(A) Appointment, duties, powers.
(1) The Animal Bite and Neglect Officer shall be appointed by the Greene County Sheriff.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer to carry out the enforcement of this chapter.
(3) The powers of the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer shall include the power to enter a real property to enforce this chapter; however, the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer shall not enter a dwelling unit without the permission of the owner of the dwelling unit until the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer has a search or arrest warrant.
(B) Impoundment.
(1) Any at large animal, unlicensed dog, vicious dog or female dog in heat that is not confined or any animal that is not receiving adequate care may be taken by a law enforcement officer or an Animal Bite and Neglect Officer and impounded in a location designated by the Animal Bite and Neglect Commission.
(2) Animals found in cruel, abusive or neglectful situations as defined in this chapter or animals that have been abandoned may be promptly impounded; provided, however, that, the Animal Bite and Control Officer shall leave written notice saying the location of the animal and the reason for impoundment.
(3) If an animal has bitten a person, the Sheriff’s Department and the County Health Department shall be immediately notified. At the discretion of the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer, or the County Health Department if he or she is not available, the animal shall be held on the owner’s premises or shall be impounded to a location acceptable to the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer at the owner’s expense for a period of ten days. The animal shall be examined immediately after it has bitten anyone and again at the end of the ten-day period unless it is determined to be rabid at an earlier time. If, at the end of the ten days, a veterinarian or qualified person is convinced that the animal is then free from rabies, the animal shall be released. If the animal dies in the meanwhile, or shows any signs of rabies, the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer and County Health Department shall follow protocol specified by state law and the State Board of Veterinary Health.
(4) If the owner of an impounded animal can be identified by a license tag or other means, the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer shall immediately upon impoundment notify the owner in person or by telephone or mail.
(5) Any animal that is not claimed by the owner within three days (72 hours) of impoundment shall become the property of the county and may be placed for adoption or humanely euthanized.
(6) If any animal is impounded that is dangerous, injured, sick or suffering, and the owner of the animal cannot be located, the animal may be euthanized before the three-day waiting period at the discretion of the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer or County Veterinarian.
(7) An owner claiming an impounded animal shall pay a daily fee established by the location housing the animal. The ownership of an animal may not be transferred during the time the animal is housed by the county. The Animal Bite and Neglect Officer or County Veterinarian may require that impound fees be paid before releasing an impounded animal. After 14 days of non-payment after the date on which the animal was eligible to be released, the Animal Bite and Neglect Officer or the County Veterinarian may submit the animal to an animal shelter or euthanize the animal at their discretion.
(Ord. 1997-1, passed 2-5-1997; Ord. 2017-01, passed 2-7-2017)