Ridgecrest Municipal Code § 3-136 Sale or destruction of unclaimed animals

An animal shelter is hereby authorized and established for the impounding of animals under the direction and control of the animal control officer.

(Code 1980, § 5-2; Ord. No. 85, § 3)

If any dog is found in or upon any place in the city without having an official tag attached to its collar or harness as required by this section, said dog shall be presumed a stray dog and shall be presumed not to have been vaccinated or licensed as required by this section. The animal control officer, his deputies or assistants and any person employed by the city are hereby authorized and empowered to capture any unlicensed stray dog which is found running at large in or upon any place within the city. The animal control officer is authorized, empowered and directed to confine such dogs at the animal shelter.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.1; Ord. No. 85, § 15)

Any dog taken up and impounded by the animal control officer shall be confined in the animal shelter. It shall be the duty of the animal control officer to cause any dog suspected of having rabies to be examined by a licensed veterinarian to determine whether or not it is affected with rabies.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.3; Ord. No. 85, § 17)

Any officer or other person capturing and holding a dog under the provisions of this article shall make a reasonable effort to locate and notify the owner thereof, if known, that the animal is being held at the animal shelter and may be reclaimed by him within a period of three days from the date of seizure, as provided herein.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.4; Ord. No. 85, § 18)

(a) In the event that an unlicensed dog appears to be free from rabies and the owner desires to claim said dog before or after it is impounded, it shall be returned to him upon his paying to the animal control officer the following:

(1) Cost of obtaining a vaccination, if the owner does not produce a certificate that the dog has either been vaccinated as required by this chapter or been exempted;

(2) Cost of a dog license tag;

(3) Sheltering costs, if dog was impounded.

(b) The animal control officer shall issue for such vaccination cost and other costs a receipt containing the date and a statement that if the owner of the dog secures the vaccination of the dog by a vaccinator in the city and surrenders said receipt to the vaccinator, said vaccinator, if he accepts said receipt in payment of charges for vaccination of said dog, may reimburse himself from the city for said charges, not to exceed the amount herein specified. If a vaccinator accepts said receipt in payment, he shall not make any other charge for said vaccination of such dog. The sum established by resolution is hereby fixed as the cost of vaccination to be charged by officials enforcing the provisions of this chapter. No person shall issue a license tag for such released animal until the owner shall produce a certificate of vaccination endorsed by a licensed physician or veterinarian.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.5; Ord. No. 85, § 19)

The animal control officer shall monthly audit all vaccination receipts issued to ascertain whether any person receiving a released dog shall have failed to have the released dog vaccinated or have failed to obtain a license tag for such dog. When such failure has been confirmed, the animal control officer shall immediately search for and seize and impound said dog. For the purpose of seizing and impounding a dog pursuant to this article, the animal control officer is authorized and empowered to enter upon the private property of the owner or person in possession of said dog to seize and impound said dog.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.6; Ord. No. 85, § 20)

In the event the owner does not claim an impounded animal within three days after seizure and in the event the city continues to hold the possession of the animal, the animal control officer is authorized and empowered to deliver the animal to any other person pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-138 and 3-139.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.7; Ord. No. 85, § 21)

The animal control officer shall keep a true and faithful record of the number and description of all animals taken into his custody, with the date of their impounding, area where collected, duration of detention at the animal shelter, date and manner of their disposition, fees collected, and such other information as may be required by the city manager. He shall provide the necessary subsistence for animals while in his custody and shall not alter, nor suffer to be altered, any mark or brand thereon, and shall not suffer cruel treatment thereof.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.8; Ord. No. 85, § 22)

Costs of sheltering shall be set forth by resolution.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.12; Ord. No. 85, § 26; Ord. No. 79-2, § 3)

All fees and charges collected by the animal control officer or his deputies in the performance of their duties under this chapter shall be delivered to the license collector for deposit in the city treasury.

(Code 1980, § 5-6.13; Ord. No. 85, § 27)