(a) No person shall permit an unmuzzled dog at any time to be on a public street, highway, park, building or other public place except when held securely in leash by the owner or another responsible person except when the dog is legally engaged in training for the purpose of hunting, herding, ability or dog competition events, accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or a handler.
(b) Every City employee, while in the performance of his or her official duties, who has in his or her possession or under this or her control any radio transmitter and receiver, telephone or other device ordinarily used for two (2) way communication, shall immediately report to police officers or dog wardens of the City the sighting of any unmuzzled dogs found to be in a public place in violation of this section. The employee shall report the time, place, date and description of the dog, together with the employee's name.
(c) If a violation of division (a) of this section involves a dog as defined in Section 604.01, the dog shall be impounded under Chapter 603. Impoundment of dog because it was found to be in violation of this section shall not exempt the owner of the dog from being prosecuted under Section 604.99.
(d) Whoever violates this section guilty of a minor misdemeanor on the first offense, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on the second offense, and a misdemeanor of the third degree on the third and any subsequent offense, which fine shall be mandatory, and shall not be suspended or remitted.
(e) An amount equal to the amount of fines and penalties imposed under this section shall annually be contributed to and used for the benefit of the Division of Animal Care and Control.
(Ord. No. 1572-14. Passed 12-8-14, eff. 12-10-14)