§ 4-63. Disposition of unredeemed animal by adoption or transfer to rescue agency.

(a)

Duty of animal control director. It will be the duty of the director to offer for adoption to the public, or transfer to rescue agencies licensed by the state department of agriculture, after verification, any and all healthy animals impounded in accordance with this chapter and not redeemed as provided herein.

(b)

Animals eligible for adoption The county animal control may offer for adoption any animal impounded from within the City and unclaimed after six days following notification of impoundment as required in this chapter or any animal that has been surrendered to animal control by the owner provided each animal offered for adoption is determined by director or director's designee to be of reasonably good health and temperament. No animal determined to be dangerous, vicious or aggressive shall be offered for adoption.

(c)

Application for adoption. Persons who want to adopt an animal must make application for adoption with county animal control and meet requirements associated with the humane housing and care of the animal as determined by the director and by the payment of the required fees.

(d)

Redemption of adopted animal. Adoptions under this section are not final until 30 days after adoption during which period the person originally entitled to redeem the animal may reclaim the adopted animal in the manner provided in this subsection. The option to redeem after adoption must be exercised within a period of 30 days from the date the animal was adopted. The person redeeming the animal and will be required to reimburse the adopter double the adoption fee for the days the animal was held and cared for by the adopter and any verified expense incurred for qualified veterinary services. Any animal not redeemed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall, after the 30-day period, become the property and responsibility of the adopter.

(e)

Mandatory sterilization. Animals adopted from the county Animal Control Center shall be sterilized in strict accordance with O.C.G.A. § 4-14-1 et seq.

(Ord. of 4-2-2012(13), § 1(30-101(9)))