Legal Documents of Gatlinburg

Any animal, including cats or other domestic animals as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated, § 39-14-201(3), found to be at large and/or trapped by an animal control officer, police officer, or any other city employee, or by the general public, may, upon seizure or taking custody of any animal under this provision, shall transport said animal(s) to the Sevier County Humane Society Animal Shelter, or such other shelter as designated by the city manager from time to time. The Sevier County Humane Society, incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee, as a corporation for the prevention of cruelty to animals, may under the statues of the State of Tennessee, as they apply to Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Powers, Tennessee Code Annotated, § 39-14-210(c)(2), humanely euthanize, or cause to be euthanized, any animal found abandoned or otherwise as stated in said statute, after a holding period of not less than seventy-two (72) hours.

The Sevier County Humane Society will make every effort to locate the owners of lost animals that come into their custody, that are bearing identification, by holding them for five (5) days, and notifying the owners listed on the identification device, by certified mail, prior to the final disposition of said animal.

Nothing herein shall require the destruction of stray animals, unless so ordered by health officials for the purpose of rabies or other disease control concerns. Otherwise, the Sevier County Humane Society reserves the right to seek responsible homes for stray animals that enter into their care, following the holding period for stray animals as prescribed above. (1976 Code, § 3-107, as replaced by Ord. #2287, March 2003)