The director of the county animal control agency and/or his authorized personnel may apprehend any animals found doing or involved in any of the acts defined as a public nuisance and/or being subjected to cruel treatment as defined by law. Domesticated animals found running at large in the county may be deposited by residents of the county at any animal shelter authorized to provide the county with shelter services. After such animals are apprehended, the county animal control agency shall determine whether they are licensed, or otherwise identifiable and if reasonably possible, return the animal to the owner together with a notice of violation of the code. If it is not reasonably possible to return immediately the animal to its owner, the county animal control agency shall notify the owner of the animal within a reasonable time by telephone or certified mail or direct personal contact that the animal has been impounded and may be redeemed at the designated animal holding facility. Any unlicensed animal impounded pursuant to this title shall be held for the owner at least 72 hours which is to toll beginning with apprehension. For licensed animals, the tolling shall begin upon notification to the owner of said impoundment. Said notice shall either be personal, by telephone, or by mail. Delivery of a copy of said notice of impoundment to any person of suitable age and discretion residing upon the owner’s premises shall be deemed sufficient personal notice. If the notice is by mail, owner is not deemed notified until receipt of the notice. If reasonable attempts have been made by the appropriate authority to notify said owner but without success, the licensed animal shall be held for at least 10 days from date of apprehension. All impound periods shall continue to toll during those hours when the designated impound facility is not open for business. Any animal not redeemed by its owner during the prescribed time, or which is 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 upon payment of reasonable medical, impound and holding costs. No live animals shall be used, sold or donated for experimentation purposes. The owner of any animal impounded pursuant to the provisions of this title may recover said animal or animals pursuant to the provisions of SCC 9.12.110.

The above return and notification requirements shall not apply to any animal that is deemed abandoned under the provisions of chapter 16.54 RCW. For purposes of this section, such animals shall be deemed to be without owner. (Amended by § 10 of Res. adopted July 10, 1978; Amended by Res. adopted July 9, 1973; Amended by Ord. 87-131 § 1, Dec. 23, 1987).