Section 6.20.030 Notice

A. 1. Unlicensed dogs shall be impounded for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours , Monday through Friday, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, prior to disposition, except as provided herein. Any dog which is not wearing a license or does not have an implanted computerized identification chip shall be presumed to be unlicensed and may be disposed of after seventy-two (72) hours as provided above without notice to its owner. Where a dog is wearing a license or has an implanted computerized identification chip, owners shall be given one hundred twenty (120) hours' notice (five full working days) prior to disposition. Notice shall be deemed given on the date such notice is mailed to the last known address of the listed owner, as shown on the license application, or to such address as is known to the animal control facility. It is the sole obligation and duty of an owner to insure that his dog wears a license at all times as required by the provisions of this title. Owners shall also inform the animal control facility of any changes in their address.

3. Whenever any animal has been removed from a premises where such animal was secured by a rope, chain, or otherwise (including where taken from a pen or enclosure), one hundred twenty (120) hours (five full working days) notice prior to disposition shall be given to owners , if known, of such animal as provided in subsection A(1) of this section and to the person in charge of the property from which the animal was taken. Notice of impoundment may be made by mailing notice to " occupant " at the address from which the animal was taken.

B. All animals, except for those quarantined or confined by court order, held longer than the minimum impound period and all animals voluntarily relinquished by the owner to the animal shelter may be disposed of as the animal shelter manager shall direct including, but not limited to, destroyed, adopted, fostered, or placed in custody of a 501(C)(3) United States Internal Revenue Code animal welfare organization that has an adoption program that adheres to the ordinances of Vernal City for the care , adoption , or fostering of such animals. Any healthy dog or cat may be adopted or fostered by any person approved by the shelter staff, desiring to adopt or foster such animal for a fee to be established by Vernal City resolution, if applicable.

D. All livestock, except for those quarantined or confined by court order, held longer than the minimum impound period as provided in subsection C of this section may be disposed of in accordance with the laws of the S tate for disposition of astray animals (UCA Chapter 4-25 -14 ). l E. Any licensed animal impounded and having or suspected of having serious physical injury or contagious disease requiring medical attention may, at the discretion of the animal shelter manager , be released to the care of a licensed veterinarian. In the event that emergency medical care is needed, the animal control officer is authorized to release an injured or sick animal to a licensed veterinarian. Such release constitutes impoundment of that animal.

F. In the event that emergency medical services are required for any impounded animal and the anticipated fee for such emergency medical treatment exceeds seventy-five (75) dollars, and if costs for which donations cannot be secured to cover such treatment, the shelter manager or authorized animal shelter employee , may destroy the animal if the injury is life-threatening or the destruction of the animal is required for humane treatment of the animal.

G. When, in the judgement of any licensed veterinarian, animal shelter manager, or authorized animal shelter employee , it is determined that an animal should be immediately destroyed for humane reasons or to protect the public from imminent danger to persons or property, such animal may be destroyed without regard to any time limitations otherwise established herein and without court order. If the authorized animal shelter staff is not available, a veterinarian may euthanize the impounded animal.

H. T he disposition of any animal shall be determined by the animal shelter manager and will generally occur during the regular operating hours of the animal shelter i. Euthanasia of any animal, however, may take place during normal operating hours or as determined by the animal shelter manager or authorized shelter employee. (CC § 08-10-008 (1)--(8); as amended by 1993 recodification)

(Ord. 2005-15, Amended, 10/05/2005, Prior Text; Ord. 2001-17, Amended, 08/15/2001, Prior Text; Ord. 2000-10, Amended, 07/06/2000, Prior Text; 99-02, Amended, 05/10/1999, Prior Text)