A. Impounding Animals. If a law enforcement officer or animal control officer has probable cause to believe that an owner of an animal has violated this title or Chapter 16.52 RCW, and no responsible person can be found to assume the animal’s care, the officer may authorize, with a warrant or a court order, the removal of the animal to a suitable place for care and feeding of the animal. An officer may remove an animal without a warrant only if the animal is in an immediate life-threatening condition, or is in danger of serious harm, or if the animal presents an immediate threat to the safety of others.

B. Notice of Impounding. When any licensed animal is impounded, the officer or department impounding such animal shall attempt to give notice to the owner the same day either by mail, or by leaving written notice at the address contained in the license application or by telephone. The notice shall inform the owner of the impounding of such animal and the reason for impounding the animal. Neither the city nor its agents or employees are liable for failure to notify an owner of impoundment.

C. Redemption of Animals by Owner. If, at any time before disposal by the animal control officer, the owner of an impounded animal claims the animal, the owner shall be entitled to possession of the animal only after paying all legal charges and expenses incidental to the impoundment and boarding of the animal. If a domestic animal is impounded and taken to the contract shelter more than twice during a 12-month period it will be mandatory that a microchip capable of being scanned by an “AVID” or other equivalent brand microchip scanner be implanted in the animal before it is released to the owner. The owner of said animal shall incur all expenses incidental to the microchip process that are charged by the contract shelter.

D. Disposition of Impounded Animals. When in the judgment of a licensed veterinarian or the animal control authority’s contract shelter that an animal should be euthanized or not returned to the owner for humane or public health reasons, that animal may not be redeemed by its owner. The animal control authority’s contract shelter may find a responsible person to adopt the animal not less than 15 days after the animal is impounded. Before an animal is euthanized or adopted out, the animal control authority shall take reasonable steps to serve the owner with notice of the proposed action. Such notice will include the owner’s right to appeal the decision in accordance with LMC 6.02.145. The disposition shall be stayed until the appeal process is complete. If the appellate authority decides that the animal should be euthanized, or adopted out, the owner shall be liable for the costs of boarding the animal. The animal control authority shall not be held civilly liable for the euthanasia of the animal. (Ord. 3145 § 5, 2015; Ord. 3029 § 4, 2013; Ord. 2927 § 6, 2011; Ord. 2604 § 1, 2006; Ord. 2091 § 12, 1996; Ord. 1215, 1981)