8.04.060 Impoundment and disposition of impounded animals.
A. Whenever any dog or cat is found performing any of the activities enumerated in MMC 8.04.040 or has bitten any person or animal, an animal control officer, any police officer, any owner or any private person may impound it by immediately delivering such animal to the place designated for such impoundment.
B. Any impounded animal which by reason of injury, disease or other cause is suffering great pain or is dangerous to keep impounded may be destroyed forthwith. The animal control officer may request a veterinarian to certify to this fact in writing before such immediate destruction is undertaken.
C. The animal control officer shall keep any animal impounded or delivered to the animal control officer for disposal or as otherwise provided in this chapter for the period of time hereinafter specified and shall dispose of animals in accordance with the following provisions:
1. Redemption, Destruction or Sale of Dogs and Cats. Unless an animal is redeemed by its owner within three days after impoundment in a manner consistent with subsection (D) of this section, the animal may be destroyed or sold in a manner consistent with subsection (D) of this section. If such animal has been impounded because of the biting of a person and does not have a vaccination which is valid for immunity against rabies at such time, such animal shall be kept as necessary to observe said animal for the required ten-day quarantine period commencing after the biting of a person;
2. Redemption, Destruction or Sale of Licensed Dogs and Cats. Unless an animal is redeemed within three days after notice of impoundment is mailed, such animal may be destroyed or sold consistent with the manner prescribed by subsection (D) of this section. Within two days after impoundment, notice of such impoundment may be given by deposit in the United States mail of a certified and postage prepaid letter addressed to the person, if known, who owns the animal at his or her address, if known.
D. A dog or cat may be redeemed by other than the owner or sold only if the following qualifications are met:
1. That the animal is in good health, or that adequate provisions for medical care of the animal will be taken;
2. That the animal is not dangerous or vicious;
3. That the purchaser pays the basic impoundment fee as regulated in the fee schedule;
4. That the redeemer or purchaser pays all boarding charges and other fees prior to the release of the animal;
5. That the animal be immunized against rabies within thirty days after redemption or sale.
E. Disposition of Seized and Removed Animals – Bond Requirements. Any owner whose domestic animal is seized and removed pursuant to MMC 8.04.040(G) (animal cruelty) or subsection (K) of this section (dangerous dogs) shall, upon a finding of probable cause by the Evergreen District Court, be required to post a bond/security; or by petitioning the court for the animal’s immediate return subject to court-imposed conditions; within five days of such probable cause finding in an amount sufficient to provide for the animal’s care for a minimum of sixty days from the seizure date. Failure to post such bond or security shall authorize the city of Monroe or its agent to euthanize the animal or find a responsible person to adopt the animal. The city of Monroe may euthanize severely injured, diseased, or suffering animals at any time.
F. Impounding Sick or Injured Animals. When in the judgment of a licensed veterinarian or the animal control authority, an impounded animal should be destroyed for humane reasons, because it is severely injured, diseased or suffering, such animal may not be redeemed. The animal control authority or its agents shall not be held liable for the destruction of said animal.
G. Hindrance to Impounding. No person shall willfully:
1. Prevent or hinder the impounding of any animal found in violation of this chapter;
2. Remove the animal from the designated shelter without the authority of the chief of police, the animal control authority or the officer in charge of the designated shelter.
H. A dog or cat may be redeemed by other than the owner or sold only if the following qualifications are met:
1. That the animal is in good health, or that adequate provisions for medical care of the animal will be taken;
2. That the animal is not dangerous or vicious;
3. That the purchaser pays the basic impoundment fee as regulated in the fee schedule;
4. That the redeemer or purchaser pays all boarding charges and other fees prior to the release of the animal;
5. That the animal be immunized against rabies within thirty days after redemption or sale.
I. Any animal impounded by the animal control authority may be returned to an owner supplying proof of ownership. Relinquishment of the animal by its owner does not constitute a waiver of the fees or costs incurred under this section or fines otherwise imposed. The city may collect the penalties, fees and expenses by use of appropriate legal remedies.
J. The fee resolution of charges shall be imposed for release of an impounded dog or cat redeemed by its owner. In addition to the basic impoundment charge, the total additional boarding charges and other costs incurred by the city for the animal shall be levied on an owner redeeming an animal after the day of impoundment.
K. Any dangerous dog, declared dangerous by Monroe or any other municipality, shall be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority if:
1. The dog is not validly registered under MMC 8.04.050; or
2. The owner does not secure the liability insurance coverage required under MMC 8.04.050; or
3. The dog is not maintained in the proper enclosure; or
4. The dog is outside of the dwelling of the owner, or outside of the proper enclosure and not under physical restraint of the responsible person.
Violation of this subsection (K) constitutes a gross misdemeanor subject to a fine of not more than five thousand dollars plus costs, penalties, assessments and/or jail for up to three hundred sixty-five days. The animal control authority shall destroy the confiscated dangerous dog in an expeditious and humane manner if any deficiencies required by this subsection are not corrected within twenty days of notification. (Ord. 022/2023 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 012/2011 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 002/2011 § 4; Ord. 005/2009 § 4; Ord. 022/2004; Ord. 1274, 2002; Ord. 981, 1991)