§ 5-32. Impoundment.

(a)

Impoundment. In addition to any other remedies provided in this chapter, the animal control officer may seize and impound at the animal shelter, or at any location including private animal shelters, kennels, stables, veterinary offices, private residences, public property, or other places where violations are found, any of the following animals:

(1)

Any dog or cat without a valid rabies tag and identifying tag, in violation of subsection 5-16(h);

(2)

Any animal at large, or improperly kept, confined or restrained as required by sections 5-4, 5-5, or 5-9 or other provisions of this chapter;

(3)

Any animal that is considered unattended or abandoned, as in situations where the owner is deceased or has been arrested or evicted from his regular place of residence and there is no other person who will take custody of the animal;

(4)

Any public nuisance animal or any animal considered a nuisance or danger to the public, in violation to sections 5-3 or 5-6 or subsection 5-17 or other provisions of this chapter;

(5)

Any animal exceeding the limitation on possession animals, in violation of section 5-7;

(6)

Any animal that the animal control officer reasonably suspects of having rabies;

(7)

Any animal in violation of any quarantine or confinement order issued by the Bartow County Board of Health or the public health director;

(8)

Any unattended animal that is ill, injured or otherwise in need of care, pursuant to sections 5-16 or 5-17;

(9)

Any animal that is vicious, or that the animal control officer reasonably believes constitutes and immediate threat to public safety, pursuant to section 5-2;

(10)

Any animal charged under article III of this chapter or in violation of article III of this chapter; any animal that is charged with being potentially dangerous, or dangerous where the animal control officer determines that there is an immediate threat to public health and safety;

(11)

Any animal that a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered impounded or destroyed;

(12)

Any animal that is reasonably believed to have been subjected to cruelty, in violation of section 5-18;

(13)

Any animal that has been used to commit the offense of dog fighting, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-12-37;

(14)

Any animal that has not received humane care, in violation of section 5-16;

(15)

Any stray dog or stray cat; or

(16)

Any dog or cat that bites such that skin is broken shall be immediately impounded and quarantined for ten (10) days for observation.

(b)

Citation. The animal control officer or law enforcement officer may also, in lieu of or in addition to impoundment, issue to the owner a notice of violation, or citation. Such notice will cite the owner to appear on a date certain before the Municipal Court of the City of Cartersville as provided in this chapter.

(c)

Animals-at-large. Any person finding an animal at large upon his property may remove the same to the animal shelter or hold the animal in his own possession, and as soon as possible, notify animal control. The property owner shall provide a description of the animal and the name of the owner, if known. Animal control shall dispatch an animal control officer to take possession of the animal as soon as possible.

(d)

Outsourcing services. Any animal control officer or other designated person who seizes and impounds an animal that cannot be housed at the animal shelter shall be authorized to contract with and arrange transportation of the animal to a private farm or other appropriate facility which agrees to accept and humanely care for such animal. The disposition of the animal shall be handled in the same manner as though the animal were confined at the animal shelter except that, in addition to the fees charged for redemption, the owner shall also pay the actual transportation and boarding costs incurred while said animal was impounded.

(e)

Livestock at large. Any animal control officer or other person who discovers or is notified of livestock (as that term is defined in O.C.G.A. § 4-3-2) running at large, shall notify the Chief of Police of the Cartersville Police Department. The seizure, impoundment and disposition of such livestock shall be in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. tit. 4, ch. 3.

(Ord. No. 46-12, § 1, 11-1-12)