(a) The animal control officer is hereby empowered to make whatever inquiry is deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section, and to seize and impound any level-one (1) threat or level-two (2) threat dog whose owner, keeper or harborer fails to comply with the provisions hereof. In the event that the owner of the dog refuses to surrender the animal to the animal control officer, the animal control officer may request a law enforcement officer to obtain a search or arrest warrant to seize the dog.
(b) In the event that a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that any level-one (1) threat or level-two (2) threat dog is being harbored, housed or cared for in violation of this section, the law enforcement officer may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to order the seizure and impoundment of the dog pending trial.
(c) In the event that the owner of any level-one (1) threat or level-two (2) threat dog is a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor shall be liable for all injuries and property damage sustained by any person or domestic animal caused by an unprovoked attack by said level-one (1) threat or level-two (2) threat dog,
(d) For purposes of division (a) of Section 604.03, testimony that any level-one (1) threat or level- two (2) threat dog was unconfined on the premises of its owner, or that any level-one (1) threat or level-two (2) threat dog was beyond the premises of its owner and was not secured in accordance with division (b) of Section 604.03, shall be prima facie evidence that such owner suffered or permitted such dog to go unconfined on the premises of such owner or suffered or permitted such dog to go beyond the premises of such owner when not securely leashed according to Section 604.03.
(Ord. No. 712-11. Passed 6-6-11, eff. 6-13-11)