In the event that a public law enforcement officer or the county’s Dog Warden has probable cause to believe that a vicious dog is being harbored in the city in violation of this chapter, he or she may:
(A) Order the violation immediately corrected and cite the owner or keeper to appear in court for the violation; or
(B) If the violation cannot be immediately corrected and the dog is posing an imminent serious threat to human beings or other domestic animals, the dog may be seized and impounded, in which case the owner or keeper will be cited to appear in court for the violation.
(1) At the owner’s or keeper’s request and expense, such impoundment may be at a veterinarian or licensed kennel of the owner’s or keeper’s choosing.
(2) If the court rules that the dog is not vicious as defined, it will be released to the owner or keeper upon payment to the county’s Dog Warden of the expense of keeping such dog, pursuant to a schedule of such costs maintained by the county’s Dog Warden. If the court rules that it is vicious as defined, the dog will be released to the owner or keeper only after payment of any fees and penalties, upon presentation of proof by the owner or keeper that the dog will now be kept restrained or confined as specified in this chapter.
(3) If, within seven days following such order regarding a vicious dog, the owner or keeper of a vicious dog rails to either provide proof that the dog will be kept restrained or confined in compliance with the provisions of this chapter or fails to reclaim it after impoundment and pay the fees and penalties, the dog may be humanely euthanized.
(Prior Code, § 90.18) (Ord. 17-2000, passed 9-25-2000)