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Animal Control | How to Adopt | Current Adoptable Animals

City of Owasso Animal Control

Animal Control Officers:

Brandon Hemsoth
Christine Baker

Information:

• Contacting Animal Control
• Animal Retrieval
• City Ordinances Pertaining to Animals
• Animal Cruelty
• Fees

Contacting Animal Control

Owasso Animal Control Facility 272-4965
AnimalShelter@cityofowasso.com
Owasso Police Department 272-2244

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Animal Retrieval

If your pet has escaped from your property and is running loose, chances are it may be or has already been impounded by the Owasso Animal Control. Your pet can be impounded for being "at large," or not under restraint. If this is the case, and your animal has been impounded by the Animal Control, there a few easy steps to be taken by the owner of the pet in order to retrieve his/her pet.

• First, simply visit or call the Animal Control  to inquire if they are in possession of your pet. You will need to bring some form of cash payment to the animal control facility in order to retrieve your pet.
• There is an initial impoundment fee, to be paid by owner.
• There is a per day fee for the time your animal has spent at the facility.
• In addition to this their are possible citations for you pet being "at large," or any other possible violation of your pet that you will be required to pay in order to regain your pet.
• The owner must also bring record of your pet's registration and vaccination. Your pet must be registered, which is a service of animal control. If your pet is not registered and vaccinated, procedures will be taken for you to do this. The owner will have to sign an agreement pledging that they will have the necessary regulations for their dog met by a certain date.
• If your pet already complies with these regulations, then you are free to take your pet home after paying the fees.

SECTION 4-134 REDEMPTION OF ANIMALS

An owner of an impounded animal or his agent may redeem the animal, prior to its sale or destruction as provided for herein, by paying the required fees against the animal, providing satisfactory proof of ownership, and meeting any other requirements which may be prescribed in this chapter. However, when in the judgment of the animal control officer an animal should be destroyed for medical reasons, such animal may not be redeemed, except to the owner who will provide immediate medical attention. An animal confined for rabies observation or other infectious disease may not be reclaimed until the animal control officer authorizes the release or until the observation period is over. (Prior Code, Secs. 3-39, 3-42; Ord. No. 532, 12/3/96)

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City Ordinances Pertaining to Animals

Number of Animals Allowed

SECTION 4-110 KEEPING DOGS AND CATS WITHIN CITY LIMITS; SANITATION

A. It is unlawful for any person, other than a properly licensed kennel proprietor, to keep or maintain or permit or suffer to be kept or maintained any dog or cat, upon any property or premises within the city limits more than two (2) dogs and three (3) cats, and no more than five (5) animals total may be kept. This limitation shall not be applicable to any litter of puppies for a period of ninety (90) days from birth, born unto any adult dog permanently maintained at such premises

Animals not to be "at large"

SECTION 4-102 ANIMALS NOT TO BE AT LARGE

No owner shall permit any animal, including fowl, except any cat, owned, harbored, or kept by him, to be at large within the city. It is unlawful for any animal, except a cat, to be at large at any time within the city. In alternative to the penalty as provided heretofore under the provisions of Section 1-108 of this Code, the owner of any animal impounded for the first time for being at large within the city may, in accordance with policies and procedures to be promulgated by the chief of police, select to have the dog sterilized; whereupon, no further penalty or cost shall be assessed for such dog being at large theretofore. (Prior Code, Sec. 3-2; Ord. No. 436, 8/20/91)

Duration of Impoundment

SECTION 4-132 ANIMALS TO BE IMPOUNDED

Animals which are taken into custody as provided in this section, shall be subject to humane disposition by adoption, public auction, donation, euthanasia or other reasonable disposition by the animal control officer after a full four (4) days or ninety-six (96) hours have elapsed, not to include weekends and holidays, after taking the animal into custody, provided the animal is not redeemed or claimed as provided in this Article. A description of the animal, location of pick-up, and date of pick-up shall be posted in the facility to any interested person. If the owner can be identified by tag or otherwise, the animal control officer shall notify the owner at the address on the registration tag or city records that the animal will be subject to disposition. The notice may be given to the owner or may be left at the owner's address with some members of the family over fourteen (14) years of age. (Prior Code, Sec. 3-38; Ord. No. 532, 12/3/96)

