(a) There is established the position of Animal Warden in the Service Department of the City. The Mayor is authorized and directed to appoint an Animal Warden, whose duty it shall be to establish a pound or other holding facility and to enforce all ordinances of the City relating to animals and animal control. The Animal Warden shall have the duty and authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter, the Codified Ordinances of the City and the laws of the State of Ohio, relative to the licensing, impounding, boarding and disposition of animals or livestock within the corporate limits. However, no police or other officer of this City charged with the responsibility of enforcing the ordinances of this City and the laws of this State, shall be relieved of such responsibility. The Animal Warden shall have the authority, when accompanied by a law enforcement officer, to enter all public and private property, and to do all things reasonable and necessary to enforce this section and the City's Codified Ordinances. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Animal Warden from destroying an animal when, in his or her judgment, such act is necessary to protect life and property.
(b) The Animal Warden may be provided with a badge designating his or her office, and such other uniform, vehicles and equipment necessary to carry out his or her duties; however, any vehicles used for picking up and impounding animals shall be clearly marked on one side: "ANIMAL WARDEN."
(c) In the exercise of his or her duties, and when accompanied by a law enforcement officer, the Animal Warden is authorized to issue an affidavit or misdemeanor citation to any person found to be in violation of any animal control ordinance of the City. The affidavit or citation shall contain a notice to answer the charge in the Lyndhurst Municipal Court on a date at least five days after the alleged violation. The Animal Warden shall cause the original of the notice to be filed with the Court, a copy to be filed with the Police Department and shall retain a copy in a file maintained by him or her. The citation shall include pertinent information and shall be sworn to as required by the general laws of the State in respect to a complaint charging commission of the offense alleged in the citation to have been committed.
(Ord. 2011-8. Passed 2-14-11.)