§ 5-104. Procedure with respect to redemption or adoption of dogs or cats.

(a)

All dogs or cats adopted from or redeemed from the animal shelter must have a rabies vaccination, unless written proof of a current rabies vaccination can be furnished. Every person who adopts or redeems a dog or cat must make a deposit at the animal shelter toward the cost of a rabies vaccination. Upon making the deposit, the person will be given a receipt for the deposited amount. The person may then take the dog or cat to any veterinarian in the county, have the dog or cat vaccinated and present the receipt to the veterinarian. The amount deposited and shown on the receipt shall be counted toward the cost of the vaccination. The person must then supply the animal shelter with written proof of vaccination from the veterinarian. The time limit for dogs and cats over four (4) months of age will be three (3) days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For those animals under the age of four (4) months, the time limit will vary according to their age.

(b)

All dogs and cats, which are to be adopted from the animal shelter, must be spayed or neutered. Any person wishing to adopt a dog or cat is subjected to these rules and shall sign all necessary documents concerning the adoption. The applicant shall agree not to hold the county or the animal shelter responsible for any claims related to or resulting from the adoption of an animal and shall:

(1)

Pay a deposit established by the county for the veterinarian who performs the spay/neuter within the time frame spelled out in subsection (3) listed below.

(2)

Take the dog or cat to any veterinarian in the county for the spay/neuter treatment.

(3)

The time limit to complete spay/neuter for dogs or cats over four (4) months of age shall be thirty (30) days or at the discretion of the veterinarian.

(4)

Any adoption of a dog or cat that dies of natural causes within thirty (30) days of the adoption date may be replaced for any dog or cat chosen by the adopter that is the property of the animal shelter and deemed suitable for adoption. If the adopter requests, the original adoption/neuter/vaccination fee will be refunded.

(5)

An adopted dog or cat may be exempt from this provision if the owner furnishes a statement from a licensed veterinarian that the animal, due to health reasons, could not withstand spay/neuter surgery.

(6)

A dog or cat known to have bitten a human or known to have killed livestock shall not be offered for adoption unless the animals services director rules that a bite was in self defense and the adoption is made by a rescue organization and with full disclosure of the animals history nor shall a known fighting dog be offered for adoption.

(7)

Sick or injured dogs or cats shall not be offered for adoption except by rescue organizations deemed by the animal services director qualified to address these issues.

(8)

Aggressive dogs or cats shall not be offered for adoption.

(c)

Adoption of dangerous exotic animals is restricted to persons licensed to keep such animals by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). The dangerous exotic classification of an animal shall be disclosed in writing to a prospective adopter prior to adoption of such animal.

(Ord. of 6-7-95, § VI(3); Ord. of 11-6-00, § VI(3); Amend. of 10-3-16; Amend. of 2-19-18; Amend. of 8-6-18)