The Animal Warden and any other person so designated by the Board of Commissioners is an authorized agent of the county with authority to:
(A) Kill any dangerous, vicious or ferocious animal found at large which cannot be safely captured and impounded by ordinary means, except that every reasonable effort shall be made to avoid killing an animal which has bitten or is suspected of having bitten a person or which appears to have rabies. If the killing of the animal cannot reasonably be avoided, the authorized agent shall attempt to kill the animal in a manner so as to preserve the head thereof intact;
(B) Enter upon any property in the county outside any corporate limits of any city or town when in pursuit of any animal which the authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe is in violation of this chapter; except that, the agent is not authorized to enter any privately owned enclosure without the consent of the possessor, unless the agent has other proper legal authorization; and/or
(C) To provide the duties and services described in divisions (A) and (B) above for cities, towns or villages which have contracted for similar services by the County Animal Warden pursuant to like or similar animal ordinances of the contracting cities, towns or villages, it is the legislative intent of this division (C) to allow entry upon any property inside the corporate limits of a contracting city, town or village by the Animal Warden; provided, he or she is in pursuit of any animal which the authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe is in violation of an appropriate similar or like animal ordinance of the contracting city, town or village; except that, the agent is not authorized to enter any privately owned enclosure without the consent of the possessor, unless the agent has other proper legal authorization.
(Ord. 2-1976, passed 4-12-1976)