Legal Documents of Rutledge
Code of Rutledge
Title 10 Animal Control
Chapter 2 Dogs And Cats
10-207 : Seizure and disposition of dogs.[4]
Any dog found running at large may be seized by any police officer or other properly designated officer or official. If the dog is wearing a tag or found to be implanted with a microchip, the owner shall be notified in person, by telephone, or by a postcard addressed to his last-known mailing address to appear within five (5) days and redeem his dog by paying a reasonable pound fee, in accordance with a schedule approved by the board of mayor and aldermen, or the dog will be sold or humanely destroyed. If the dog is not wearing a tag it shall be sold or humanely destroyed 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 has a tag evidencing such vaccination placed on its collar.
Any new owner adopting a dog that has not been spayed or neutered must pay a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) deposit before a dog may be released, as required by the Tennessee Spay/Neuter Law.4 (modified)
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 30 days of the adoption if the animal is sexually mature, or within 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.
Officials at Date of Last Codification:
Mayor - Fred Sykes
Vice Mayor - Benny Atkins
Alderman - Ed Boling, Jr.
Alderman - Martha Ann Cameron
Alderman - Jason Day
Recorder - Stacy Harbin
City Attorney - Evan Newman