Procedure upon complaint that an animal is vicious, dangerous or infected with a potentially harmful communicable disease shall be as follows.
(A) (1) Upon complaint to the Judge of the Municipal Court of the city, that an animal is vicious or dangerous, as defined in division (B) below, or infected with a potentially harmful communicable disease, it shall be the duty of the Judge to immediately summon the owner or keeper of the animal to answer the complaint.
(2) In the instance of a complaint of an animal infected with a potentially harmful communicable disease, the Judge shall immediately notify the owner or keeper of such allegedly infected animal that such animal be exposed to any public place whereby the health of humans or animal may be affected; nor shall such animal be shipped or removed from the premises of the owner or keeper of such animal except under the supervision of the Enforcement Officer of the city. The Judge may order proper testing be completed on the alleged infected animal, by a licensed veterinarian, to determine if the animal is in fact infected with a potentially harmful communicable disease.
(3) If, upon hearing, the Judge finds that such animal is vicious, dangerous or infected with a potentially harmful communicable disease, he or she may order a fine or may order the animal a menace to public safety and order the animal be destroyed to prevent injury and/or death to the public, The destruction of said animal shall occur immediately, absent a stay of such destruction pending appeal.
(B) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
DANGEROUS or VICIOUS. Refers to and includes any animal:
(a) With a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or other domestic animals; or
(b) Which attacks human beings or other domestic animals without provocation.
(C) Upon finding of the Judge of the Municipal Court that an animal is vicious, dangerous or infected with a potentially harmful communicable disease, and ordered destroyed, the owner or keeper of such animal shall be liable for all costs incurred by the city, associated with said owner's or keeper of the animal's prosecution under this section.
(D) Upon finding of the Judge of the Municipal Court that an animal is vicious, dangerous or infected with a potentially harmful communicable disease, and ordered destroyed, and if the owner or keeper of said animal appeals the Municipal Court Judge’s ruling, said animal shall be impounded, at the cost and expense of the animal's owner or keeper, until such appeal hearing is concluded. If the owner or keeper of such animal fails to pay the costs and expenses within ten days, the animal shall be deemed surrendered.
(Ord. 316, passed 7-6-2023) Penalty, see § 90.99