The Animal Control Officer is hereby authorized to perform the following duties and responsibilities.
(A) The Animal Control Officer may seize and place in the animal shelter or other appropriate facility all dogs or animals found running at large within the county.
(B) The Animal Control Officer shall be authorized to issue an appearance ticket to the owner of a dog or an animal found running at large.
(C) If the owner of a dog is known, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner in writing that the dog has been seized and placed in the animal shelter. If, after five days from the date the written notice was mailed, the owner has not claimed the dog and paid the shelter expenses, the Animal Control Officer shall destroy or have destroyed, in a humane manner, the dog; provided, however, that if in the judgment of the Animal Control Officer the dog is valuable or otherwise desirable for keeping, he or she may release the dog to any person who shall become the owner of the dog and who shall keep the dog in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and state statutes.
(D) If the owner of the dog is not known, the Animal Control Officer shall retain the dog for no less than two days. If the owner of the dog does not claim the dog and pay the shelter expenses, the Animal Control Officer shall destroy or have destroyed, in a humane manner, the dog; provided, however, that if, in the judgment of the Animal Control Officer, the dog is valuable or otherwise desirable for keeping, he or she may release the dog to any person who shall become the owner of the dog and who shall keep the dog in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and state statutes.
(E) Other animals placed in the shelter or other appropriate facility shall be retained for a reasonable period of time, considering the health, sanitation and other factors relating to said animal.
(F) An animal seized pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to state statute shall either be returned to the owner or adopted out, following the procedure set forth by the County Humane Society, as may be amended from time to time.
(G) The Animal Control Officer shall be authorized to investigate complaints of dogs or other animals alleged to be dangerous to persons or destructive to property.
(H) The Animal Control Officer shall be authorized to investigate complaints of cruelty to dogs or other animals.
(I) The Animal Control Officer shall have such other duties relating to the enforcement of this chapter as the County Board of Commissioners may from time to time provide.
(J) The Animal Control Officer shall at all times maintain a book of receipts, properly numbered in sequence for accounting purposes, for the issuing of dog licenses, as provided in this chapter, and shall issue such dog licenses in accordance herewith.
(K) All fees and monies collected by the Animal Control Officer paid to the County Clerk, as herein provided, shall be accounted for and turned over to the County Treasurer on or before the last day of each and every month or more often if reasonably necessary under the standard practice of the County Treasurer’s accounting system.
(Ord. 2005-06, passed 4-18-2005)