(A) Generally. In an effort to enforce animal control regulation, provide public safety, animal welfare and meet public demands, County Animal Control may use remote tranquilization of unapproachable animals running at large.
(1) Because remote chemical capture may result in injury or death to the animal and pose inherent danger to the Officer or a bystander, these procedures are not to be implemented until all other methods of capture have been exhausted.
(2) Animal Control will maintain a tranquilizer gun, which may be used on an animal that cannot be captured by other means if it poses a threat or danger to the public or is injured or exposed to injury or death if it remains at large. If the animal is non-domestic, referrals to the appropriate livestock or wildlife agency should be made.
(3) Only specified and trained Animal Control Officers and supervisors are allowed to use the tranquilizer gun.
(4) Law enforcement should be notified and on site prior to the tranquilizing of any animal.
(5) If possible, the Animal Control Administrator will inform a veterinarian of possible tranquilization, in case medical treatment is needed.
(6) Animals, which have been tranquilized, may not be used for slaughter or human consumption for a minimum of 30 days.
(B) Procedure.
(1) Animal Control Officers will maintain the necessary tranquilizing equipment in a secure container furnished for that purpose. Accurate records of use of all drugs must be recorded in a permanent log book.
(2) When an animal must be captured and meets the criteria for use of chemical immobilization, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the dispatcher and appropriate law enforcement.
(3) Law enforcement and backup staff shall be briefed prior to tranquilizing the animal. Law enforcement and backup staff are to assist in positioning the animal for delivery of the dart, to visualize the path and destination of the dart and to maintain visual contact of the animal until immobilization takes place. If no assistance can be obtained and the animal is definitely an immediate threat to the public safety, law enforcement should be contacted to assist in determining the correct course of action.
(4) The Animal Control Officer will exercise good judgment and follow some basic guidelines when using chemical immobilization. He or she must keep complete documentation pertaining to the procedure, including, but not limited to, medical observation before, during and after the tranquilization.
(a) Every reasonable precaution will be taken in order to maintain the health and safety of the individuals in the area and the tranquilized animal.
(b) Tranquilization of old, weak, sick or injured animals should be avoided if at all possible.
(c) Dart should be loaded per instructions. All darts discharged must be recovered. All used disposable darts shall be destroyed and disposed of in an appropriate medical hazardous waste container.
(d) Immediately after capture by chemical immobilization, the animal may be transported to a veterinarian to ensure stabilization of the animal. If medical backup is unavailable, the animal must be transported to a safe and secure area and be monitored by the Animal Control Officer until recovered.
(e) Locations should be assessed for hazardous conditions including water, steep inclines or cliffs, traffic, heavy cover, temperature extremes, impending darkness, heavy fog and accessibility to transport vehicle.
(C) Training protocol.
(1) During the training period, Officers receiving training will read all equipment manuals and other instruction materials provided, and demonstrate knowledge of policies, procedures, documentation records and dosage calculations.
(2) Having completed training, Officers will qualify monthly for six months by performing the following skills properly.
(a) Accurately rutting within a ten-inch circle on the target from a distance of at least 30 feet. This must be done successfully two times in a row within five shots.
(b) Properly load and discharge an actual immobilization dart at least two consecutive times without error or prompting.
(3) After successfully completing six consecutive monthly qualifying activities, the Officer will be tested on the above standards every six months or sooner if requested by the Animal Control Administrator.
(4) The Training Officer will fully document and sign qualifying records and have them placed into personal files of the Officer being tested.
(Ord. passed - -)