[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
Unrestrained and/or nuisance animals shall be taken by the Animal Control Officer or Animal Control Officer's authorized agent and impounded in an animal shelter and there confined in a humane manner.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
If, by a vaccination tag or identification tag, the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the Animal Control Officer shall immediately upon impoundment notify the owner by telephone or mail.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
An owner, harborer or keeper reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay a reclamation fee, said fee shall be established from time to time by the City Council and adopted by resolution.
B. 
No owner, harborer or keeper shall be relieved of liability for payment of any fee incurred as may be prescribed by law by virtue of an animal being euthanized, abandoned, or relinquished to the City of Arnold. Is shall be unlawful to fail to pay any fee incurred in association with the impoundment of an animal.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
All animals shall be vaccinated, registered, and bear appropriate tag 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 fee shall be established from time to time by the City Council and adopted by resolution. Said fee shall cover the cost of vaccination-registration and shall be assessed and paid for each animal not being vaccinated at time of capture, except in cases of repeated offense, as otherwise provided in this Chapter. The vaccination fee will apply in addition to other outstanding impound fees and reclamation fines.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within fourteen (14) calendar days shall become the property of the City of Arnold, and shall be:
1. 
Placed for adoption in a suitable home; or
2. 
Relinquished to a non-profit (as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) animal adoption organization that agrees to the sterilization of the dog or cat if it has not already been sterilized; or
3. 
Humanely euthanized.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
No impounded animal shall be released for adoption without being microchipped, vaccinated and sterilized or without a written agreement from the adopter guaranteeing that the animal will be microchipped, vaccinated and sterilized within thirteen (13) days after the date of adoption in the case of an adult animal, or sterilization of an adopted infant female or male puppy or kitten thirteen (13) days after it is six (6) months of age. The written agreement with the adopter guaranteeing that the microchipping, vaccination and sterilization will be performed by a licensed veterinarian shall contain the following information:
1. 
The date of the agreement.
2. 
The name, address, and signature of the releasing agent and the adopter.
3. 
A description of the animal to be adopted.
4. 
A statement printed in conspicuous bold print that the vaccination and sterilization of the animal is required pursuant to Sections 273.400 to 273.405, RSMo.
5. 
A vaccination and sterilization completion date.
B. 
An adoption fee shall be established from time to time by the City Council and adopted by resolution. Said fee shall be paid prior to the release of any animal that is to be adopted. The adoption fee shall be based upon the costs of registration, tags, physical examination, heartworm or Feline Leukemia test, vaccination, microchipping, and sterilization expenses.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
The City shall agree to give title, possession, and control of the animal so long as the adopter complies with the terms and conditions of the adoption agreement.
B. 
The City shall consider the animal microchipped, vaccinated and sterilized upon receipt of written confirmation signed by the licensed veterinarian who performed the microchipping, vaccination and sterilization.
C. 
Exceptions to the sterilization requirements of Sections 273.400 to 273.405, RSMo., shall not apply to a dog or cat that is claimed from the City by a person who already owns the animal.
D. 
All costs of sterilization pursuant to Sections 273.400 to 273.405, RSMo., shall be paid by the prospective adopter, unless otherwise provided.
E. 
The requirements of Sections 273.400 to 273.405, RSMo., shall not apply to canines of a breed regularly used for lawful hunting or livestock production, as specified by rules of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, to be used in the practice of livestock production or management of the practice of lawful hunting. The adopter may sign a statement that states he/she is going to use the canines for such purpose in lieu of the sterilization agreement.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
Every animal impounded which is found upon arrival at the animal shelter to be diseased or injured, which in a veterinarian's judgment, is beyond cure through reasonable care and treatment, and whose owner is unknown may be immediately disposed of by euthanasia.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
Whenever an emergency situation exists, which requires the immediate euthanasia of animal suffering from imminently fatal injuries, an Animal Control Officer or their designee, a Law Enforcement Officer, or a veterinarian may humanely destroy the animal by humane euthanasia.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
Owners who relinquish title to their impounded animals, in writing, shall pay a fee as established from time to time by the City Council and adopted by resolution, and the animal may be immediately euthanized.