ORDINANCE NO. 3262

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE III OF THE

CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION,

COLORADO

 

RECITALS: On May 17, 2000, the City Council passed an ordinance amending the Animal Control Regulations for the City of Grand Junction. Within that ordinance were administrative errors, which are corrected by this new ordinance.

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION THAT:

 

Chapter 6, Article III of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Grand Junction, is amended as follows:

 

1. Section 6-63 (d) is repealed and replaced by a new Section 6-63 (d) to read:

 

(a)  Minimum period. Any animal impounded at Animal Control which is not reclaimed by the owner shall be held by Animal Control for a minimum of five (5) days after acquisition by Animal Control, before it may become available for adoption or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of Animal Control. If the owner does not properly claim and redeem the animal within this period of impoundment, the animal may be subject to disposition under Section 6-64.

(b)  Sick or injured animal. An impounded animal which is sick or injured and in pain or contagious to other animals, and which is not identifiable to an owner is subject to a minimal impoundment period and may immediately be humanely disposed of through euthanasia, if (a) in the opinion of a veterinarian the animal is experiencing extreme pain or suffering; and (b) Animal Control has exhausted reasonable efforts to contact the owner for up to 24 hours.

(c)  Vicious dog. A vicious dog shall not be released from impoundment during the pendency of any criminal proceeding for violation of section 6-60(a). If no such action has been or will be commenced, such dog shall be disposed of pursuant to section 6-64.

(d)  Observation period. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, any dog or cat which is known or credibly alleged to have bitten any person shall be immediately impounded or quarantined for observation for rabies infection until ten days after the date of the bite and for such further time as deemed necessary by the director. During the observation period, the dog or cat shall not have any physical contact with any other person or animal outside the immediate family, nor shall it be removed from the location of quarantine unless authorized by animal control personnel. Additionally, the dog or cat shall not be vaccinated against rabies, have ownership transferred, or be destroyed or euthanized unless authorized by animal control personnel.

(e)  Dogs of wild extraction. Any dog of wild extraction which is known or credibly alleged to have bitten any person shall be immediately impounded. Unless otherwise ordered, dogs of wild extraction shall, at the discretion of the sergeant or director, be quarantined according to the direction of the state health department or killed by humane euthanasia, avoiding damage to the brain, and the remains tested for rabies as provided by state law.

(f)  Release from quarantine; failure to comply with quarantine order or conditions. Any owner of an animal, or person harboring or keeping an animal, who has been ordered by an animal control officer to quarantine such animal shall release such animal only to the animal control officer according to the quarantine. The animal control officer may allow the owner of the animal to board the animal at a licensed and approved animal hospital, kennel or veterinary facility approved by the animal control center. The animal control officer may allow the owner to quarantine the animal at the owner’s residence provided the owner can establish or maintain conditions of the ten-day quarantine period to the satisfaction of animal control. No person or owner shall fail to meet the conditions established pursuant to subsection (d)(4) of this section. Failure to comply with a quarantine order or comply with the conditions of quarantine shall result in the animal being impounded by animal control and shall be a violation of this article.

 

2. Section 6-71, titled “Violations not involving bodily injury,” is amended to add “…where a summons and complaint are issued…” after “…thereof…” in the first sentence.

 

3. Section 6-72, titled “Violations involving bodily injury,” is amended to add, “…where a summons and complaint are issued…” after “…thereof…” in the first sentence.

 

4. Section 6-74 is renumbered as Section 6-72 and titled “Severability Clause.”

 

5. Sections 6-73 and 6-75 are repealed.

 

 

Introduced this 7th day of June, 2000.

 

Passed and adopted this 21st day of June, 2000.

 

 

 

/s/ Gene Kinsey      

President of the Council

ATTEST:

 

 

/s/ Stephanie Nye      

City Clerk