(A) The Director of the Dearborn County Animal Control shall be appointed by the Commission on a yearly basis and may be removed at any time for any reason by the Commission. The Director may hire additional employees by following the procedures outlined in the Dearborn County Employee Handbook.
(B) The animal control officers and staff shall maintain compliance with, and shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with, the Dearborn County Employee Handbook.
(C) The animal control officers and staff shall be sworn to uphold, carry out, and supervise the enforcement of this chapter within Dearborn County unless otherwise provided. The animal control officers and staff shall be vested with all the powers ordinary and necessary under the law to enforce the provisions of this chapter. These duties shall specifically include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) To educate the public concerning humane ethics, consequences of pet overpopulation and their responsibilities of pet owners;
(2) An animal control officer shall have the authority to:
(a) Impound any animal found running at large not under direct control, with the exception of community cats;
(b) Impound any dog that has bitten a person or another animal;
(c) Impound any vicious and dangerous dog;
(d) Humanely destroy any domestic or wild animal when such action is needed to protect persons or property or to prevent suffering by the animal;
(e) Impound any animal showing symptoms of rabies or which has bitten or been bitten by another animal showing symptoms of rabies;
(f) Impound any animal that does not display a current rabies vaccination tag, with the exception of community cats;
(g) Impound any animal, including community cats, that is found to be a public nuisance:
(h) Impound any whose owner(s) have been found to be in violation of any section of this chapter.
(3) Have the power to issue official warnings or notices of ordinance violation of this chapter;
(4) Have the power to enter private real property in fresh pursuit of an animal to enforce this chapter;
(5) Make recommendations to the Commission as to necessary changes in the chapter regarding the care, treatment and/or control of animals.
(D) In performing any of these duties, the animal control officer and staff shall, however, be specifically prohibited from: entering a dwelling unit or enclosed structure without the dwelling unit owner’s permission or being accompanied by a law enforcement officer with a warrant authorizing the entry except when apprehending and impounding an animal as described in divisions (A)(2) and (A)(4) above.
(BC Ord. 2014-006, passed 6-3-14; Am. BC Ord. 2017-014, passed 11-7-17)