of those animals having identifiable owners seeking to reclaim the animal. A vaccination fine of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be assessed and paid for each animal not vaccinated at time of capture. The vaccination fine will apply in addition to other outstanding reclamation fines.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 6, 2-9-1993; Ord. No. 2015-11 § 1, 4-14-2015]
Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within seven (7) calendar days from the date of capture may be disposed of in one (1) of the following ways, but in no other ways:
1. 
By euthanasia, using a method approved by the Humane Society of the United States.
2. 
By release for adoption by a new owner who shows evidence of ability and intention to provide the animal with an appropriate home and humane care.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 7, 2-9-1993; Ord. No. 96-48 § 4, 3-25-1997; Ord. No. 2015-11 § 1, 4-14-2015]
A. 
No impounded dog or cat shall be released for adoption without being vaccinated within seven (7) business days of release. Persons failing to vaccinate adopted animals within the required time following release shall be punished by a fine of fifteen dollars ($15.00).
B. 
No unaltered animal shall be released for adoption unless a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that he has been paid in full for altering of the dog or cat and will perform the operation within thirty (30) days or before the dog's first estrous period.
C. 
Any new owner adopting an animal from the dog pound shall first obtain a license for the animal (if a license is required) and shall, in addition, pay an adoption fee of ten dollars ($10.00).
D. 
An adoption contract, conforming to the requirements of the Animal Care Facilities Act (MO ACFA 30-9.020) and Sections 273.400 thru 273.405, RSMo., will be completed with a copy to the adopter, City and vetting entity. In addition to Missouri State requirements, the contract shall show how the animal was acquired, description and receipt of fees paid, and release of responsibility.
E. 
A new owner adopting an animal from the pound shall pay all of the vetting fees for animals being adopted and a copy of the medical records will be provided to the adopter.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 8, 2-9-1993]
A. 
Every animal impounded which is found to be diseased or injured and in the opinion of the Animal Control Officer is deemed to be a danger to the public or itself, and whose owner seeks release, shall be released to the owner or to a licensed veterinarian acting in the owner's behalf. All such expenses shall be the owner's responsibility.
B. 
Every animal impounded which is founded to be diseased or injured in the opinion of the Animal Control Officer and whose owner is unknown, may be immediately disposed of by euthanasia.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. IV § 9, 2-9-1993]
A. 
If any animal has bitten or scratched any person, or in the event that said animal is suspected to have bitten or scratched any person, it shall be held for observation for a period of ten (10) days at a veterinarian hospital or clinic, or such other place as may be designated by the City Council, and the owner shall pay all costs. If the owner is not found, or the animal is not claimed, then the City shall pay the cost of impoundment for the purpose of insuring the health and welfare of the City residents. Any unclaimed or disowned dog shall be disposed of after the ten (10) day observation period unless said dog is redeemed and all costs in connection with the observation be paid all in accordance with the provisions of the ordinances of the City of Lexington.
B. 
If the owner of any dog, upon request by any member of the Department of Police, or any Animal Control Officer, shall refuse or neglect to surrender said dog for the purpose of having the dog confined for observation as provided herein, he shall upon conviction be found guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00), nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), and any law enforcement officer of the City of Lexington shall be authorized to enter upon the private premises of said owner for the purpose of taking the dog.
[Ord. No. 98-14 § I, 4-28-1998]
A. 
Upon a plea of guilty, finding of guilt or conviction for violation of the provisions of Chapter 5 ("Animals and Fowl"), the court may, in addition to imposition of any penalties provided by law, order the person to reimburse law enforcement authorities for the costs associated with such violation.
B. 
Such costs shall include the reasonable costs of causing the impoundment or boarding of any animal or fowl, including the costs of any chemical tests to determine any illness which may be a concern to the health and safety of other animals and citizens of the City of Lexington, Missouri, and the costs of feeding, watering, caring for and euthanization of the animal or fowl.
C. 
The schedule of costs for submission to the court will be set by City Council and made a part of Chapter 5 of the City Code of the City of Lexington, Missouri.
D. 
These fees shall be calculated as additional costs by the Municipal Court and shall be collected by the court in the same manner as other costs and fees are collected and remitted to the City Treasurer.