The animal control officer may dispose of humanely or transfer to a new owner upon payment of the applicable fee, any impounded animal not claimed by its owner or custodian within the prescribed holding time. Animals relinquished by their owner may be humanely destroyed without regard to the prescribed holding in order to alleviate suffering or to protect other impounded animals from exposure to contagious disease. (Ord. 94, amended, 1982; Prior code §2-28(B); Ord. 99-17, amended, 2001)