print  |  email

Impoundment


caged catSection 2-3-32. Generally
Any animal which appears to be lost, stray or unwanted, or which is found to be not wearing a valid rabies vaccination tag, as required by state law or this ordinance, and found at large, shall be impounded by the Animal Control Section and confined in an animal shelter. Impoundment of such an animal shall not relieve the owner thereof from any penalty which may be imposed for violation of this ordinance.

Section 2-3-33. Notice to Owner
Immediately upon impounding an animal, the Animal Control section shall make reasonable effort to notify the owner and inform such owner of the conditions whereby the animal may be redeemed. If the owner is unknown or cannot be located, the animal shall be assigned an impoundment identification number and release date. The impoundment identification number and release date shall be posted on the animal's cage or kennel at the animal control shelter for a minimum of three (3) business days, and any information about the animal, including time and place of the taking of such animal and the time and date of posting the notice of impoundment, shall be available at the animal control shelter by reference to the impoundment identification number.

Section 2-3-34. Redemption by Owner Generally

  1. The owner of an animal impounded under this article may redeem the animal and regain possession thereof within seventy-two (72) hours or 3 business days after notice of impoundment is given or posted, as required by Section 2-3-33, by complying with all applicable provisions of this chapter and paying any necessary veterinarian's fee, boarding fee and cost incurred in capture approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Adoption center contact information and hours

  2. No animal owner may be permitted to adopt his own animal under the provisions of Section 2-3-35 in order to reclaim an animal that has been impounded pursuant to state law or this ordinance.


Section 2-3-35. Destruction or Adoption of Unredeemed Animals Generally

  1. If an impounded animal is not redeemed by the owner within the period prescribed in Section 2-3-34, it may be destroyed in a humane manner or shall become the property of the animal shelter and offered for adoption. A new adult owner who agrees to comply with this ordinance may acquire an impounded animal; however, any prospective new owner shall not be an animal dealer who acquired animals for resale. The prospective new owner must pay any required fees. The County will not purposefully release for adoption any animal that has previously bitten a person, is aggressive or is potentially dangerous. Fees may be waived at the discretion of the Environmental Services Director or designee for rescue groups and other animal welfare groups that apply in writing to the Section. The placement of animals with these organizations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

  2. All unsterilized dogs and cats 5 months of age or older adopted from the Wake County Animal Shelter shall be either spayed or neutered within (30) days of their adoption. All animals adopted under 5 months of age shall be spayed or neutered at 6 months of age. The adopter shall promptly provide written proof of the sterilization to the Animal Control Section. The adoption of any animal not sterilized pursuant to this section shall be deemed to violate the provision of this section and must be returned by the applicant for readoption to the Wake County Animal Shelter. The Animal Control Section is authorized to obtain an adoption agreement from an applicant to implement the provisions of this section.

  3. The animal shelter shall require from the adopter a sterilization deposit fee established by the Board of Commissioners to ensure that sterilization is obtained in addition to the established adoption fee if the animal has not been sterilized prior to its being adopted.

  4. When written proof that a licensed veterinarian has performed the required sterilization is returned to the Animal Control Section, a fee equal to the sterilization portion of the deposit will be reimbursed to the adopter. A person who fails within the specified time to arrange for the sterilization of an unsterilized cat or dog adopted from the animal shelter forfeits the sterilization deposit fee and shall surrender the cat or dog to the animal shelter.

  5. No animal which has been impounded by reason of its being a stray and unclaimed shall be allowed to be adopted from the animal shelter during a period of emergency rabies quarantine invoked pursuant to Section 2-3-28 of this ordinance, except by special authorization of the Director of Environmental Services.

  6. Any animals that exhibit fierce, dangerous or aggressive behavior will not be offered for adoption.