Ogunquit police officers and the Ogunquit Animal Control Officer are authorized to impound pets and animals and to inspect dog licenses. Ogunquit police officers shall issue citations and make arrests as authorized by this chapter and applicable State of Maine laws.
Authorized officers shall take unlicensed dogs, wherever found, or pets or animals running at large and impound them in a shelter designated by the Select Board as a Town animal shelter.
A. 
Where the ownership of an impounded pet or animal is known or can be reasonably ascertained, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner by mail or in person within three days of such impoundment.
B. 
Where the ownership cannot be reasonably ascertained, the Animal Control Officer shall post in three public places a notice giving a description of the pet or animal, where it was impounded, and how it may be recovered.
A. 
The owner of an impounded pet or animal may recover that pet or animal upon payment of the impoundment and boarding fees specified in §§ 18-18 and 18-19. The owner of an unlicensed dog shall also obtain a dog license before the impounded dog is released.
B. 
Any impounded pet or animal not recovered within 10 days after receiving notice or notice is posted, according to § 18-14, shall be considered abandoned by the owner and the property of the Town animal shelter.
C. 
The Animal Control Officer shall then make arrangements with any licensed veterinarian, humane society or no-kill shelter for disposition of the pet or animal, including sale or gift.
[Amended 6-9-2009 ATM]
A. 
The owner of a pet or animal which bites another person shall immediately notify the Animal Control Officer.
[Amended 6-8-2021 ATM by Art. 9]
B. 
Whenever a pet or animal bites a person, the Animal Control Officer shall order the owner to have the pet or animal examined by a licensed veterinarian, confined on the owner's premises for period of two weeks, and examined again. The Animal Control Officer shall impound the pet or animal if the owner is unwilling or unable to do so. The owner shall pay the expense of examination and impoundment unless financially unable to pay.
C. 
If at the end of two weeks a veterinarian is convinced that the pet or animal is free from rabies, the pet or animal shall then be released from confinement or from the pound after payment of fees, as the case may be. If the pet or animal dies within the period, its head shall be sent to the appropriate state agency for examination for rabies.
The Animal Control Officer shall keep an accurate and detailed record of the impoundment and disposition of all pets and animals coming into custody.