Legal Documents of Sweetwater

Code of Sweetwater

Table of Contents » Title 10 Animal Control » Chapter 2 Dogs And Cats » § 10-214 Impoundment and/or destruction of dogs and cats.
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Title 10
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Title 10, Chapter 1
10-101
§ 10-101
Sweetwater
Title 10 : Animal Control
Chapter 2 : Dogs And Cats

10-214 : Impoundment and/or destruction of dogs and cats.[5]

  1. Impoundment.
    1. All dogs and cats running at large on private or public property, except on the premises of the person owning, possessing, harboring or concealing said dog or cat or in a city designated dog park, or otherwise being kept in violation of this chapter, may be impounded by the health officer, dog catcher, humane officer or any policeman.
    2. No person shall hide, conceal or aid or assist in hiding or concealing any dog owned, kept or harbored in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
    3. No person shall interfere with or hinder any police officer or any city official, including the dog catcher, in the discharge or apparent discharge of their duty enforcing the provisions of this section.
    4. When, in lawfully attempting to impound a dog or cat, an officer - including the dog catcher - finds that they cannot do so in safety because of the vicious nature of such dog or cat, they may summarily destroy it.
  2. Notice. If the owner of an impounded dog or cat is known, they shall be given notice in person or by posting on the premises where the dog(s) or cat(s) is kept. If the owner is not known, the address where the dog or cat is kept and the mailing address of the owner is not known, a notice describing the impounded dog or cat shall be posted in a conspicuous place at city hall. The notice shall advise the owner to appear within three (3) days from the date of such notice and redeem his dog or cat or else it will be disposed of as hereinafter provided.
  3. Redemption. In order to redeem their dog or cat, the owner must pay:
    1. All outstanding fines and costs imposed for prior violations of this chapter and
    2. Fifty dollars ($50.00) per dog or cat for each time each dog or cat is impounded,
    3. A boarding fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day per dog or cat, plus
    4. Any cost incurred by the city for rabies vaccination, notice of which shall be included in the notice of impoundment. Impound and boarding fees are distinct from fines and costs levied upon conviction for violations of city code. There shall be no redemption of dogs or cats for which their owners have twice been found guilty of running at large violations or other provisions of this chapter.
  4. Adoption or destruction. If an impounded dog or cat is not redeemed within five (5) days after the date the notice is posted or given, it may be adopted or destroyed in a humane manner. Adoption or destruction by the city may be accomplished by the city, the Monroe County Animal Shelter or other animal shelter.
  5. Rabies vaccination and tag. In no event shall a dog or cat be released from the pound unless it has been vaccinated and had a tag evidencing such vaccination placed on its collar.
  6. Citations. A citation may issue for any person owning, possessing, harboring or concealing a dog or cat found running at large notifying them to appear in city court on a date and time certain to answer the violations for which they are cited. If such person fails to appear, a default judgment may be taken against them for penalties authorized in subsection (7).
  7. Penalties. Any person owning, possessing, harboring or concealing a dog or cat found by the city judge to have been running at large, to be vicious or dangerous and not confined or securely restrained, and/or to be in violation of other provisions of this chapter:
    1. May be fined up to fifty dollars ($50.00) and
    2. Taxed with court costs for each dog or cat cited for each separate violation. In addition to, or in mitigation of, said penalties, the court may order such dog(s) and/or cat(s)
    3. Banished from the city,
    4. Confined in and to a specific place and manner, or
    5. Surrendered to the city, voluntarily or by order of the court. (Ord. #753, Oct. 2002, as amended by Ord. #994, Jan. 2022 Ch7_02-07-22, and replaced by Ord. #999, May 2022 Ch8_08-05-24)
Footnotes:
--- (5) ---

Municipal code reference
Impoundment and disposition: § 10-107.
Date Last Updated: 08/05/2024
Codification Date: 03/01/2004

Officials at Date of Last Codification:

Mayor - Doyle F. Lowe
Vice Mayor - Sam Moser
Commissioner - Lamar Hughes
Commissioner - Johanna Jinks
Commissioner - Alan Richeson
Commissioner - James A. Stutts
Recorder - Sonya Crush
City Attorney - John Cleveland
 

Date Last Updated: 08/05/2024
Codification Date: 03/01/2004

Officials at Date of Last Codification:

Mayor - Doyle F. Lowe
Vice Mayor - Sam Moser
Commissioner - Lamar Hughes
Commissioner - Johanna Jinks
Commissioner - Alan Richeson
Commissioner - James A. Stutts
Recorder - Sonya Crush
City Attorney - John Cleveland