Vallejo Municipal Code Ch. 7.16 Impounding Animals

It shall be the duty of the director to take up, impound and safely keep any of the animals enumerated in Chapters 7.04 through 7.38 found running at large, staked, tied or being herded or pastured in any street, road, lane, alley, court, square, park or other public place or upon any private property in the city, contrary to the provisions of Chapters 7.04 through 7.38.

(Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 12, 973.)

When any animal is so impounded, it shall be provided with proper and sufficient food and water by the director.

(Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 13, 1973.)

The director shall immediately upon impoundment of a dog or other animal make a reasonable effort to notify the owner of such dog or other animal impounded and further he shall comply with Section 7.16.090 in the case of a licensed dog or cat, informing such owner of the conditions whereby he may regain custody of such animal.

(Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 14, 1973.)

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 director of the costs and charges, which shall be established by resolution of the city council for the impounding and keeping of such animals.

(Ord. 536 N.C. (2d) § 4, 1980: Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 15, 1973.)

A. Unlicensed dogs - Any unlicensed, unaltered dog impounded under Section 7.16.010 must be spayed or neutered prior to its release from the animal services department unless the dog is exempted from the license requirements under subsection A of Section 7.06.040 or has a medical exemption under subsection D of this section.

B. Any licensed, unaltered dog impounded under Section 7.16.010 will be released intact from the animal services department on the first and second occasion the dog is impounded within a three-year period.

C. Any licensed unaltered dog impounded under Section 7.16.010 a third time within a three-year period must be spayed or neutered prior to the dogs release from the animal services director unless the dog has a medical exemption under subsection (d) of this section.

D. Medical exemption - The animal services department will release intact any unaltered dog impounded under Section 7.16.010 that cannot be spayed or neutered due to a medical condition that is confirmed by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of California. Before releasing the dog, the animal services department will issue the dog's owner a written notice requiring the owner to spay or neuter the dog and provide proof of correction within two months of the date of the notice. The animal services department may extend the two-month correction period if, based on the opinion of a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of California, the medical condition continues to prevent the dog from being spayed or neutered. The dog's owner shall be responsible for paying the costs of any medical examinations rendered pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 1840 N.C. (2d), § 15, 2-11-2020)

A. All dogs and cats impounded under Section 7.16.010 must be implanted with microchip identification before being released from impoundment to their owners.

B. The animal services department will perform the microchip implantation procedure, at the owner's expense, on any dog or cat that does not already have microchip identification before the dog or cat is released from impoundment to its owner.

C. The fee for a microchip implantation procedure performed under subsection (B) will be the microchip fee amount listed in the animal services department's fee schedule.

(Ord. No. 1840 N.C. (2d), § 16, 2-11-2020)

The animal control director shall charge, receive, and collect fees for the performance of services related to impoundments, redemptions, adoptions, licenses, boarding, extraordinary calls for service, and for such other functions performed in support of said services. The specific service for which a fee is charged, the amount of such fee, and the time and method of payment of such fee shall be determined and set by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 536 N.C. (2d) § 5, 1980: Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 19, 1973.; Ord. No. 1840 N.C. (2d), § 17, 2-11-2020)

It shall be the duty of the director, and he is authorized and empowered, to forthwith dispose of, in a humane manner, any animal lawfully impounded which is, by reason of injury, disease, or other cause, unfit for further use or is dangerous to keep impounded.

(Ord. 536 N.C. (2d) § 6, 1980: Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 21, 1973.)

The director shall pay into the county treasury of Solano County all fees collected by him in the discharge of his duties under this chapter, and the county tax collector shall likewise pay all license fees by him collected in to the county treasury, and the county treasurer shall deposit all such moneys in the general fund. The deposits shall be made by the director and tax collector on or before the fifth day each month, and the director shall render with the money so deposited by him an itemized statement of collections, which statements shall be separately filed and preserved together by the county auditor.

(Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 22, 1973.)

It shall be the duty of the director, and his deputies to take up all unlicensed dogs found in the streets, roads, lanes, alleys, parks, or other public places, or upon any vacant, unoccupied, or unenclosed lots, lands, or premises within the city.

(Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 26, 1973.)

Impounded animals shall be kept for three business days beginning the first day following impoundment. If the impounded animal has a registered microchip or is a licensed dog with an intact tag, the director shall notify the owner by phone, electronic mail or mail, within twenty-four hours of impoundment.

(Ord. No. 1840 N.C. (2d), § 19, 2-11-2020)

If any animal impounded by the director shall not have been redeemed in accordance with the period set forth in Section 7.16.095, such animal may be adopted or re-homed. If any animal shall not be redeemed, re-homed or adopted in six business days, it may be destroyed by the director in a humane manner.

(Ord. 536 N.C. (2d) § 8, 1980: Ord. 161 N.C. (2d) § 31 (part), 1973.; Ord. No. 1840 N.C. (2d), § 19, 2-11-2020)

At the discretion of the director, an unredeemed or surrendered animal may be kept for a reasonable period of time after the expiration of the redemption period set forth in Section 7.16.110 for the purpose of re-homing or adopting it. The director may refuse to re-home or adopt an animal to a particular person if he has reason to believe the re-home or adoption would not be in the best interest of the animal.

(Ord. 536 N.C. (2d) § 3, 1980.; Ord. No. 1840 N.C. (2d), § 19, 2-11-2020)