§ 4-18. Impoundment.

(a)

The director of animal control or any animal control officer shall have the authority to enforce this article, and shall pick up, catch, or confine any animal in violation of this article. Each person designated as an enforcement officer, pursuant to F.S. ch. 828, may issue to the known owner or keeper of such animal a warning notice or citation as defined in section 4-6.

(b)

No person shall:

(1)

Refuse to surrender an animal upon lawful demand by the director of animal control or any animal protection officer;

(2)

Interfere with any animal protection officer who is lawfully apprehending an animal; or shall hold, hide, or conceal any animal which the director of animal control or an animal control officer has deemed to be in violation of this article; or

(3)

Take or attempt to take any animal from:

a.

An animal control officer or from any vehicle used by him to transport animals in the legal performance of his duties; or

b.

An animal control shelter, a humane live trap, or an animal carrier, without proper authority.

(c)

A property owner or tenant may restrain in a humane manner any animal found in violation of this article on his property. When such restraint is made, the property owner or tenant shall immediately notify the division of animal control. The property owner or tenant shall treat the animal humanely and shall exercise due care to ensure the animal's safety and well-being. The director of animal control or any animal protection officer shall impound any animal delivered by its owner, or shall pick up and impound any animal restrained by a property owner or tenant as described above, and shall dispose of the animal pursuant to this article.

(d)

Animals which are impounded and are not suffering from or suspected of having an infectious or contagious disease, shall be held for not less than five working days unless sooner redeemed by the owner. Ill or injured animals may be euthanized prior to the expiration of the five (5) days holding period in accordance with F.S. § 828.05. In instances when the owner of an impounded animal can be determined, the director of animal control or any animal control officer shall make a reasonable attempt to contact the owner before disposition of the animal.

(e)

The owner shall be responsible for payment of all boarding costs, fines imposed and other fees as may be required to humanely and safely keep the dog during impoundment. No animal shall be redeemed to its owner until such costs, fines, and fees are paid or otherwise resolved with the animal control authority.

(Ord. No. 2017-07, § 15, 5-2-17)