(A) 
Any dog found running at large, contrary to the provisions of this Chapter, shall be apprehended and impounded by the Animal Control Administrator or his designee. For this purpose, the Administrator may utilize any existing or available public pounds.
(B) 
Any dog running at large within the County on any public way or public place, or upon the private premises of any person other than those of the keeper of the dog, shall be considered a stray and shall be considered to have been found running at large contrary to the provisions of this Chapter, whenever:
(1) 
The dog is not on the premises of its owner or keeper and is not under control by leash or other recognized control methods; or
(2) 
The dog does not bear a current rabies inoculation tag as required by this Chapter.
(C) 
When dogs are apprehended and impounded by the Animal Control Administrator, or his deputies, wardens or agents, he shall give notice to the owner, if known.
(D) 
The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded dog on compliance with the provisions of this Chapter, if not already in compliance therewith, and the payment of boarding fees and other charges as determined by the Administrator.
The County Animal Control Department, upon receiving any dog or cat, shall immediately make a complete registry thereof. Such registry should include the sex, breed and color of the animal; the tag number, if available; a notation as to whether the animal is registered; and the owner’s name and last known address.
(A) 
When dogs are apprehended and impounded by the Administrator, he shall give notice of not less than seven (7) days to the owner, if known. Where the owner is unknown, the dog may be humanely dispatched or offered for humane dispatch after five (5) days.
(B) 
Notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the owner. An affidavit or testimony of the Administrator, or his authorized agent, who mails the notice shall be prima facie evidence of the receipt of the notice by the owner of the dog.
(A) 
In case the owner of any impounded dog desires to make redemption thereof, he or she may do so on the following conditions:
(1) 
Present proof of current rabies inoculation, and registration, if applicable, or
(2) 
Pay for the rabies inoculation of the dog, and registration, if applicable, and
(3) 
Pay the pound for the board of the dog for the period it was impounded, and
(4) 
Pay into the Animal Control Fund an additional impoundment fee as prescribed by the Board as a penalty for the first offense and for each subsequent offense.
(B) 
This shall be in addition to any other penalties invoked under state law or statutes and this Chapter.
When not redeemed by the owner, a dog which has been impounded for failure to be inoculated and/or registered, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter or the state Animal Control Act, shall be humanely dispatched, offered for sale or ownership, or otherwise disposed of by the pound as a stray dog in accordance with the laws or ordinance that exist or may hereafter exist.
An animal pound or animal shelter shall not release any dog or cat when not redeemed by the owner unless the animal has been surgically rendered incapable of reproduction by spaying or neutering, or the person wishing to gain ownership of an animal prior to the surgical procedures having been performed, shall have executed a written agreement promising to have such service performed within a specified period of time. Failure to fulfill the terms of the agreement shall result in seizure by the Administrator, or the agents thereof, and impoundment of the animal, and any monies which have been deposited shall be forfeited.
This Chapter shall not prevent humane societies from engaging in activities set forth by their charters; provided, they are not inconsistent with provisions of this Chapter and other existing state statutes.
Any person purchasing or gaining ownership of an impounded dog, with or without charge or donation, must pay for the rabies inoculation of the dog and registration if applicable.
(A) 
In order to prevent the destruction of lost pets and to provide owners with a central facility through which to locate stray pets, the public pound shall be notified within twenty-four (24) hours by any agency, organization or individual picking up or confining a stray animal.
(B) 
A private organization or individual confining a stray animal may turn the animal over to the public pound or hold the animal for claiming by its owners, but no private individual or organization shall dispose of stray animals by simple killing.
(C) 
This Section shall not prevent farmers from exercising any right they may have to destroy animals attacking their livestock or poultry.
The owner of any female dog or cat which is in heat shall not keep, harbor, or otherwise maintain such dog or cat in the unincorporated parts of the County unless the dog or cat is confined in a secure enclosure during the entire period the dog or cat is in heat, except that it shall be lawful for a dog or cat in heat to be walked if the dog or cat remains on a leash and is not permitted to run at large. Any dog or cat in heat which is not so confined will be declared to be a public nuisance and may be apprehended by the County Animal Control Department and the Administrator or his deputies or agents.