(A) Law enforcement officers and the Administrator shall seize and impound any and all animals and seize any equipment, money or other proceeds utilized in or directly related to any violation of the sections on animals used in entertainment. Animals and other items impounded or seized shall be held for evidence and for final disposition by the court.
(B) The county shall give notice to the person from whom the animals, equipment, money or other proceeds were seized pursuant to division (A) above, or to the person in possession as owner, or lessee of the premises where said items were found, or if the names of any of these persons are unknown to the county, by posting notice upon the outer door of the premises. The notice shall be directed to any person claiming interest in the property or money, to come before the court on a specified date, not less than three days from the date of the notice, and to show cause, if any, why the items should not be sold at public auction as contraband or otherwise be forfeited as contraband to the county for disposition as authorized herein.
(C) If in the court’s opinion, after a full hearing, or upon the default of those notified to appear, it appears to the court that the items seized are in fact contraband, the court shall order disposition of said items in one or more of the following ways:
(1) Any animal(s) forfeited under this section shall be either humanely euthanized, offered for adoption, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with any controlling county ordinances, or provisions of state law;
(2) Any money forfeited under this section shall be forfeited to the county treasury;
(3) Any other items forfeited under this section shall be sold at a public auction to the highest bidder for cash, and the proceeds paid to the county treasury; or
(4) No equipment used for training, fighting, or killing the animals will be sold at auction, it shall be retained and made available for use in training peace officers in detecting and identifying violations of animals used in entertainment.
(Ord. 0-2007.1, passed 3-13-2007; Ord. 2008.03, passed - -2008; Ord. O-2012.02, passed 3-13-2012; Ord. O-2014.01, passed 2-11-2014)