§ 4-53. Supervision and control of animal shelter; impoundment and release procedures.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    The Chief Administrative Officer shall cause to be maintained an animal shelter or enclosure of a type to be approved by the Director. The City need not own the facility but may contract for its establishment with a private group or in conjunction with one or more other local governing bodies. The City animal shelter shall be accessible to the public at reasonable hours during the week.

    (b)

    Any dog running at large or in violation of Section 4-243 and any dog or cat without the tag required by Section 4-186 shall be confined in the animal shelter. Any dog or cat which has been so confined shall be kept for a period of not less than five days unless sooner claimed by the owner of the dog or cat. If the dog or cat has not been claimed, it may be humanely destroyed or disposed of by sale or a gift to a Federal agency, State-supported institution, agency of the State, agency of another state or a licensed Federal dealer or by delivery to any local humane society, to any shelter or to any person who is a resident of the City and who will pay the required license tax on such animal. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the destruction of a critically injured or critically ill dog or cat for humane purposes.

    (c)

    The Director shall supervise and control the City animal shelter and the property used in connection therewith, with power and authority to employ such personnel or employees as may be necessary.

    (d)

    Unless the owner has purchased a valid breeding permit, no unclaimed dog or cat shall be released for adoption without being sterilized in compliance with Section 4-278.

    (e)

    If, by a license tag or other means, the owner of an impounded dog or cat can be identified, the animal control officer shall immediately upon impoundment notify the owner as specified in Section 4-275(b).

    (f)

    Animals may be impounded in the City animal shelter for reasonable cause as may be determined by the Director, including, but not limited to, any of the following circumstances:

    (1)

    Any dog not kept under restraint as required by this chapter.

    (2)

    Any dog or cat not having affixed to its collar a valid City license tag or rabies vaccination tag.

    (3)

    Any dog or cat for which a valid City license or rabies vaccination certificate has not been issued.

    (4)

    Any animal which constitutes a public nuisance as defined in Section 4-1.

    (5)

    Any animal that a person could reasonably suspect as having any infectious or contagious disease other than rabies and being in the custody of a keeper who fails or refuses to make arrangements satisfactory to the animal control officer concerning the proper treatment of such animal.

    (6)

    Every animal that has rabies or symptoms compatible with rabies or that a person could reasonably suspect as having rabies or that bites, scratches or otherwise attacks another animal or person within the City.

    (7)

    Any animal not kept in conformity with this chapter or State law.

    (8)

    Any animal upon the written request from the owner thereof and to which the animal control officer agrees that such animal be humanely euthanized for the protection of the health and welfare of the public.

    (g)

    Any animal which is the subject of a cause of action filed under this chapter or State law shall be impounded until further order of the courts.

    (Code 1993, § 4-22; Code 2004, § 10-57; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

    State Law reference— Animal shelters and impoundment, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6544 et seq., 3.2-6564 et seq., 3.2-6574 et seq.

(Code 1993, § 4-22; Code 2004, § 10-57; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

State law reference

Animal shelters and impoundment, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6544 et seq., 3.2-6564 et seq., 3.2-6574 et seq.