§143-8  Seizure and redemption of unlicenseddogs.  Except where licensing requirements are dispensed with, everyofficer shall seize any unlicensed dog found running at large or found upon anypublic highway, street, alley, court, place, square, or grounds, or upon anyunfenced lot, or not within a sufficient enclosure, whether in the immediatepresence of the owner or otherwise, and confine it in a pound or any suitableenclosure for a period of forty-eight hours, during which time it shall besubject to redemption by its owner by payment of the license due, if any, and apenalty to be set by each county council; provided that until and unlessprovided by ordinance the penalty shall be $2.50.  If not so redeemed, the dogshall be sold by the officer for the amount of the license and penalty due, oras much more as can be obtained therefor; provided that the officer may neuteror require the neutering of the dog prior to sale, and if not so sold it shallbe humanely destroyed.  The owner of any unlicensed dog impounded and notclaimed within forty-eight hours as provided in this section, may redeem thedog at any time before sale or destruction of the dog by paying to the officer,in addition to the amount of the license and penalty, an impoundment fee per dayfor the number of days over two days the dog was impounded.  Each countycouncil shall have the power to fix the impoundment fee for dogs; provided thatuntil and unless otherwise provided by ordinance the impoundment fee shall be$2.50 a day.  Of the money so received the amount of the license fee shall bepaid to the director of finance and the balance shall be retained by theofficer to defray the expenses of collecting, keeping, and feeding the dog. [L1941, c 268, §7; RL 1945, §7157; RL 1955, §156-8; HRS §143-8; am L 1973, c 146,§3; am L 1983, c 227, §5]