(A) The Animal Control Unit is hereby authorized and directed to undertake and discharge the following responsibilities:
(1) Enforcing and carrying out within the city the provisions of this chapter, any other ordinance assigning animal control duties, and all relevant state laws in addition to coordinating and cooperating with the Randolph County Health Department and other law enforcement agencies in so doing;
(2) Canvassing the city, including dwellings, businesses, and institutions located within the city as necessary and practical, for the purpose of ascertaining that all dogs and cats in the city are adequately inoculated against rabies and for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with this chapter and state statutes;
(3) Investigating complaints with regard to animals covered by this chapter and protecting animals from abuse;
(4) Seizing, relocating, and/or impounding, when necessary, any animals in the city involved in a violation of this chapter or any other ordinance or state law. In addition, employees may scan the animal and utilize any information that may be available through a microchip to locate the owner of the animal, if possible;
(5) Keeping, or causing to be kept, accurate records of seizures, relocations, impoundments, dispositions of animals coming into the custody of the Animal Control Unit, violations, complaints, investigations, and monies collected; and
(6) Issuing citations and orders and assessing civil penalties for violations of this chapter and when otherwise authorized by law.
(B) Except as may be otherwise provided by federal or state law, no officer, agent, or employee of the city charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law shall be personally liable for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of such duties.
(Ord. 02 ORD 1-15, passed 1-8-15)