Ripon Municipal Code Ch. 6.40 Impoundment

Sections: 6.40.010 Impoundment of Dogs 6.40.020 Impoundment of Cats 6.40.030 Redemption of Impounded Animals 6.40.040 Impoundment—Duration 6.40.050 Disposal Authorized 6.40.060 Abandonment 6.40.070 Voluntary Surrender/Fees 6.40.080 Adoption 6.40.090 Sterilization 6.40.100 Animal Control General Fund 6.40.110 Voluntary Releases of Dead Animals 6.40.120 Disposal of Carcasses by Owners 6.40.130 Record Keeping 6.40.140 Care of Impounded Animals 6.40.150 Special Fee for Animals Impounded After Regular Business Hours

It is the duty of the Animal Control Officer to impound all dogs found or kept in the city in violation of any of the Sections in title 6, including, but not limited to, the permit and annual registration Sections. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

It is the duty of the animal control department to impound all cats delivered to the animal shelter or running at large. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Animals: A. Except where redemption is not permitted by this title, redemption of an impounded animal by the owner shall be made by exhibiting to the Animal Control Officer proof of the owner's identity and any required animal license certificate or animal license tag or other satisfactory proof of ownership. No animal shall be released until redemption fees, costs of care and feeding, veterinary fees incurred, if any, and any fees and penalties provided by this title have been paid. Redemption fees shall be established from time to time by resolution of the city council. B. No dog shall be released from impoundment until such dog has been licensed or registered as provided by this chapter. C. The Animal Control Officer, at his/her discretion, may refuse to permit the redemption of any animal impoundment pursuant to the provisions of this title, or any other county, state, or municipal law, until the need for the retention of such animal no longer exists. The cost of continued retention shall be borne by the owner. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. All impounded dogs/cats found wearing a current license tag or bearing an identification tag tattoo or computer identification shall, unless sooner redeemed, be kept in the animal control center for a period of not less than ten days after notification. B. All impounded dogs/cats found not wearing a current license or identification tag shall, unless sooner redeemed, be kept in the animal control center for a period of not less than 72 hours.
C. Impounded livestock such as bovine animals, horses, mules, or burros shall be kept in the animal shelter for at least five days, unless it is redeemed within that period. If the animal is a bovine animal and is not redeemed, it shall be turned over to the State Bureau of Livestock Identification for disposal by that office. Any other livestock shall be disposed of in

113-2 Impoundment (Ripon 10-95) accordance with the provisions of the California Food and Agriculture Code Sections 17063- 17095. D. Any other impounded animal shall, unless sooner redeemed, shall be kept in the animal control center for no less than 72 hours. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Except as otherwise provided in this title, an impounded animal which is not redeemed within the specified holding period shall be considered to be abandoned by its owner and shall become the property of the city. Such animal may be adopted or humanely destroyed. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

The refusal or failure of the owner of any such animal to pay the fees and charges, after due notification, shall constitute abandonment of the animal. Any animal not claimed by its owner within the period specified in this ordinance shall become the property of the city and shall be placed for adoption to a suitable home or humanely destroyed. Abandonment does not relieve the owner from the obligation to pay all fees related to the impounding and keeping of the animal. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. Upon request, an owner may surrender an animal to the Animal Control Officer for adoption placement. Any animal which is voluntarily surrendered to or deposited with the Animal Control Officer by the owner shall immediately thereafter become the property of the city. It shall be understood that no guarantee of placement will be made, and humane disposal will be a discretionary option of the Animal Control Officer. B. Any owner of an animal who voluntarily surrenders an animal to the Animal Control Officer shall be subject to a fee for each animal. Litters of unweaned animals or animals less than four months of age shall be considered as one animal. C. The surrender of an animal by an owner to the Animal Control Officer, subsequent to impoundment due to a violation of this title or any provisions of state law, shall not relieve the owner of the obligation to pay all fees and charges as set forth in this chapter prior to such surrender, including accumulated boarding charges, veterinary charges, or any other charges related to the impounding and keeping of the animal. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Animals subject to disposition by the city may be sold if the Animal Control Officer finds that the sale of any such animal is not contrary to law, to policy of the city, or to the public interest. Dogs or cats may not be sold for purposes other than the keeping of pets, and may not be sold without first having been licensed, neutered, or spayed, or a fee therefore having been deposited. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

No unclaimed dog or cat shall be released for adoption without being sterilized or without a written agreement from the new owner guaranteeing that such animal will be sterilized and a sterilization deposit made. The sterilization fee deposit shall be established by resolution of the city council. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

In the event such animal is not sterilized within three months (in the case of an adult animal) or six months (in the case of an animal which is less then six months old) after the date of purchase, the sterilization deposit collected at the

113-3 Impoundment (Ripon 10-95) time of adoption will be considered abandoned and the money applied to the Animal Control General Fund and shall be used only for the following purposes: A. A public education program to prevent over population of dogs and cats. B. A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats. C. A follow up program to assure that animals sold or given away by the pound or shelter are spayed or neutered. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Animals: Any owner of a dead animal who voluntarily releases such animal to the Animal Control Officer shall be subject to a disposal fee; or if a dead animal is taken into custody by the Animal Control Officer and ownership can be determined, the owner shall be responsible for disposal fees. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Owners: Any person possessing a dead animal shall take the responsibility of disposing of it in a safe and sanitary manner. Upon the receipt of information that the body of an animal has not been properly disposed of in accordance with this Section, the Animal Control Officer shall dispose of the body. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Complete and adequate records shall be kept by the Animal Control Officer including: the number and description, of all animals impounded and the date and time of impoundment; the name and address of every owner redeeming animals; the name and address of every person adopting animals; the number and description of every animal destroyed, and the date and time of the euthanization. The Animal Control Officer shall also keep records regarding fees collected, and the costs of maintaining the animal shelter facility, including, but not limited to, staff time, feed purchased, veterinary care administered, the costs of disposing of animals and animal carcasses, and the costs of issuing notices and advertisements. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

The Animal Control Officer shall ensure that all animals impounded are provided with adequate food and water, and are treated in a humane and proper manner. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Impounded After Regular Business Hours: In addition to redemption fees as provided for in Section 6.36.030, above, the owner of any animal which was impounded as a result of an after-regular-business-hours call to the Animal Control Officer shall pay an additional fee, as set by resolution of the city council, for the service of impounding the animal after regular business hours. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

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