§ 14-44. Impoundment of animals.

(a)

The animal control authority may operate and maintain county shelters, or contract for other shelter facilities, to impound any animal authorized to be caught, seized, or picked up by the animal control authority pursuant to this article.

(b)

It is a violation of this article for any person to remove, or attempt to remove, any impounded animal from a county shelter or other shelter facility contrary to the provisions of this section.

(c)

Any animal found to be cruelly or inhumanely treated, in obvious distress, or infected with or suspected of carrying rabies, which animal has been impounded pursuant to this article, may be seen by a veterinarian without the owner's consent for examination and treatment, if necessary. The owner of such animal shall be liable for payment of all veterinary and shelter expenses, and reimbursement of the county's expenses for treating such animal.

(d)

Fees for impounding, boarding, care, and feeding of animals will be established in accordance with section 14-78.

(e)

No animal impounded pursuant to this article shall be released until:

(1)

The owner of the impounded animal shows proof of a valid rabies tag and animal license registration tag, or, where the animal does not have a valid rabies tag, arranges to have the animal vaccinated and obtains an animal registration tag for the animal;

(2)

The owner of the impounded animal pays the fees for impoundment, board, and feed, and any additional fees for rabies vaccination, veterinary expenses, any and all current or outstanding citation fines, and/or an animal registration tag; and

(3)

The owner of the impounded animal provides proof of ownership or custody, such as a rabies vaccination certificate, sales receipt, affidavits of neighbors, photographs, or other documentary evidence.

(4)

If the animal is a dangerous dog, in addition to the foregoing requirements, the owner of such animal complies with all provisions of this article applicable to such dangerous dog.

(5)

If the animal is, or will be, subject of a petition seeking relief pursuant to F.S. § 828.073, the court of competent jurisdiction issues an order that the owner is able to adequately care for, and have custody of, the animal, directing the sale or destruction of the animal, or remanding custody of the animal to the animal control authority or other person or agency.

(6)

Lawful exercise of discretion by the animal control authority to destroy an animal or the failure of an owner to redeem an animal shall not relieve the owner of liability for violations, fines and accrued charges and fees, regardless of the ultimate disposition of the animal.

(f)

Holding periods established:

(1)

The animal control authority shall shelter and care for impounded potentially owned, dogs and cats, whether tagged or stray, for five days, excluding the day of capture/intake, official holidays recognized by the animal control authority, and when the shelter is otherwise closed to the public.

(2)

The county shall establish a program for the handling and disposition of feral animals, when no owner is identifiable, with no requirement for a holding period before disposition. All dogs and cats that are determined by the animal control authority to be so unsocialized as to pose a threat to the safety and welfare of employees or the public shall be expeditiously and humanely euthanized (excluding any cat that qualifies for a community cat management program established by the county).

(3)

Due to the low reclaim rate and high euthanasia rate for cats, all cats that do not have positive, traceable identification through a currently registered microchip ("RFID"), county pet tag, or private identification tag (although still subject to the holding period established above) may be sterilized immediately upon intake and placed in the adoption area as soon as two days after impound.

(g)

The animal control authority shall not be required to shelter or care for any feral, wild, or exotic animals.

(h)

The animal control authority shall not be required to shelter or care for any animal that: is severely injured; has a dangerous disease that is communicable to humans or other animals, as determined by a veterinarian; or is deemed by the animal control authority as a danger to the community or an undue risk to employees of the animal control authority, unless such animal has a currently registered microchip or ownership information in the form of county pet tag or private identification tag on the animal. All animals without such positive, traceable identification that meet the previous criteria may be expeditiously and humanely euthanized.

(Ord. No. 93-05, § 1(4-5), 4-13-93; Ord. No. 93-11, § 1(4-5), 6-8-93; Ord. No. 94-24, § 1, 11-15-94; Ord. No. 95-132, § 1, 5-2-95; Res. No. 97-60, § 1, 3-25-97; Ord. No. 98-01, § 4, 1-20-98; Ord. No. 2014-27, § 1, 9-16-14; Ord. No. 2018-02, § 1, 1-23-18)