8.19.040 Impoundment.

The Clark County animal protection and control program may apprehend any animal found doing or involved in any of the acts defined as a public nuisance and/or being subjected to cruel treatment as defined by law. After such animals are apprehended, the program shall determine whether they are licensed or otherwise identifiable, and, if reasonably possible, return the animal to the owner, together with a notice of violation of the code. If it is not reasonably possible to immediately return the animal to its owner, the program shall notify the owner of the animal within a reasonable time by telephone, email, mail, direct personal contact or posting at the residence of owner that the animal has been impounded and may be redeemed at the designated animal holding facility.

Any unlicensed animal impounded pursuant to this title shall be held for at least seventy-two (72) hours commencing with apprehension. For licensed animals, the holding period shall be at least one hundred twenty (120) hours commencing upon notification to the owner of such impoundment. If reasonable attempts have been made by the appropriate authority to notify said owner but without success, the licensed animal shall be held for at least one hundred twenty (120) hours from the time of apprehension. All impound periods shall continue to run during those hours when the designated impound facility is not open for business. Any animal not redeemed by its owner during the prescribed period may be humanely destroyed or placed for adoption to a new owner. Should the original owner wish to redeem an animal that has been held, he shall first be required to pay all redemption costs as outlined in this chapter. The use of a payment plan may, at the discretion of the manager of animal control, be used.

Should the original owner wish to redeem an unlicensed dog or cat that has been held, in addition to paying the required redemption costs as outlined in this chapter, he shall be required to purchase the appropriate license at the time of redemption. If required rabies or spay/neuter information is lacking, the licensing fee shall be accepted and the application processed in accordance with Sections 8.07.070 and 8.07.250.

Should the animal be suffering from serious injury or disease that would endanger the other sheltered animals or cause the animal to endure unnecessary pain and suffering if left untreated for at least twenty-four (24) hours as determined by a licensed veterinarian, or continues to act in a feral manner after a reasonable observation period by the program or its employees or agents, the animal may be humanely euthanized or returned to its original location as part of a sponsored community cat program prior to the expiration of the required holding period. Such cases shall be documented on the animal custody report.

No live animals shall be used, sold or donated for experimental purposes. The owner of any animal impounded pursuant to the provisions of this title may recover said animal pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.19.060; provided, that redemption may be denied pursuant to Section 8.19.120 or to an owner who has cruelly treated such animal as defined in Section 8.11.070.

Animals delivered for impoundment by a police officer who removed such animal from the possession of a person in the custody of the police officer shall be held for the period prescribed in this section. An impoundment receipt shall be given to the police officer who shall deliver such receipt to the person in custody from whom the animal was taken. The impoundment receipt shall recite redemption requirements and shall serve as the notice to the owner required in this chapter.

The above return and notification requirements shall not apply to any animal that is deemed abandoned under the provisions of Chapter 16.54 RCW. For purposes of this section, such animal shall be deemed to be without owner. (Sec. 1 of Res. 1981-04-108; amended by Sec. 29 of Res. 1984-12-65; amended by Sec. 18 of Ord. 1985-12-06; amended by Sec. 22 of Ord. 1987-11-37; amended by Sec. 22 of Ord. 1993-08-13A; amended by Sec. 38 of Ord. 2016-11-13; amended by Sec. 3 of Ord. 2018-04-10)