A.
The county animal control facility shall serve as the City animal
control facility. Once delivered to the county animal control facility,
an animal is subject to the rules and regulations that govern that
facility. No animal in the custody of the City shall be sold or released
for commercial or experimental purposes.
B.
The City, its employees and agents shall not be held civilly liable
for acts committed or omitted in rendering care to, or in transporting
and/or leaving, an animal that has been impounded at the county animal
control facility.
A.
An animal found at large in violation of the provisions of this chapter
shall be impounded, except as otherwise provided in this chapter,
and taken to the county animal control facility. In addition to or
in lieu of impounding an animal found at large, an animal control
officer, or police officer or code enforcement officer, or other duly
authorized person may issue to a known owner of such animal a municipal
infraction citation.
B.
Any resident of the City who desires to do so may take up any animal
found running at large and deliver it to an animal control officer
or other authorized person for impounding. Any resident impounding
an animal found running at large does so at their own risk, and shall
promptly deliver the animal to an animal control officer.
C.
In addition, impoundment is authorized for any of the following:
(1)
Any animal found to create or cause a public nuisance, when the owner
fails to abate the animal's actions or otherwise relieve the
nuisance, after the animal control officer has issued notice and reasonable
time to abate the nuisance has been provided.
(2)
Any animal determined to be a vicious or dangerous animal.
(3)
Any animal that is in violation of any quarantine or confinement
order of the Animal Control Commission, Health Department official,
or other government authority.
(4)
Any unattended animal that is ill, injured or otherwise in need of
care.
(5)
Any exotic or other animal owned or harbored in violation of City,
county or state law.
(6)
Any animal suspected of having rabies.
(7)
Any animal that is charged with being vicious or dangerous or potentially
dangerous where it is determined by the animal control officer that
there is a threat to public health and safety.
(8)
Any animal that the Animal Control Commission has ordered impounded
or destroyed.
(9)
Any animal that has been ordered removed from the City.
(10)
Any animal that is or has been abused and neglected and, in
the opinion of the animal control officer, must be impounded for the
safety of the animal.
D.
Upon impounding an animal, a prompt and reasonable effort shall be
made to notify the owner of the impounded animal of the location of
the animal, procedures to claim the animal, and any applicable fees
or fines owed by the owner. A notice may be served either by delivering
it to the owner or by leaving it at or mailing it to the owner's
usual or last known place of abode or the address given on the animal's
collar. When convenient, the notice may be given by telephone to the
owner. A listing of all impounded animals shall be maintained by the
animal control officer and at the New Carrollton police station and
shall be available for review by any citizen upon request. Whenever
feasible and practicable, notices of found animals shall be publicized
by way of the City's various media outlets and otherwise made
available to the general public.
E.
Prior to an animal's being redeemed by its owner, the owner
shall pay all fees and fines due, demonstrate proof of ownership of
the animal, demonstrate current licensure of the animal, and comply
with any conditions of redemption of the county animal control facility
and, if so ordered, by the Animal Control Commission.
When a seriously injured or suffering animal is taken into custody
by an animal control officer, the animal may be taken to a veterinarian
for an examination. If, in the opinion of the animal control officer
or his/her designee, it is in the best interests of the animal that
the animal be destroyed, the animal control officer or his/her designee
may promptly authorize humane euthanasia of the animal. The cost of
any veterinary care or veterinary consultation, ordered by the animal
control officer, shall be an obligation of the owner of the animal.
No person shall willfully prevent or obstruct the impounding
of any animal authorized to be impounded by the provisions of this
chapter by an animal control officer or police officer. Any violation
of this section is a municipal infraction subject to a fine of two
hundred fifty dollars ($250).
A.
The animal control officer shall keep complete and accurate records
of the breed, color, sex and condition of any animal impounded in
the animal control facility or transferred to the county facility
and shall record whether or not the animal is licensed.
B.
If an animal impounded in the animal control facility is licensed,
the animal control officer shall record the name and address of the
owner and the number of the license tag.
