IMPOUNDMENT; HOLDING PERIOD; NOTICE TO OWNER; DISPOSITION OF ANIMALS
Salt Lake City Code § 8.04.340
in effect8.04.340: IMPOUNDMENT; HOLDING PERIOD; NOTICE TO OWNER; DISPOSITION OF ANIMALS:
A. Animals shall be impounded for a minimum of five (5) business days before further disposition, except as otherwise provided herein. Reasonable effort shall be made to notify the owner of any animal wearing a license or other identification during that time. Notice shall be deemed given when sent to the last known address of the listed owner. Any animal voluntarily relinquished to the animal control facility by the owner thereof for destruction or other disposition need not be kept for the minimum holding period before release or other disposition as herein provided.
B. 1. All dogs and cats, except for those quarantined or confined by court order, held longer than the minimum impound period, and all dogs and cats voluntarily relinquished to the impound facility, may be euthanized or sold, as the animal services director shall direct. Any healthy dog or cat may be sold to any person or to any institution engaged in scientific research and desiring to purchase such animal for a price to be determined by the director, but not to exceed thirty dollars ($30.00) per animal, plus license and any rabies vaccination that is required.
2. All persons purchasing any dog or cat from the impound facility shall, at the time of purchase, execute an agreement on forms provided by the impound facility. Such agreement shall include payment of a sterilization deposit of not less than twenty five dollars ($25.00) as set forth in the Salt Lake City consolidated fee schedule and shall provide that the purchaser will have the dog or cat so purchased spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of the date of purchase of such dog or cat (or for a young animal within 30 days after the animal achieves 6 months in age), and that the purchaser will file with the animal services director written verification from a licensed veterinarian that such dog or cat has been spayed or neutered prior to the date of written verification. The agreement shall also provide that sale or transfer of the purchased dog or cat by the purchaser shall not release the purchaser from the obligation to have the animal spayed or neutered, nor from the obligation to file the written verification, as provided hereinabove. In lieu of the aforementioned written verification from a licensed veterinarian, the purchaser may file a truthful affidavit with the animal services director prior to the required date of written verification certifying that the dog or cat so purchased from the impound facility has died prior to the required deadline, and prior to being spayed or neutered.
3. Failure of the purchaser of a dog or cat from the impound facility to file the written verification from a licensed veterinarian prior to the required deadline, or in the alternative, failure of the purchaser to file a truthful affidavit prior to the required deadline shall constitute a violation of this title.
C. Any licensed animal impounded and having or suspected of having serious physical injury or contagious disease requiring medical attention may, in the discretion of the animal services director or designee, be released to the care of a veterinarian with the consent of the owner.
D. When, in the judgment of the animal services director, it is determined that an animal should be euthanized for humane reasons or to protect the public from imminent danger to persons or property, such animal may be euthanized without regard to any time limitations otherwise established herein and without court order.
E. The director of animal services may euthanize an animal upon the request of an owner without transporting the animal to animal services facilities. An appropriate fee shall be charged the owner for the euthanasia and any subsequent disposal of the carcass done by the office of animal services. (Ord. 21-14, 2014)
Source: Salt Lake City, Utah, City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/saltlakecityut/latest/saltlakecity_ut/0-0-0-49633Fetched: 11/1/2026
