Antioch Municipal Code Art. 7 Impounding and Disposition of Animals

A person who picks up a stray or lost animal shall report it to Animal Services within eight hours, and shall release the animal to the enforcing authority upon demand.

(Ord. 2083-C-S, passed 4-8-14)

(A) The Animal Control Supervisor may seize and impound an animal found at large or in violation of this chapter. (See Cal. Food and Agric. Code § 31101.) A seized animal will be impounded at the Animal Shelter and confined there in a humane manner.

(B) When a dog is found at large, and its ownership is known to the Animal Control Supervisor, the dog need not be impounded. The Animal Control Supervisor, at his or her discretion, may return the animal to its owner and cite the dog owner under § 6-1.501.

(Ord. 2083-C-S, passed 4-8-14)

(A) The city will keep an impounded dog or cat for:

(1) If licensed, bears owner identification or is known to the Animal Control Supervisor, for at least ten days that the shelter is open;

(2) If the dog or cat is unlicensed and bears no identification, for at least four days that the shelter is open. (See Cal. Food and Agric. Code § 31108.)

(B) Upon delivering the animal to Animal Services, the Animal Control Supervisor shall send a written notice of impoundment by email or mail to the licensed or registered owner of the animal, if known, at the address as shown on the records of the Animal Services. The Animal Control Supervisor shall scan the animal for a microchip that identifies the owner. (See Food and Ag. Code § 31108(c).) The notice shall state that the animal has been impounded and shall give the location of impoundment. The notice shall also state that if the animal is not claimed within the period specified in the notice, the animal will be disposed of by placing it in another suitable home or by euthanizing the animal.

(C) The owner may recover the dog, cat, or other animal picked up and impounded under this chapter only upon payment of the charges and costs of redemption of impounded animals. (See § 6-1.705 below.)

(1) The owner is liable for the costs whether or not the owner redeems the animal.

(2) The owner's refusal or failure to pay the fees and charges, after due notification, constitutes his or her abandonment of the animal.

(D) A licensed dog not redeemed by the owner within ten days after mailing or emailing the notice shall be disposed of as though the dog was an unlicensed dog when impounded. If the Animal Control Supervisor determines that the animal will not be claimed, represents a health hazard to the other animals maintained at the shelter, is of a wild nature, or is severely injured, he or she may order the animal to be placed in a suitable home or euthanized. (See Cal. Food and Agric. Code § 31108.)

(Ord. 2083-C-S, passed 4-8-14)

(A) The owner may redeem an animal taken up and impounded under this chapter at any time before the actual disposal of the animal, by presenting suitable evidence of ownership. (See Food and Agric. Code § 31108.5.) No animal will be released until the owner has:

(1) Paid redemption fees and any fees and penalties authorized by this chapter. The fees may include, but are not limited to: impound fee; boarding (care and feeding); microchip fee; dog license; vaccination; veterinary fees, if injured; investigation; spaying or neutering; special tag and investigation if determined to be potentially dangerous or vicious;

(2) Signed a declaration of ownership, made under penalty of perjury, to justify the release of the animal declaring ownership. However, the Animal Control Supervisor may refuse to release the animal if there is reasonable cause to believe that the information contained in the declaration is untrue or incorrect and, in that case, may require additional evidence of ownership as the Animal Control Supervisor may determine; and

(3) Paid the fine specified under Cal. Food and Agric. Code § 30804.7 for any nonspayed or unneutered dog that is impounded.

(B) No dog shall be released from impoundment until the dog has been licensed or registered. No dog or cat shall be released from impoundment until the animal has been implanted with a microchip identification and, after the second impoundment, until the animal has been spayed or neutered.

(C) The Animal Control Supervisor, at his or her discretion, may refuse to permit the redemption of any animal impounded under this chapter, or any other county, state, or municipal law, until the need for the retention of such animal no longer exists. The city shall bear the cost of the continued retention, after any request of redemption and tendering of all other costs and fees by the owner.

(Ord. 2083-C-S, passed 4-8-14)

No unclaimed dog or cat shall be released for adoption without:

(A) Being sterilized; or

(B) A written agreement from the adopter guaranteeing that the animal will be sterilized and a sterilization deposit made. The sterilization fee deposit is established by resolution of the Council. If the animal is not sterilized within 14 business days after the date of purchase, the sterilization deposit collected at the time of adoption will be considered abandoned and the money applied to the General Animal Control Fund for use as the city may determine. (See Food and Agric. Code § 30503.)

(Ord. 2083-C-S, passed 4-8-14)

(A) For disposal. At the request of a person not operating a commercial establishment for the sale and/or care of animals, the Animal Control Supervisor shall accept and dispose of any small animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, or rabbit, lawfully in the possession of the person.

(B) For adoption. An owner may surrender an animal to the Animal Control Supervisor for placement for adoption. It is understood that no guarantee of placement will be made, and euthanasia will be at the discretion of the Animal Control Supervisor. A surrender fee is established by resolution of the Council.

(Ord. 2083-C-S, passed 4-8-14)