Fulton Impoundment and violation notices ordinance (§ 14-67)

The animal control officer shall comply with the following pertaining to the impoundment of animals and shall give notice as follows:

(1) Unrestrained dangerous and nuisance animals shall be taken by the police or animal control officer and impounded in an animal shelter or other secured facility and there confined in a humane manner.

(2) Impounded animals shall be kept for not fewer than seven days, except for sick, injured or vicious animals which may be humanely euthanized.

(3) If the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the animal control officer shall, upon impoundment, notify the owner by telephone or certified mail.

(4) An owner reclaiming an impounded dog, cat or other animal shall pay a fee established from time to time by the city council plus the cost of keeping and feeding the animal. If the owner of any dog or cat impounded pursuant to this article can be determined, the charges specified in this subsection shall be charged to the owner, whether the animal is redeemed or not. Upon conviction, the court shall assess, in addition to any fine and other costs, the amount of such charges as costs of the action.

(5)

Any animal not claimed by its owner within seven days shall become the property of the city and may be adopted by anyone. No person shall be permitted to adopt more than two animals in a one-year period. Any unclaimed animals may be offered for adoption for a period not to exceed 14 days. No person shall be permitted to adopt any animal that has not been spayed or neutered. In addition to adoption fees, animals will be spayed or neutered at the adopter's expense. Adopters must pay in advance for the spaying or neutering of animals prior to scheduling veterinary services. No animal shall be sold to an educational or scientific institution or an agent thereof. All animals not redeemed or adopted shall be properly disposed of by the animal control officer.

(6) The owner of an impounded animal may also be proceeded against for violation of this chapter.

(7) The animal control officer shall keep complete and accurate records of the care, feeding, veterinary treatment and disposition of all animals impounded at the shelter.

(8) Any animal involved in a fatal attack on a human being or attack that results in severe injury to a human being, whether provoked or unprovoked, shall be confiscated. The animal shall be humanely euthanized or returned to the owner after payment of the fees if good reason is shown to the municipal court judge that the animal should not be euthanized.

(9) If the animal is not vaccinated against rabies, the required vaccination, at the owner's expense, shall be obtained prior to release from impoundment or the animal will be confiscated by the appropriate authority.

(10) No person shall open any secured area for the purpose of removing, freeing or stealing an animal.