Ord 2022-096 amending Chapter 6, Animals, of the San Marcos City Code to amend definitions, delegate authority for department to waive or reduce fees

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b.Animals voluntarily surrendered by their owner to the shelter or an animal control officer. (5) Transfer of ownership to the city occurs immediately upon completion of any required hold period, and the animal becomes the property of the city. (d) Redemption or reclaim of impounded animals. (1) Any owner of an animal that has been impounded under this chapter must reclaim the animal by personally visiting the animal services facility where it is impounded. Facility staff shall return the animal if the owner can provide sufficient proof of being the animal's owner and if such release will not impair the safety of the public or the animal.The owner of the animal must pay any and all fees assessed in accordance with the city's fee schedule, and must agree to abide by all of the requirements of this chapter. It is the responsibility of the owner to visit the shelter before the expiration of the designated holding period to reclaim a lost pet. (2) Any person whose pet has been impounded for abuse or neglect or has been impounded more than two times for running at large will be required to attend the animal service's responsible owner program, if available, before the animal is returned. Completion of the responsible owner program may be used as a requirement to have a citation for violation of this chapter dismissed by deferred adjudication. (3) If an animal that requires a permit is impounded by an animal control officer for violating this chapter and the owner cannot prove that he is in possession of all required permit(s),the owner must meet all requirements of the required permit(s)and must purchase said permit(s)before the animal may be released from the animal services facility. (4) If an animal that requires a rabies vaccination is impounded by the animal control officer for violating this chapter and the owner cannot prove that the animal has a current rabies vaccination,a citation for failing to vaccinate will be issued.A person commits an offense if he or she does not provide proof of their animal obtaining a current rabies vaccination and shall be cited again for violation of this chapter. Each subsequent day that passes after the five-day period shall be considered a separate offense. For the purposes of this section, a rabies tag alone is not sufficient proof of an animal's current rabies vaccination. (5) If an animal is impounded by an animal control officer for violating this chapter and the animal does not already have a registered microchip implanted,then the city will implant and register a microchip, and add it to the owner's fees, before releasing the animal from the animal services facility.The identification number provided by the microchip,shall be maintained on file at the animal services center or with a nationally recognized registry,for future identification purposes. (6) If an animal is impounded for running at large,for a second time,and the animal has not already been sterilized,the owner must complete and sign a sterilization agreement to have the animal sterilized within 30 days as a further requirement for return.A person who signs a sterilization agreement commits an offense if he or she fails to have the animal sterilized on or before the date required in the agreement. a.The owner of an animal required by subsection(a)to be sterilized shall submit verification documentation to animal services within 10 days following the animal's sterilization procedure. b. If an owner no longer has the animal on the date required in the sterilization agreement,the owner must provide a written statement or documentation that the animal was lost,stolen,transferred to a new owner, or died. (7) An owner whose animal is impounded for violating this chapter shall remain liable for all fees whether the owner reclaims the animal or surrenders the animal to the shelter. Created: 2022-03-03 11:27:11 [EST] (Supp. No.34,Update 4) Page 19 of 40