(a) A person
who desires to adopt an animal from the town shall:
(1) Register
and license the animal with the town without charge;
(2) Have
the animal vaccinated for rabies within five (5) days after adoption;
and
(3) Have
the animal spayed or neutered within fourteen (14) days after adoption,
provided the animal is of proper age for such procedure; provided
however, that if the animal is not of proper age for the procedure,
then the animal must be vaccinated within fourteen (14) days of reaching
the proper age.
(4) Sign a promise in writing that the animal will be vaccinated and spayed/neutered within the time limits prescribed in subsection
(2) and
(3) above. The animal control department shall keep such written promise on file. It is an offense under this article for the owner of the animal to fail to provide proof of vaccination to animal control within five (5) days from the date of adoption. It is a separate offense under this article for the owner of the animal to fail to provide proof of spaying/neutering to animal control within fourteen (14) days from the date of adoption or the date when the animal reaches the proper age. If:
(A) an owner makes a promise to vaccinate or spay/neuter in writing;
(B) the animal is thereafter impounded a second time; and
(C) it is determined that the animal was not vaccinated and/or spayed/neutered
in accordance with the written promise, then the impoundment fee shall
be doubled as required in the fee schedule found in the appendix of
this code.
For any subsequent impoundment of such animal that remains unvaccinated
and/or unspayed/unneutered at the time of impoundment, an additional
impoundment fee as set forth in the fee schedule found in the appendix
of this code shall be assessed.
(b) The animal
control officer shall make the final determination as to whether an
animal is healthy enough for adoption. Provided, however, that such
a decision by the animal control officer shall not constitute a warranty,
either express or implied, of the health or age of the animal.
(Ordinance 03-003 adopted 4/7/03)