(A) The animal control officer shall have police powers in the enforcement of this chapter and no person shall interfere with, hinder, molest, or abuse this officer in the exercise of such powers.
(B) The animal control officer or any police officer shall have the authority to issue citations for any violation of this chapter. If the person is not present, the animal control officer or police officer may mail the citation to the alleged violator by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(C) The animal control officer or any police officer shall have the privilege to enter upon any premises where any violation or suspicion of a violation of this chapter occurs and use such reasonable means as may be necessary to abate violation.
(D) In addition to imposing a monetary penalty against a person convicted of an offense under this section, a court or City Council may do one or more of the following:
(1) Order the impoundment of any animal owned by a person, forfeit the person’s ownership of the animal and award the animal to the city; and/or
(2) Suspend the person’s right to own an animal in the city for a period of time specified by the court.
(Ord. 2002-1, passed 2-19-02; Am. Ord. 2008-25, passed 11-18-08; Am. Ord. 2017-1, passed 1-17-17; Am. Ord. 2017-21, passed 12-19-17; Am. Ord. 2024-5, passed 2-20-24)
Penalty, see § 97.99