7-12.2 Identification of Animals-Notice to Owners- Returning Animals to Known Owners.
a. It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to attempt to identify any impounded, found or turned-in animal via registration/license check, identification tags, microchip, lost reports and diligent search for any tattoo marks. When a tattoo or microchip is found, the tattoo or microchip registry shall be notified and additional reasonable time provided for such registry to locate the owner prior to the animal being placed for sale or adoption or euthanized.
b. The Animal Control Officer shall, immediately upon impoundment of dogs or other animals, make a reasonable effort to notify the owner of such dogs or other animals impounded. In the case of a licensed dog, or cat wearing a license, a written notice shall be sent to the last address of the owner as shown on licensing records within twenty-four (24) hours of its impounded containing the following information:
1. The date of impoundment and the place where the animal is impounded;
2. The grounds for impoundment;
3. The period the animal will be held pursuant to subsection 7-12.3 before being humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of; and
4. That the owner may request a hearing if he believes that the impoundment was unlawful by filing a written appeal with the Animal Control Officer.
c. The Animal Control Officer shall within twenty-four (24) hours after the impounding of any bovine animals, sheep, goats, swine, horses, mules or burros, except weekends and holidays, cause to be mailed to the place of business or residence of the owner or keeper of the animal, if known to him, a written notice containing the following information:
1. The date of impoundment and the place where the animal is impounded;
2. The grounds for impoundment;
3. The period the animal will be held pursuant to subsection 7-12.3 before being humanely destroyed in a manner prescribed by the Food and Agriculture Code; and
4. That the owner may request a hearing if he believes that the impoundment was unlawful by filing a written appeal with the Animal Control Officer.
d. If an appeal hearing is requested, it shall be conducted by the Animal Hearing Officer and shall be scheduled no later than five (5) days after the date the appeal is filed. The decision of the Animal Hearing Officer shall be based on the weight of the evidence and shall be final. The owner and/or possessor shall be given notice of the decision in person or by mail. The Animal Hearing Officer shall determine whether the impoundment and/or destruction is authorized under this section. If the impoundment is found to be unlawful, the animal shall be released forthwith to the owner, and the costs of impoundment shall be borne by the City. If the animal is determined to be a vicious animal it may either be handled by bringing action against the owner of such animal pursuant to Civil Code Section 3342.5, or released with conditions, or humanely destroyed.
e. When any animal is seized and its ownership is known to the department, such animal need not be impounded, but the Animal Control Officer may, at his or her own discretion, return such animal to its owner and issue a citation to the owner to appear in court to answer to charges of violations of this section. If the owner’s telephone number is known or can be readily assessed, the owner shall be contacted by telephone; otherwise, the owner shall be contacted by regular mail to the owner’s last known address.
f. The Animal Control Officer must provide the owners and finders of lost animals with a method for listing lost animals on a list maintained by the shelter, referrals to animals on that list, contact information on other nearby shelters, advice on disseminating information about lost animals, and contract information on volunteer groups that assist in locating lost animals. (Ord. #183-2016, S3)