(a) There is hereby created the position of Animal Control Officer for the city, and such officer shall be charged with the enforcement of this article. Any person employed by the city as an Animal Control Officer and commissioned by the City Council shall have such powers and authority as allowed by law in the enforcement of this article. All Animal Control Officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police of the city.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) below, it shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to take up and impound all animals found in the city in violation of the provisions of this article.
(c) If, in the opinion of the Animal Control Officer or any law enforcement officer involved in responding to or investigating a possible violation of this article, the violating animal does not pose a threat or safety concern to the general public based upon the animal’s current or past behavior, the Animal Control Officer or such law enforcement officer may, as an alternative to the provisions of subsection (b) above, issue to the owner, harborer or keeper of such an animal in violation of this article, a citation to appear in the City Municipal Court to answer the charged violation of this article.
(Ord. 1407, passed 7-9-2007)