Legal Documents of Mosheim
Code of Mosheim
Title 10 Animal Control
Chapter 2 Dogs And Cats
10-207 : Seizure and disposition of dogs.[4]
Any dog found to be running at large may be seized by the county health officer, any deputy sheriff, or any humane or similar officer and placed in a pound designated by the board of mayor and aldermen. If such dog is wearing a tag, the owner shall be notified in person by telephone or by postcard addressed to his last known mailing address to appear within five (5) days and redeem his dog by paying a reasonable pound fee or the animal will be humanely destroyed or sold. If said dog is not wearing a tag, it shall be humanely destroyed or sold unless legally claimed by the owner within two (2) days. No dog shall be released in any event from the pound unless or until such dog has been vaccinated and a tag evidencing such vaccination is placed on its collar. (Ord. #50, July 1984)
Tennessee Code Annotated, §§ 44-17-501, et seq., "The Tennessee Spay/Neuter Law," prohibits persons from adopting a dog or cat from an agency (pound, animal shelter, etc.) operated by a municipality unless the dog or cat was already spayed or neutered, was spayed or neutered while in the custody of the agency, or the new owner signs a written agreement to have the animal spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of the adoption if the animal is sexually mature, or within thirty (30) days after the animal reaches six (6) months of age if it is not sexually mature.
Before an agency may release an animal which has not been spayed or neutered it must collect a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) deposit from the new owner to ensure compliance with the law. If the new owner does not comply with the law, the deposit is forfeited and the agency may file a petition in court to force the new owner to either comply with the law or return the animal.
An agency may not spay or neuter a dog or cat that is returned to its original owner within seven (7) days of its being taken into custody by the agency.