The animal control officer is authorized to take up all animals
found not to be restrained and impound such animals in the animal
shelter. All such animals shall be confined in a humane manner.
(Ordinance 583 adopted 10/1/87; 1999 Code, sec. 91.35)
(a) Where
the ownership of an animal, found not to be restrained, is known,
a notice of such violation may be issued by the animal control officer
or his designee to such owner. Upon issuance of any such notice, the
animal control officer or his designee shall file a complaint with
the municipal court and request that the violator be summoned to appear
in municipal court and answer such charges.
(b) Upon
impounding animals found with current vaccination or other identifying
tags, the animal control officer shall make a reasonable effort to
notify the owners of such animals so impounded, and of the conditions
whereby they may regain possession of such animals.
(Ordinance 583 adopted 10/1/87; 1999 Code, sec. 91.36)
(a) Payment of fees.
Any animal impounded under the provisions
of this article may be reclaimed by the owner upon the payment of
all impoundment fees.
(b) Unvaccinated animals.
Any animal over the age of four
months which does not have a current rabies vaccination may not be
redeemed, transferred, or adopted until it has been vaccinated as
required in this chapter.
(Ordinance 583 adopted 10/1/87; 1999 Code, sec. 91.37)
(a) Generally.
After the requirements of notice as set forth in section
3.03.002 and the expiration of three days, any impounded animal that is unclaimed or unredeemed shall become the property of the city, which shall have the following powers:
(1) Authority to transfer ownership.
The animal control
officer may transfer ownership of any impounded animal that is unclaimed
or unredeemed. In the event of such transfer of ownership, the person
or agency to whom ownership is transferred shall pay for such animal’s
food and care while in the animal shelter and shall comply with the
applicable vaccination requirements.
(2) Right to destroy.
The animal control officer may humanely
destroy an impounded animal that is unclaimed or unredeemed. No person
may put to death a dog, cat, or other small domestic animal in the
custody of the animal control officer by shooting, except in emergency
field conditions, by clubbing, by a decompression chamber, by carbon
monoxide, or by poison. All dogs, cats, and small domestic animals
shall be destroyed by administering an approved drug. This chapter
applies to the destruction of domestic animals by the animal control
officer, in accordance with V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, chapter
823.
(3) Transfer of ownership to Humane Society.
The animal
control officer may transfer ownership of any impounded animal that
is unclaimed or unredeemed to the Amarillo Panhandle Humane Society
for the purposes of adoption.
(b) Donated, sick, weaned or injured animals.
(1) The animal control officer may destroy any animal by a humane method
if the animal is unweaned, so sick or injured that its cure is considered
by the animal control officer to be impracticable, or if death is
imminent; and in any of such events, such destruction may be done
immediately without notice of any waiting period.
(2) In the case of donated animals, immediate destruction of the animal
is permitted.
(Ordinance 583 adopted 10/1/87; 1999 Code, sec. 91.38)