For complete listing of City Ordinances pertaining to Animals or other issues, contact City Hall @ 376-1500 or e-mail JStevens@cityofowasso.com

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Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty is a criminal offense, and a person can be criminally prosecuted for cruelty to animals. This is an especially relevant issue in the heat of the summer. With each day, temperatures rise, and making the mistake, or choice, of leaving your pet in your vehicle can be fatal. It is by law illegal to treat an animal cruelly.

If you witness animal cruelty, you may report it to the Owasso Police Department @ 918-272-2244.

Owasso Ordinance ARTICLE D MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 4-140 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

It is unlawful for any person to overdrive, overload, drive when overloaded, overworked, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance of water, cruelly heat, mutilate or kill any animal or fail to give such animal sufficient water, or cause or procure an animal to be so overdriven, overworked, tortured, tormented, or deprived of necessary sustenance or water, cruelly beaten, mutilated or killed.

1. Any animal kept in the city limits shall be housed, watered, fed and protected from the weather in such manner as not to endanger the animalís life or well being.
2. No person shall willfully or maliciously:
1. Torture, cruelly beat, injure, maim, mutilate, overdrive, overload, unjustly destroy, kill or instigate, engage in, or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal or any act tending to produce such cruelty belonging to himself or to another;
2. Deprive any animal of food for more than twenty-four (24) hours at a time;
3. Set out, dispose of cause or permit to be exposed to any drug, chemical or other substance whatever, in any open place, whether public or private property, when such substance is poisonous or capable of causing the death or dangerous sickness of any domestic or household animal;
4. Cause any other person to do any of the above acts.
3. No animal shall be confined within or on a motor vehicle under such conditions as may endanger the health or well being of the animal, including, but not limited to, dangerous temperature, lack of food or water.
4. No person shall abandon or cause to be abandoned any animal within the corporate city limits of Owasso.
5. If the condition of the animal is not improved to the satisfaction of the animal control officer, another citation may be issued.
6. Any act tending to produce such cruelty shall be punished by imprisonment in the city jail for a period not exceeding ten (10) days, or by fine not exceeding two-hundred dollars ($200.00), or by both such imprisonment and fine.
7. Owners and keepers of any animal shall provide food, water, shelter and medical attention to any animal, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Sufficient, wholesome food that is nutritious for the species;
2. Fresh, potable drinking water at all times;
3. Medical attention to relieve such animals from suffering;
4. Shelter to allow the animal to remain dry and protected from the elements. Such shelter shall be fully enclosed on three (3) sides, and roofed. The shelter shall be small enough to retain the animalís body heat and large enough to allow the animal to stand and turn comfortable. The structure shall be structurally sound and in good repair.
5. Any animal kept on a chain or rope shall be placed so that it cannot become entangled with the restraints of other animals or with any other objects. The chain or rope shall be of sufficient length and a minimum of ten (10) feet to allow the animal complete access to food, water and shelter at all times. The chain shall be attached in a manner, to an acceptable collar, so as not to cause injury or discomfort to the animal. No chain, rope, wire, or bandanna shall be used as a collar.
6. An animal control officer finding an animal so maltreated or abused shall remove the animal or give the owner or person causing treatment seventy-two (72) hours to remedy the violation. If in the opinion of the animal control officer the life or welfare of the animal is in immediate danger, he may take possession of said animal and place the animal in the care of a veterinarian at the ownerís expense or place said animal in the animal shelter. The animal shall be maintained there until such time as the problem can be rectified and all fines, court cost and charges for animal care are paid in full. The decision as to whether the animal shall be released back to person causing maltreatment will then be made by the presiding judge upon recommendations of the animal control officer.

(Prior Code, Sec. 3- 44; Ord. No. 532, 12/3/96)

If you witness animal cruelty, you may report it to the Owasso Police Department @ 918-272-2244.

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Fees

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