§ 2-308. Impounding, redemption and disposition.

A dog, cat or other animal found running at large or in violation of the articles within this chapter, situated within the corporate limits of the City, may be taken up by the officer or brought in by a member of the public and may be impounded at any facility with which the City has contracted for animal sheltering services. The officer shall make a record of all dogs or cats so impounded with their description, date of impoundment and rabies vaccination number if available. If, within four (4) business days from the date any dog or cat is impounded and the owner of such dog or cat shall appear and claim his or her dog or cat, said dog or cat may be released upon payment of the applicable impoundment fees as set forth in the contract then in effect between the City and the facility providing the sheltering services.

All fees required by this section shall be payable to the City, and no animal shall be released until the animal's owner proves that the animal, if a dog or cat, is currently immunized against rabies, is properly licensed pursuant to Article V of this chapter, and all impoundment and board fees have been paid in full to the City. Rabies immunization and licensing are not required until the animal is over four (4) months of age. If said animal is over four (4) months of age and is not currently immunized against rabies and licensed as required, then the owner may be issued citations for failure to license an animal and for failure to provide proof of rabies immunization. The citations will be marked to indicate that if the animal owner brings proof of current rabies immunization to the Police Department and completes the annual licensing process within ten (10) calendar days after the date of the citations, then the citations will be voided.

Any owner or keeper of a dog or cat who wishes to forfeit or otherwise terminate their ownership of said animal may bring the animal to the Lansing Police Department for surrender. At such time, the owner shall complete a written statement (including the animal's behavioral history and medical records, if available) irrevocably surrendering ownership of the animal and shall at that time pay a $100.00 surrender fee to the City. The City expressly reserves the right to refuse to accept custody of any dog or cat offered for surrender.

(Memo of 10-26-2017)