Ord 2023-070 San Marcos, TX amending sec 6.030 Of the city code to eliminate the five -day holding excemtion for impounded stray cats.

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Sec. 6.030. Impoundment and redemption. (a) Impoundment. (1) It is the duty of an animal control officer to capture and impound such animals as are running at large or which are required to be impounded pursuant to other laws or ordinances or to protect public health or safety. Any officer or citizen of the city is authorized to take up and deliver in a humane manner to the animal services facility any animal that may be found running at large in the city, with the exception of visually healthy cats which pose no apparent danger to public health or safety. A..�DD Mtlhou.rt an (: ir' bD or irm. ins of iid(.-Linbffiicatioi n umnav coi nsiid(.-Lr(.-Ld a n;ommu.ru"niity cat and iimir.nou.ru"nd(.-Ld for Ib.�. `.....Y: u.� ir:.V. c .`:. `..`::.....$:...: ir:..IC:.....irm L a.�„t „L ir:k.....a irm d...ir (L u it irm.....(..WI.W...�Y ..).:. (2) The animal control officer shall impound and quarantine all dogs, cats and other animals exposed to, suspected to be exposed to, or infected with rabies, whether the dog, cat or other animal to be impounded is at large, on a leash, or confined to its owner's premises or whether it is currently vaccinated. Any animal which a licensed veterinarian suspects of having rabies shall be humanely euthanized. Any animal exposed to a rabid animal shall be humanely euthanized or quarantined at the owner's expense for a period mandated by the Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Division, not less than ten days from the date of last known exposure. (3) The animal control officer shall impound an animal at the request of a peace officer when the owner of the animal has been arrested, hospitalized, is missing, or has died, and there is no person present, 18 years of age or older, who will assume the legal responsibility of providing food, water and shelter for such animal. (b) Identification of impounded animals. (1) The city enforcement agent, or his deputies, upon receiving an animal for impoundment, shall make a complete registry, including the species, breed, color and sex of such animal, whether it has traceable identification, and the time and place of taking custody. All animals impounded shall be scanned with a microchip reader. If an animal has traceable identification, all known information shall be entered, including the name and address of the veterinary clinic, year, the number of the registration tag, and any other pertinent information. (2) If, by identification tag or microchip, the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the city animal control officer or staff member shall, as soon as possible, notify the owner by telephone, electronic message, or mail; however, it is the responsibility of the owner to visit the shelter before the expiration of the designated holding period to reclaim a lost pet. (c) Retention of impounded animals. (1) Impounded animals n a+r) three months of age or older with no means of traceable identification shall be kept for not less than three days that the shelter is open for reclaim, unless earlier reclaimed by the owner under acceptable conditions or earlier euthanized as allowed by 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. 4).e...exc(-.njpti(Yr�...ffeir:....c. .�& 4)atthey.... wu:nst....lkn,e....4e.pt.... )ir:....Pet ....p.e.vv4 ff:i.v.e....d.W., s.. (2) Impounded animals three months of age or older with any type of traceable identification shall be kept for not less than five days that the shelter is open for reclaim, or not less than three days from the time confirmed contact is made with the owner informing them their animal is impounded at the shelter, whichever is the shorter time period, unless earlier reclaimed by the owner under acceptable conditions or earlier euthanized as allowed by this chapter. If an animal has a tag that does not list the (Supp. No. 36) Created: 2023-08-04 12:37:53 [EST] Page 1 of 3