Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

A. Authority. The director of the animal control authority and the director’s authorized representatives may apprehend any animals found doing any of the acts defined as a public nuisance and/or being subjected to cruel treatment as defined by law. After such animals are apprehended, the animal control authority shall ascertain whether they are licensed, or otherwise identifiable. If reasonably possible, the animal control authority shall return the animal to its owner together with a notice of violation of this chapter. If it is not possible to immediately return a currently licensed animal to its owner, the animal control authority shall notify the owner within a reasonable time by regular mail or telephone that the animal has been impounded and may be redeemed.

B. Holding Period. Any currently licensed animal impounded pursuant to this chapter shall be held for the owner for at least 10 days from the time of impoundment; any other animal impounded pursuant to this chapter shall be held for its owner at least 72 hours from the time of impoundment.

C. Injured or Diseased Animals. Any animal suffering from serious injury or disease may be humanely destroyed, or, in the discretion of the impounding authority, may be held for a longer period and redeemed by any person on payment of charges not exceeding those prescribed herein.

D. Animals Not Redeemed. Any animal not redeemed shall be treated in one of the following ways:

1. Made available for adoption at a fee set by the city’s animal shelter service.

a. Any person may adopt an animal impounded pursuant to the provisions contained in this chapter when all billable costs, redemption fees, penalties and boarding costs incurred from such impoundment are paid.

b. All dogs and cats over the age of six months adopted from the city’s designated animal control shelter shall be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. A spay/neuter deposit shall be charged for dogs and cats under the age of six months which are too young to be spayed/neutered prior to adoption. This deposit will be returned to the adopting person upon submission of proof that the sterilization was performed within six months from the date of adoption. Failure to spay/neuter such dog or cat is a violation of this chapter and a breach of the adoption contract and will result in the forfeiture of the adoption and return of the dog or cat to the animal control authority for the required spaying/neutering.

c. The director shall have the authority to set administrative rules regarding the adoption of animals from city of Bothell shelters.

2. Humanely destroyed by euthanasia.

E. Sales of Animals. The animal control authority shall not sell any animals for the purposes of medical research to any research institute or any other purchasers.

F. Mandatory Spaying or Neutering. Any unaltered dog or cat impounded more than once shall be spayed or neutered by the animal control authority prior to the release of the dog or cat. The cost of the spay or neuter shall be charged to the owner upon redemption but shall be deducted from the impound/redemption fees otherwise required under this chapter. (Ord. 2061 § 14, 2011; Ord. 1511 § 27, 1993; Ord. 1279 § 15, 1987; Ord. 666 § 6.5, 1966).