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Responsible Animal and Pet Ownership Care and Control Regulation Ordinance <br />Page 51 <br />(c) Animals impounded for reasons of tragedy beyond the control of the owner, such as but <br />not limited to house fire or death of the owner, will be held for seven (7) calendar days <br />during which time a reasonable effort will be made to contact the owner and /or their <br />representative to make reclaim or alternative housing arrangements. After the seventh <br />(7th) day of impoundment, the animals will become the property of the Division of <br />Animal Care and Control. <br />(d) Animals awaiting disposition by the courts shall remain in the custody of the Division of <br />Animal Care and Control, unless such disposition is made, or placed in a foster home <br />until legal arrangements have been completed. <br />(e) Pursuant to impoundment of an animal under paragraph (a) of this Section, the Division <br />of Animal Care and Control may file a petition with the court requesting that the owner <br />or custodian of the animal post a bond to cover the costs of care of the animal while it is <br />in the custody of the Division. <br />1. This petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit or statement of the Division <br />that sets forth an estimate of the reasonable expenses that the department expects <br />to incur providing for that care. Reasonable expenses include but are not limited <br />to the estimated cost of veterinary care, food and board for the animal. The owner <br />or custodian of the animal shall be provided written notice of the petition by <br />personal service or certified mail. Any such mail shall be sent to the last known <br />residence, or, if this address is not known, such notice shall be sent to the address <br />from which the animal was seized. Refusal to accept certified mail or failure to <br />receive mail due to other delays will not negate this Section. <br />2. The court or hearing body to which the petition is filed shall hold a hearing on the <br />petition. At the hearing, the Division has the burden of proving that there is <br />probable cause to find that the animal was the subject of a violation as listed <br />under paragraph (a) of this Section. If the court finds that probable cause exists, <br />the court shall order the owner or custodian of the animal to post a bond to cover <br />the cost of the care of the animal for a minimum of thirty (30) days. <br />a. Bond must be posted within a maximum of three (3) business days <br />following the bond hearing judgment. If bond has not been posted within <br />the allotted three (3) business days, the animal shall immediately become <br />the property of the Division of Animal Care and Control. <br />b. Bond must be posted at the Division of Animal Care and Control in cash <br />or certified funds only. The bond shall be deposited into the budget for the <br />Division of Animal Care and Control, in a subaccount specific for each <br />case. The department may draw on this account to cover the actual <br />expenses incurred in the care of theanimal. <br />c. If, at the end of thirty (30) days, the matter for holding said animal(s) has <br />not been adjudicated, another bond must be posted. The renewal bond <br />