Public Menace. Within the City there are vicious dogs, the presence of which has become a serious and widespread threat to the safety and welfare of the residents or domestic animals of the City that should be abated. The provisions of this Article set forth the procedures by which a dog is determined to be a vicious dog, thereby becoming subject to appropriate controls and other actions. The provisions of this article shall not apply to any dog assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
A. 
An owner or custodian of a dog who permits, allows or causes the dog to run, stray or be uncontrolled or at large upon a public street, sidewalk, park or other public property, or in or upon private property of another person without the consent of the property owner or person in lawful occupation or possession, is guilty of a public offense punishable as an infraction under section 6.08.260.
B. 
If the dog or other animal bites, attacks or causes injury to any human being or other domestic animal while stray or uncontrolled or at large upon a public street, sidewalk, park or other public property, or in or upon private property of another person or person in lawful occupation or possession, then the owner or custodian is guilty of a public offense punishable as a misdemeanor.
C. 
When a violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor, the misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
A. 
If upon investigation it is determined by the Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer probable cause exists a dog poses an immediate threat to public safety, then the Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer may seize and impound the dog pending the hearing to be held pursuant to Section 6.08.200. The hearing will be held within 10 business days after the date the dog is seized or impounded or within 10 days after notification to the owner or custodian, whichever is shorter. The owner or custodian of the dog shall be liable for the costs and expenses of keeping the dog impounded if the dog is later determined restricted or vicious. Such costs and expenses shall be paid prior to release of the dog. If the dog is not determined to be restricted or vicious, then the owner or custodian is not liable for the costs and expenses of keeping the impounded dog.
B. 
Surrender of Dog. Any owner of a dog subject to the provisions of this section shall immediately surrender custody and control of such dog at the request of the Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer. A violation of the provisions of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
C. 
When a dog has been impounded pursuant to subsection A and it is not contrary to public safety, the Director may permit the dog to be confined at the owner's expense in a department-approved animal or veterinary facility or at the owner's residence if conditions of confinement can be met.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
A. 
Hearing. If an Animal Control Officer or a law enforcement officer has investigated and determined there is probable cause a dog is potentially vicious or restricted, then the Director shall set an administrative hearing, to determine whether or not the dog in question should be declared restricted or vicious.
B. 
Notice of Hearing and Petition.
1. 
Subsequent to the investigation showing probable cause a dog is potentially vicious or restricted, the Animal Control Supervisor, Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer shall prepare a petition, which is a document that lays out the allegation the dog is potentially vicious or restricted with supporting evidence.
2. 
Whenever possible, a complaint received from a member of the public which serves as the evidentiary basis for the Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer to find probable cause, shall be sworn to and verified by the complainant and shall be attached to the petition.
3. 
The Director shall notify the owner or custodian of the dog an administrative hearing will be held, at which time he or she may present evidence as to why the dog should not be declared restricted or vicious.
4. 
The owner or custodian shall be served the notice of the hearing, the time, date and location of the hearing, a copy of this article, and a copy of the petition, either personally, and/or by first class mail and certified mail return receipt requested. The hearing shall be held within no less than five working days nor more than 10 working days after the service of the notice upon the owner or custodian of the dog, unless a longer time is agreed to by the owner or custodian. For the purposes of this article, service is complete either: (i) when the documents are personally served; or (ii) five days after the documents are deposited in the mail or when the return receipt is received back from the recipient, whichever is earlier.
C. 
Conduct of Hearing. The hearing shall be conducted as an administrative hearing open to the public. The Hearing Officer may admit into evidence all relevant evidence, including incident reports and the affidavits of witnesses, limit the scope of discovery, and may shorten the time to produce records or witnesses. The Hearing Officer may find, upon a preponderance of the evidence, the dog is restricted or vicious and shall make other orders or findings required or authorized by this article. The Hearing Officer may decide all issues for or against the owner or custodian of the dog, even if the owner or custodian fails to appear at the hearing. The hearing need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admissions of such evidence over objection in civil actions. The rules of privilege shall be effective to the same extent that they are now or hereafter may be recognized in civil actions, and irrelevant or unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded.
D. 
Administration of Oaths. The Hearing Officer shall have the power to administer oaths or affirmations when necessary in conjunction with the hearing.
E. 
Record. The Hearing Officer shall record the hearing on a recording device and shall make such recording available to the parties upon request. A copy of the recording or a transcript prepared therefrom shall be provided to any party who requests it and pays the cost of making such copy or preparing such transcript.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
Following an administrative hearing conducted pursuant to Section 6.08.200, within 14 calendar days after the date of the hearing, a written notice of the decision shall be served on the owner or custodian of the dog either personally or by first class mail and certified mail return receipt requested.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
A. 
