§ 3-53. Same—Disposal.

(a)

After a dog or cat has been confined for the period of time provided by this chapter and if the owner or person in charge entitled to possession fails to make application for the release of such dog or cat, as herein provided, or fails to pay the charges as herein provided, or fails to pay for the proper inoculation for rabies, or if such satisfactory evidence as required by this chapter was not provided, then such dog or cat is hereby declared a nuisance and a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the city and the humane officer shall cause such dog or cat to be humanely destroyed as herein provided; however, any dog or cat under two (2) weeks old or whose eyes have not opened since birth may be humanely disposed of immediately upon being impounded where it has been found in violation of this chapter.

(b)

Any confined dog or cat that is injured or diseased will, as an act of mercy, be humanely destroyed immediately after inspection by a veterinarian or the humane officer, together with a representative of the humane society, or by the humane officer, together with two (2) reputable citizens, if it is agreed that such destruction is necessary to prevent unnecessary suffering, to prevent the spread of disease, or because the animal is incurable. A written agreement to this effect shall be signed by those inspecting the animal and such agreement shall be retained by the director for a period of one (1) year. The humane officer, when required to dispose of dogs or cats under the provisions of this chapter, shall do so by such process as is recognized by veterinary science as being a humane manner in which to destroy dogs and cats.

(Ord. No. A-112a, Art. III, § 3, 7-24-95)