A.    1.  Unlicenced dogs shall be impounded for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours prior to disposition, except as provided herein. Any dog which is not wearing a license or does not have an implanted computerized licensing chip as required by the provisions of this title shall be presumed to be unlicenced and may be disposed of after seventy-two (72) hours as provided herein without notice to its owner. Where a dog is wearing a license or has an implanted computerized licensing chip as required by the provisions of this title, owners shall be given one hundred twenty (120) hours' notice 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.

    2.    All other animals, except as specifically provided herein, shall be impounded for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours prior to disposition, except as provided herein.

    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 notice prior to disposition shall be given to owners 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 the 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 impound facility may be destroyed or sold as the Animal Control Officer shall direct. Any healthy dog or cat may be sold to any person desiring to purchase such animal for a price to be determined by the Animal Control Officer, including license and rabies vaccination costs, if required.

    C.    Any livestock shall be impounded for a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) hours before further disposition, except as otherwise provided herein.

    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 and all livestock voluntarily relinquished to the impound facility may be disposed of in accordance with the laws of the state for disposition of astray animals (UCA Chapter 4-25). The price for which any livestock is sold, however, shall not be less than the costs incurred to impound, feed, house and provide any other services for the livestock further defined in Section 6.20.050 unless otherwise determined by the Chief of Police. Any remaining net proceeds from the sale of any astray animal may be paid to the original owner of the animal if such owner makes request for the payment and demonstrates proof of ownership within sixty (60) calendar days after the sale of the animal.

    E.    Any licensed animal impounded and having or suspected of having serious physical injury or contagious disease requiring medical attention may, in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer, be released to the care of a licensed veterinarian.

    F.    In the event that emergency medical services are required for a stray, unlicenced or untagged animal and the anticipated fee for such emergency medical treatment exceeds twenty-five (25) dollars, the Animal Control Officer, or such other person having custody of the animal under any agreement with Vernal City, 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 the Animal Control Officer, 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.

    H.    Except as provided in subsection G of this section, the disposition of any animal shall only be allowed during the regular operating hours of the impound facility when normally opened to the public for regular business activity. (CC § 08-10-008 (1)--(8); as amended by 1993 recodification)(Ord. No. 99-03, Amended, 05/10/99)