A dog determined to be a vicious dog shall be humanly euthanized by Animal Control Services when it is found at the hearing conducted pursuant to section 6.08.200 the release of the dog would create a significant threat to the public health, safety and welfare. If the dog determined to be vicious is not in Animal Control Services' possession, then the owner or custodian shall surrender the dog to Animal Control Services.
B. 
If it is determined a dog found to be vicious shall not be destroyed, then the Hearing Officer shall impose conditions necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Those conditions are limited to release to an approved animal rescue sanctuary for the remainder of the animal's life and no possibility of adoption. The owner or custodian is responsible for all fees, charges and associated costs related to that release. The owner or custodian will provide proof within 14 calendar days after the fully executed contract with an approved animal sanctuary. If the owner or custodian fails to pay all fees and/or fails to provide proof of a contract with an approved animal sanctuary within 14 calendar days of the owner's or custodian's receipt of the notice of the decision, then the dog will be deemed abandoned and may be transferred or humanly euthanized by Animal Control Services at its discretion.
C. 
The owner or custodian of a dog determined to be a vicious dog may be prohibited from owning, keeping, possessing or having custody of any dog for a period of up to three years, if it is found at the hearing conducted pursuant to section 6.08.200 ownership or possession of a dog by that person would create a significant threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
A dog determined to be a restricted dog may be released to the owner or other custodian with restrictions that must be met prior to release of the dog to the owner or other custodian if the dog was impounded, including the following:
A. 
The dog shall be properly licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated at the owner's or custodian's expense, prior to release to the owner or custodian if the dog was impounded.
B. 
If the dog was not impounded, then the dog owner or custodian shall provide proof the dog is licensed, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated within 14 calendar days after the decision or court order declaring the dog to be a restricted dog is served on the dog owner or custodian. Animal Control Services may include the restricted dog designation in the license registration records of the dog.
C. 
The Hearing Officer may impose other restrictions, as appropriate, which may include:
1. 
Fence or enclosure requirements;
2. 
Yard inspections;
3. 
Muzzling when in public;
4. 
Notification to Animal Control Services of incidents involving the restricted dog;
5. 
Training;
6. 
Maintenance of general liability insurance; and
7. 
Other reasonable restrictions as are determined by the Hearing Officer to be necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
D. 
All charges for services performed by Animal Control Services pursuant to Sections 6.08.190 through 6.08.230, and all fines, shall be paid prior to the release of the dog to its owner or custodian within 14 calendar days after the services are performed or the charges and fines are ordered to be paid. If the charges and fines are not paid within 14 days after the services are performed or the fines are ordered to be paid, then the dog shall be deemed to be abandoned and may be transferred, adopted or humanly euthanized by Animal Control Services at its discretion.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
A. 
The Hearing Officer may schedule follow-up hearing dates to ensure compliance with all conditions imposed.
B. 
Consequences that may result from the failure of an owner or custodian of a dog released after a hearing pursuant to this article to comply with any of the conditions imposed under Section 6.08.220 or 6.08.230 include, but are not limited to the following:
1. 
The failure to comply with any condition shall be a violation of this article that is punishable as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment;
2. 
A violation of any part of an administrative decision or court order may be the subject of a civil action for injunctive relief to enjoin the person who violated the decision or order. The filing and prosecution of an action for injunctive relief shall not limit the authority or ability of the City to take any other action permitted by law;
3. 
A violation of an administrative decision or court order following a determination that a dog is a restricted dog, may result in the filing of an action to determine if the dog is vicious under Subsection 6.08.200(C).
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
A. 
No dog may be declared restricted or vicious if any injury or damage is sustained by a person who, at the time the injury or damage was sustained, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon premises occupied by the owner or custodian of the dog, or was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime. No dog may be declared restricted or vicious if the dog was protecting or defending a person within the immediate vicinity of the dog from an unjustified attack or assault. No dog may be declared restricted or vicious if an injury or damage was sustained by a domestic animal or livestock, which at the time of the injury or damage was sustained, was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog.
B. 
No dog may be declared restricted or vicious if the injury or damage to a person or domestic animal was sustained while the dog was a law enforcement dog performing law enforcement duties.
C. 
This article does not apply to humane society shelters, municipal animal control facilities, or to veterinarians or veterinary clinics.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)
Unless otherwise designated as a misdemeanor, any violation of this article shall constitute an infraction punishable by:
A. 
A fine not exceeding $100.00 for a first violation;
B. 
A fine not exceeding $200.00 for a second violation of this Article within a consecutive 12-month period;
C. 
A fine not exceeding $500.00 for each additional violation of this article within a consecutive 12-month period.
(Ord. 1622(16) § 11)