Mono County Municipal Code Ch. 9.28 Disposition and Redemption of Impounded Animals

Any animal, including any dog which bears a valid tag, taken up and impounded and which is not redeemed within a period of six days from the date of the taking up may be destroyed by the animal services officer in a humane manner, or if such animal is saleable, may be sold for cash at a private sale without notice for such price as the animal services officer deems reasonable and proper or he may deliver any such unredeemed dog to the United States military authorities; provided, however, it shall be the duty of the animal services officer within three days after the impounding of any dog bearing a license tag to mail a notice of such impounding in a sealed envelope directed to the licensee at the address shown by the application therefor on file with the license collector.

(Ord. No. 21-01, § 1(Exh. A), 5-4-2021)

Any unlicensed dog or dog bearing no license tag taken up and impounded pursuant to the provisions of Chapters 9.04 through 9.44 and which is not redeemed in the manner hereinafter provided within a period of three full days from the time of the taking up may be destroyed by the dog services officer in a humane manner, or if such dog is saleable, may be sold for cash at private sale without notice for such price as the dog services officer deems reasonable and proper or he may deliver such redeemed dog to the United States military authorities.

(Ord. No. 21-01, § 1(Exh. A), 5-4-2021)

When any animal is sold by the animal services officer as provided by Sections 9.28.010 and 9.28.020, it shall be his duty to deliver to the purchaser of such animal a statement in writing, which statement shall contain a description of the animal sold, the date when the animal was impounded, the date of sale and the amount of the purchase price. Before any dog is released to the purchaser, he shall obtain a license therefor. The animal services officer shall retain a duplicate of all statements issued by him in connection with the sale. All sales made under the provisions of this section shall convey a good and valid title to the purchaser, and the previous owner of the animal so sold thereafter shall be barred from all right to recover the same; provided, however, that if such original owner appears within three months after the date of the sale and proves to the satisfaction of the animal services officer that he was the owner of such animal, and upon making a verified claim therefor to the board of supervisors, he shall be reimbursed for any such sum as has been realized from the sale of the animal less such redemption fees as he would have been required to pay had he redeemed the animal as hereinafter provided on the date of such sale, plus the further sum of three dollars.

(Ord. No. 21-01, § 1(Exh. A), 5-4-2021)

The owner or person entitled to the possession of any animal impounded may at any time prior to its sale or disposal as provided in this chapter redeem the same. Such person desiring to redeem an animal shall deliver to the animal services officer a statement on a form prepared by the animal services officer which shall contain a description of the animal sought to be redeemed, the name and address of the claimant and the statement that he is the owner of such animal. It shall be the duty of the animal services officer to issue to such person a written statement containing the name and address of the claimant, a description of the animal to be redeemed, the date when the animal was impounded and accrued fees for its redemption, care and accrued license fee, if any, which statement shall serve as a certificate of redemption and receipt for the fee paid. The animal services officer shall keep duplicates of all statements issued by him.

(Ord. No. 21-01, § 1(Exh. A), 5-4-2021)

Fees for the redemption of impounded animals shall be set by resolution of the board of supervisors in amounts not to exceed the county's costs administering this chapter. The board of supervisors may also establish and set by resolution such other fees as it may deem appropriate for animal services, including, but not limited to, euthanasia, disposal, adoption, plan-checks, turn-ins, and boarding, in amounts not to exceed the county's costs of providing such services.

(Ord. No. 21-01, § 1(Exh. A), 5-4-2021)