(a) Reasons for impoundment.
(1) Any animal found in violation of this chapter, any other ordinance
of the city, or any law, rule or regulation of the state or the United
States may be impounded and taken to the city’s animal control
facility.
(2) Any animal found being kept under conditions which could endanger
the life or health of a person or animal, such as a rabid animal may
be impounded and taken to the city’s animal control facility.
(3) Any animal found abandoned within an enclosure in the city may be
impounded and taken to the city’s animal control facility 48
hours after posting notice on the enclosure.
(4) Any officer enforcing this chapter may enter private property and
impound any animal under exigent circumstances if the officer reasonably
believes it to be necessary to protect the life of the animal.
(b) Notification of owner.
Upon impoundment of an animal,
the animal control officer shall make reasonable efforts to contact
the owner of the animal if the owner is known.
(c) Redemption of animal.
Unless the animal is authorized
to be held under another section of this chapter, the owner of an
animal may redeem the animal from the city’s animal control
facility upon providing proof of compliance with the registration
and vaccination requirements of this chapter and the payment of all
impoundment fees, handling fees, and any veterinary expenses incurred.
(d) Disposition of unclaimed animals.
(1) If the owner of an impounded animal does not redeem the animal within
72 hours after notification of the owner, or within 72 hours from
the time of impoundment if the owner is unknown, the animal is deemed
to be abandoned, the owner is divested of ownership of the animal,
and the city is deemed to be the owner of the animal.
(2) Any animals abandoned under this section shall be given away, put
up for adoption, euthanized, or disposed of in another humane manner,
at the discretion of the animal control officer.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the animal
control officer may immediately transfer any cats believe to be feral
cats to the Humane Society of North Texas for treatment or other disposition.
(e) Adoption of animals.
(1) The animal control authority or the contracted veterinarian shall
be the sole judge as to whether a cat or dog is healthy enough for
adoption, and its health and age adequate for vaccination. However,
such decision by the animal control authority shall not constitute
a warranty of the health or age of the animal.
(2) All dogs and cats which are adopted through the city animal shelter
shall be sterilized/altered to prevent reproduction in that animal
provided the animal is eight weeks or older or two pounds or more
in body weight.
(3) All dogs and cats which are adopted through the city animal shelter
and are over four months of age shall be vaccinated for rabies.
(4) If an animal is already altered, the animal can be released from
the shelter the same day of the adoption.
(5) Adopted animals must be surgically altered by the date indicated
in the adoption contract, at the expense of the adopter.
(6) The animal control authority reserves the right to refuse to adopt
any animal if it is believed that the adoption may create a risk to
the animal’s health and safety.
(7) Failing to comply with the terms of the adoption contract will constitute
violation of this section.
(f) Disposal of dangerous wild animals.
Any dangerous wild
animal may be immediately, humanely disposed of as deemed appropriate
by the animal control authority if the dangerous wild animal cannot
be safely impounded.
(g) Baby animals.
Any nursing baby animal impounded without
the mother or where the mother cannot or refuses to provide adequate
nutrition and the baby animal is suffering may be immediately euthanized
or given to a nonprofit humane organization for the purpose of veterinary
care, as determined by the animal control authority.
(h) Owner relinquishing responsibility.
An owner who no
longer wishes responsibility for an animal may sign a written waiver
supplied by the animal control authority allowing the animal to be
immediately euthanized in a humane manner, adopted, sold, or care
and custody may be transferred to a nonprofit animal welfare organization
approved by the animal control authority.
(i) Injured animals.
Any impounded animal that appears to
be suffering from injury or illness may be transferred to a nonprofit
animal welfare organization, approved by the animal control authority,
for the purpose of veterinary medical care, as determined by the animal
control authority.
(j) Animals of prisoners.
(1) Any person who is taken into the custody of the city police department
or other law enforcement personnel and having in his/her possession
an animal shall be notified that the animal will be transferred to
the animal control authority shelter.
(2) During confinement of said person, the animal will be taken care
of by the animal control authority. The animal must be redeemed from
impoundment within five business days from the time of the incarceration
of the owner, at no charge to the owner. If the animal has not been
redeemed within the five-day period, then the animal becomes the property
of the city and may euthanized in a humane manner, adopted, sold,
or transferred to a nonprofit animal welfare organization approved
by the animal control authority.
(3) No person shall be able to redeem an animal taken possession of pursuant
to this section, except the owner or owner’s duly authorized
designee.
(4) An animal may be kept at the animal control authority shelter for
a period of time exceeding five business days if, in the discretion
of the animal control authority, there is a possibility of reuniting
the animal with its owner within a reasonable amount of time.
(Ordinance 558-19 adopted 9/9/19)