Dunsmuir Municipal Code Ch. 6.16 Impoundment

A public pound is authorized, and established, which pound shall be located at a place to be designated, from time to time, by resolution of the city council.

(Prior code § 3-13; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The code enforcement officer shall have charge of the public pound and shall perform the other duties specified in this chapter. The city manager may, but is not required to designate such assistant poundmaster(s) as may be required to assist the poundmaster and to specify such duties and responsibilities as may be required provided they are consistent with the intent of this title.

(Prior code § 3-14; Ord. 492 § 2, 1994; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

It shall be the duty of the poundmaster to take up and impound all horses, mules, asses, goats, cows, bulls, calves and sheep and all hogs and dogs and fowl found running at large or estrayed upon any public street, alleyway, sidewalk, vacant lot or any public place in the city.

(Prior code § 3-15; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The poundmaster shall keep a true record of the number and description of all animals taken into custody, with the date of their receipt, and the date and manner of their disposal. Such record shall be kept by the poundmaster in a book provided for that purpose, which shall be the record book of the office of the poundmaster, and shall not be removed therefrom. He shall also keep conspicuously posted at city hall a list of all animals therein detained.

(Prior code § 3-16; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

Horses, cows, bulls, oxen, mules or asses, if not reclaimed within three days after being impounded, shall be advertised for sale by posting of a notice on the bulletin board at the city hall, for five days. Smaller animals such as hogs, sheep, lambs, goats, and dogs and other small animals may be advertised by written notice conspicuously posted on the bulletin board at the city hall, for three days. Such notice shall describe the animals impounded and give the time and place of their sale.

(Prior code § 3-17; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. Every dog found or being on any public street of the city and not held or led by a cord or chain, or confined in any vehicle, shall be taken by the poundmaster to and impounded in the public pound, where it may be redeemed by the owner or person entitled to the possession of the dog, within three days thereafter.

No person who owns or has charge, custody, control or possession of a dog shall allow it to run at large so that it is subject to impoundment. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction.

B. If the dog is not so redeemed, the dog shall be destroyed and disposed of by the poundmaster; provided, that the poundmaster is authorized to keep valuable dogs and sell them, and payment for such shall be made to the city clerk and shall be endorsed by the city clerk. Such receipt shall be valid title to the purchaser.

C. If the license fee has not been paid for the current year for any impounded dog, or if no valid rabies vaccination certificate has been obtained, along with a vaccination tag, the party redeeming the dog shall, before redemption, pay such license fee, and supply a valid rabies vaccination certificate and obtain dog vaccination tag, in addition to the redemption fee required to be paid to the city clerk.

D. In case it is satisfactorily shown to the poundmaster that license fee for the then current year has been paid and that the valid dog vaccination tag has been obtained for any dog so impounded, the dog shall be released upon payment of the required fees.

E. The charges provided for in this section may from time to time be modified by a resolution of the city council.

F. If a sale is not made by the poundmaster at the time stated in his published or posted notice, the sale may, by him, be postponed from day to day, until the dogs offered are sold. Notice of such postponement shall be given in the same manner as provided for in the original notice of sale, but no fees shall be charged for posting notices for such postponement.

(Prior code § 3-18; Ord. 492 §§ 3, 4, 1994; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The animal control officer shall provide all impounded animals with suitable and adequate food, water and shelter.

(Prior code § 3-19; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. Reclamation. Any animal may be reclaimed by the owner or person entitled to its control before the sale or disposition thereof, by paying all fees and charges that have been incurred or accrued up to the time of reclamation, and any such animal may be reclaimed after having been taken up by the poundmaster and before it has been placed in the pound, by paying the same fee that the poundmaster would be entitled to if the animal were actually impounded.

B. Redemption Fees.

1. First offense, fifteen dollars ($15.00), plus proof of vaccination within seventy-two (72) hours, and a proof of city license;

2. Second offense, fifty dollars ($50.00), plus proof of vaccination within seventy-two (72) hours, and proof of city license;

3. Third offense, seventy-five dollars ($75.00), plus proof of vaccination within seventy-two (72) hours, and proof of city license.

4. For each additional offense, after the third offense, committed by the owner or keeper of any animal previously cited, a minimum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), per offense, shall be added above the penalty for the third offense if said offense(s) is committed within one year of the date of the third offense.

C. Impoundment Fees. Impound fees to be paid on all impounded animals; ten dollars ($10.00) per day or reasonable veterinary fee if impounded with veterinarian.

D. Disposal. All dogs or other animals not reclaimed or redeemed within seventy-two (72) hours may be destroyed in some humane manner by the poundmaster or he may after the dog or other animal is impounded for seventy-two (72) hours, place the same with some responsible person and convey a valid title thereto. The seventy-two (72) hours shall start to run on a currently licensed dog having thereon a license tag only after notice has been given the owner.

E. Ill or Injured Animal. If said dog or other animal is seriously injured or ill, the poundmaster may with the consent of a licensed veterinarian or if necessary at his discretion, to prevent further suffering, destroy the dog or other animal prior to the expiration of the seventy-two (72) hour period.

F. Disposal Fee. Disposal fee shall be actual costs incurred by the city or the city's representative for disposal of an animal.

(Prior code § 3-20; Ord. 507 § 2, 1998; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

At the time specified or at any postponement thereof, the poundmaster shall sell for cash all animals so advertised, and out of the proceeds of the sale thereof collect proper fees and charges, and all reasonable and proper demands under the provisions of this title. Any balance of the proceeds of a sale of any animal remaining after payment of such fees, charges and demands shall be paid into the city treasury for the use of the owner of such animal, if claimed within six months thereafter; and if not, the same shall be turned into the general fund of such treasury.

(Prior code § 3-21; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

No person shall resist or interfere with the poundmaster or any of his deputies in the discharge of their official duties.

(Prior code § 3-22; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)