(A) In the event of an ordinance violation, Dearborn County Animal Control shall notify the owner or harborer of the animal of the ordinance violation in writing citing the pertinent chapter section and any fines due and/or actions needed to be taken. If the owner or harborer fails to comply, the Animal Control Officer shall file the Ordinance violation with any Court in Dearborn County, pursuant to local rules, as necessary to enforce the penalties of this chapter.
(D) In the event that an animal is impounded by an Animal Control Officer pursuant to this chapter, and in addition to any other penalty set out in divisions (B) and (C) above or court costs, the owner shall reimburse the cost associated with providing shelter for each impounded animal at an animal control facility or the humane society.
(E) If the owner of the animal(s) has not paid the ordinance violation fine within 14 days of receiving the Notice of Ordinance Violation, Dearborn County Animal Control shall contact the Dearborn County Attorney in order to file the ordinance violation case with the appropriate court in Dearborn County.
(F) In the event a violation of § 90.16 through § 90.18 of this chapter involves a vicious and dangerous dog, any court in Dearborn County may order the owner or harborer to obtain liability insurance pursuant to § 90.18(E); and the court, in addition to any other penalty, may also order that the vicious and dangerous dog be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or the Animal Control Officer, and that the owner or harborer shall pay all expenses including, but not limited to, shelter, food, veterinary, and destruction expenses necessitated by the seizure of the dog for the protection of the public or violation of § 90.16 through § 90.18.
(G) In the event an ordinance violation also involves a dog that has bitten a person, the 14 day “grace period” found in § 90.04(E) shall not apply and Dearborn County Animal Control shall immediately contact the Dearborn County Attorney to begin court proceedings.
(H) If an owner or harborer of an animal is found to have violated this chapter three or more times in one 12-month period, the animal(s), at the discretion of Dearborn County Animal Control, may be forfeited to P.A.W.S. and thereafter adopted out to a suitable home, transferred to a rescue partner, or humanely euthanized. The owner or harborer of the animal(s) may appeal the forfeiture of the animal to the Commission in the same manner as provided in § 90.18(F) of this chapter.
(BC Ord. 2014-006, passed 6-3-14; Am. BC Res. 2014-009, passed 9-2- 14; Am. BC Ord. 2015-001, passed 1-6-15; Am. BC Ord. 2017-014, passed 11-7-17)