All nuisance complaints are required to be filed in person by the complainant and complainant must be willing to go to court if criminal charges are filed. Complaints regarding the nature of aggressive animals running at large off the owner’s or keeper’s property may be received by phone or by email and can be investigated in effort to protect the public.
(A) An animal or group of animals shall be considered a nuisance if:
(1) Private or public property is damaged.
(2) Animal(s) interfere with, or attack person(s) or other animals.
(3) Animal(s) that habitually or repeatedly make noises or other sounds that tend to annoy, disturb, or frighten citizens. (Repealed 11/3/03)
(4) Animal(s) chase, or harass pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicles.
(5) By virtue of number is offensive or dangerous to public health, safety, and welfare.
(6) Animal(s) are diseased or dangerous to public health.
(B) It shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to permit an animal or animals to create a nuisance, or to maintain a nuisance created by any animal or animals, as defined in division (A)(1) through (6) above of this section.
(Ord. passed 9-20-95) Penalty, see § 90.99
(C) Upon receipt of a written, detailed, and signed complaint to the county by any resident(s) that any person is maintaining a public nuisance as defined in this chapter, the county shall notify the owner or keeper of the offending animals that a complaint has been received and that an investigation has been initiated. A report of the findings of the investigation to be reduced to writing by the investigating animal control officer.
(D) If the written findings indicate a violation, the Animal Control Officer shall cause the owner or keeper of the animal or animals in question to be so notified in writing, and ordered to abate such nuisance within 48 hours by whatever means necessary.
(E) If any person receiving notice in the manner hereinabove described shall fail or refuse to abate the nuisance upon the issuance of such order within the specified time, the department supervisor may cause the animal or animals in question to be apprehended and impounded in accordance with the provisions of § 90.05.
(F) Within three business days the owner of the nuisance animal may appeal the findings of the department supervisor or to the County Manager by giving written notice of appeal to stay the abatement of the nuisance until a final determination by the Board of Commissioners.
(Amend. Ord. passed 6-15-98; Amend. Ord. passed 11-3-03; Amend. Ord. passed 10-17-22) Penalty, see § 90.99