Section 45-45-170 Animal Control Shelter Program.

(a) The Madison County Commission is hereby authorized to establish an animal control shelter program in Madison County and to provide such program or to enter into contracts with other governmental or private agencies for the operation and maintenance of the program. (b) If an animal control shelter program is established, each dog and cat in Madison County shall be licensed annually. The Madison County Commission is authorized to establish the annual license fee; however, such annual fee shall not be less than one dollar ($1) nor more than six dollars ($6). Any dog or cat not having a license shall be taken into custody and retained for 10 days before its disposal, either by sale or putting to death. The county commission may establish a fee to reclaim an animal from one dollar ($1) to ten dollars ($10) for spayed dogs or cats and from one dollar ($1) to twenty dollars ($20) for unspayed dogs or cats. The license fee provided for by this section shall be in addition to all other dog or cat licenses or fees provided for by law. (c) All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into a separate fund in Madison County to be used solely for the animal control shelter program established hereunder. (d) The county commission is hereby authorized to create the position of animal control officer in Madison County and if the position is created, the officer shall serve at the pleasure of the county commission and shall have the duty of administering this section, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the county commission from time to time. The officer shall also perform such other duties as may be required of him or her by law or required of him or her by any organization or society under the law. (e) Any dog or cat on the property of its owner or on a leash shall be exempt from this section.