City Council finds that dangerous dogs threaten the health and safety of inhabitants of the city, especially young children and others unable to protect themselves from vicious attacks. City Council finds that owners who allow their dangerous dogs to run loose in the city or fail to safely and humanely restrain those dogs on their property are criminally and civilly liable for the harm those dogs cause. City Council finds that dogs that have mortally wounded either a person or a companion animal without provocation or that have attacked again after previously being deemed as dangerous dogs pose an immediate danger to the health and safety of the inhabitants of the city and should be subject to permanent removal. City Council further finds that owners who allow their dangerous dogs to run loose in the city or fail to safely and humanely restrain those dogs on their property create a nuisance that must be abated pursuant to the city's civil remedial powers under state law. City Council finds that it is reasonable to prevent the worst offenders from being able to own dogs in the City of Albuquerque.
(Ord. 2-2005; Am. Ord. 2016-009)