Legal Documents of Maryville

1. Any dog or cat found running at large may be seized by the animal control officer or any police officer and placed in an animal shelter provided or designated by the city council. If said dog or cat is wearing a tag, or if it is known that the dog or cat has an owner, the dog or cat may be held at the animal shelter for ten (10) days, if not claimed sooner.
2. The owner, if known, shall be notified in person, by telephone, or by a post card addressed to the last known mailing address to appear within ten (10) days and redeem his or her dog or cat by paying the pound fee, in accordance with a schedule approved by the city council, or the dog or cat will be humanely destroyed or sold. If said dog or cat is not wearing a tag and it is not known that the dog or cat has an owner, it may be humanely destroyed or sold unless legally claimed by the owner within five (5) days.
3. No dog or cat shall be released in any event from the animal shelter unless or until such dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies and has a tag evidencing such vaccination placed on its collar.

When, because of its viciousness or apparent infection with rabies, a dog or cat running at large cannot be safely impounded, it may be summarily destroyed by the animal control officer or any police officer. (1999 Code, § 10-213)