Solano County Municipal Code Art. III Impoundment

4-40 Generally

The animal control director may take up, impound and safely keep any of the animals enumerated in this chapter found running at large, staked, tied or being herded or pastured in any street, road, lane, alley, court, square, park or other place belonging to or under control of the county, or upon any private property in the county, contrary to the provisions of this chapter; or where said animal is engaged in an activity or existing in any condition prohibited by this chapter; or where said animal is, or will be, without proper care due to injury, illness, death, incarceration, or other involuntary absence of the owner or person responsible for the care of such animal; or where said animal is to be quarantined.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-41 Care of impounded animals

Whenever any animal is impounded pursuant to this chapter, it shall be provided with proper and sufficient food and water.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-42 Notice to owner

The animal control director shall, immediately upon impoundment of dogs or other animals, make a reasonable effort to notify the owner of such dogs or other animals impounded, and further, in the case of a licensed dog, or cats wearing a license, inform such owners of the conditions whereby they may regain custody of such animals.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-43 Duration of impoundment

(a) All impounded dogs or cats found wearing a license tag or any other form of positive identification shall be kept in the animal shelter or other authorized place of impoundment for a period of not less than five (5) working days following the day of impoundment unless redeemed within such period.

(b) All impounded dogs and cats not wearing a license tag or other form of positive identification, shall be kept in the animal shelter or other authorized place of impoundment for a period. of not less, than three (3) working days after the day of impoundment unless redeemed within such period.

(c) Any impounded animal which is of a type referred to in section 17003 of the Food and Agriculture Code shall be kept in the animal shelter for at least five (5) working days following the date of impoundment 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 disposition by that office, pursuant to the requirement of the California Food and Agriculture Code.

(d) Any animal impounded pursuant to section 17065 of the Food and Agriculture Code shall be kept in the animal shelter or other authorized place of impoundment for at least fourteen (14) calendar days.

(e) Any other impounded animal shall be kept in the animal shelter for at least three (3) calendar days following the day of impoundment unless it is redeemed within such period.

(f) Any animal which is voluntarily surrendered to or deposited with the director by the owner shall not be deemed to be impounded and need not be kept or retained for any minimum period of time.

(g) Any feral animal need not be kept or retained for any minimum period of time.

(Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-44 Redemption of impounded animals

(a) The owner of any impounded animal shall have the right to reclaim the same at any time prior to the lawful disposition thereof, upon payment to the animal control director of the costs and charges which shall be established by ordinance of the board of supervisors for the impounding and keeping of such animals, provided, however, that if the animal is one which is subject to the licensing provisions of this chapter, the licensing requirements must be satisfied before the animal is released.

(b) If the impounded animal is not currently vaccinated against rabies as required, and the owner has not previously been cited for failure to license the animal or the animal has not been previously impounded within the preceding thirty (30) calendar days, the animal may be released to the owner upon payment of all fees required (including the license fee and penalty fee, if applicable) on condition that the owner shall:

(1) Have the animal vaccinated for rabies in accordance with article IX of this chapter within fourteen (14) calendar days; and

(2) Exhibit a valid certificate of such vaccination to the director within fourteen (14) calendar days, at which time the license will be issued.

(c) Animals may be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian designated by the director prior to redemption and the cost of the vaccination and any other costs accrued accomplishing the vaccination, including additional impoundment fees, must be satisfied before the animal is released.

(Ord. No. 927; §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-45 Disposition of unredeemed or surrendered animals

(a) Dogs.

(1) Unless an unlicensed dog or a dog not wearing traceable identification has been redeemed within three (3) working days from the day following the impoundment it may be sold by the animal control director for an amount determined and set by the board o supervisors; provided, that the purchaser shall not be given possession of any dog until the purchaser has paid to the animal control director the license fee prescribed for such dog. The animal control director shall accept the application for license and the license fee, but shall not deliver the license until proof of current rabies vaccination has been provided. If any unlicensed dog or dog not wearing traceable identification impounded by the animal control director shall not have been redeemed within such three (3) working day period, it may be destroyed by the animal control director in a humane manner.

(2) Unless licensed dogs or dogs wearing traceable identification have been redeemed within five (5) working days from the day following the impoundment such dogs may be sold by the animal control director for an amount determined and set by ordinance of the board of supervisors. The animal control director shall notify the owner of such animal, by mail, within twenty- four hours of impoundment. If any licensed dog or dog wearing traceable identification which has been impounded by the animal control director has not been redeemed within the five (5) day period, it may be destroyed by the animal control director in a humane manner.

(b) Cats.

(1) Unless an unlicensed cat or a cat not wearing traceable identification has been redeemed within three (3) working days from the day following the impoundment, it may be sold by the animal control director for an amount determined and set by ordinance of the board of supervisors. If any cat impounded by the animal control director shall not have been redeemed within such three (3) working day period, it may be destroyed by the animal control director in a humane manner.

(2) A Licensed cat or cat wearing traceable identification shall be processed in the same manner as provided for licensed dogs in subparagraph (a) (2) of this section.

(c) Other animals shall be processed in the same manner as provided for unlicensed dogs in subparagraph (a) (1) of this section, unless otherwise provided for by state statute.

(d) It shall be the duty of the animal control director, and the director is authorized and empowered, to forthwith dispose of any animal lawfully impounded which is, by reason of injury, disease, or other cause, unfit for further use or is dangerous to keep impounded. The animal control director may immediately destroy surrendered animals in a humane manner.

(e) At the discretion of the animal control director, an unredeemed or surrendered animal may be kept for a reasonable period of time after the expiration of the redemption period for the purpose of selling or adoption. Normally, the sale of the animal should be to the person offering to pay the prescribed amount as determined and set by ordinance of the board of supervisors; however, the animal control director may refuse to sell or adopt to a particular purchaser if the director has reason to believe the sale would not be in the best interest of the animal.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1101, §1; Ord. No. 1207, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1)