§ 6-1.402. Amendments: Section 4432: Disposal of Impounded Animals Other than Livestock.

For the purposes of this chapter, Section 4432 of the Ventura County Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

  Sec. 4432. Disposal of Impounded Animals Other than Livestock. The Poundmaster shall feed and care for any animal impounded as provided in this chapter until such animal is disposed of as provided by law. If such animal is a dog which is not a "diseased or injured animal", as defined in this chapter, and is not being isolated pursuant to Article 4 of this chapter, the person owning such impounded dog may redeem it at any time within seventy-two (72) hours after it is taken up by describing it, proving ownership to the satisfaction of the Poundmaster, paying all applicable fees, and obtaining, when necessary, the dog license required by Section 4411 of this chapter. In computing the seventy-two (72) hours of such redemption period, the twenty-four (24) hours of any calendar day during which the Pound is not open to the public for the purposes of redeeming animals shall not be counted. When the Poundmaster knows the address of the owner of an impounded dog, the seventy-two (72) hours for redemption shall begin when written notice of such impounding is deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to such address. However, an owner may waive the seventy-two (72) hour redemption period in writing. If the impounded dog bears a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter, such notice shall be mailed to the address shown on the copy of the receipt for such license tag on file in the County Animal Control office. If any dog impounded as provided in this chapter is not so redeemed within such seventy-two (72) hours, or if the owner of such dog is unknown to the Poundmaster or refuses to comply with any of the requirements of redemption as provided herein, or if the owner has waived the redemption period in writing, such dog shall be deemed to be abandoned, and the Poundmaster shall dispose of such dog according to the provisions of this Code. In disposing of an impounded animal, the Poundmaster, in his discretion, may destroy the animal in a humane manner, or he may sell such animal for a pet to any person who obtains such license as may be required by this chapter and signs a written agreement to feed the animal and provide it with a good home, or the Poundmaster may sell such animal to a State-chartered humane society. When an animal is returned to the Pound within ten (10) days after such sale, the buyer or other person returning the animal shall not be given the discretion to determine what disposition shall be made of the animal. The price to be charged for any animal sold as a pet or to any State-chartered humane society shall be as prescribed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(§ 2, Ord. 482, eff. August 26, 1981)