(a) Appointment. An animal control officer shall be employed, contracted, or appointed by the Mayor. The selection shall be based on interest in animal care and control and knowledge of same.
(b) Employment Standards. The minimum employment standards relative to the recruitment, selection, and appointment of animal care and control officers are as follows:
(1) The animal control officer shall have appropriate educational, mental and moral fitness.
(2) A minimum course of study of not less than 40 instructional hours including, but not limited to, enforcement, animal husbandry, euthanasia, and any other topics deemed necessary for the effective care and control of animals.
(3) The animal control officer shall have completed Ohio Humane Agent's Training within one year of appointment.
(c) Powers and Duties. The animal control officer shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To enforce the provisions of this chapter; to file in his or her official capacity, such complaints in any court of competent jurisdiction as may be necessary and proper to secure such enforcement: and to institute and otherwise participate in such other action and proceedings before any court, officer or other public body of competent jurisdiction as may be instrumental in enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
(2) To impound any animal found within the City violating any provisions or prohibitions of this chapter, or which are victims of any such violations.
(3) To dispose of such animals in the manner provided by ordinance or by general law.
(4) To receive and investigate complaints of alleged violations of the prohibitions of this chapter.
(5) The animal control officer shall 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 vehicle used for picking up and impounding animals, livestock or poultry shall be clearly marked on both sides with the following: "Animal Control".
(6) In the exercise of his or her duties, the animal control officer is hereby authorized to issue, on a form provided by the City, a citation to any person found by him or her to be in violation of this chapter.
(7) The animal control officer is encouraged to attend classes, seminars, or instructional courses related to the animal profession each year to ensure continuing education and awareness of current animal issues relative to the position.
(8) The animal control officer shall have specified public hours during the normal business week. The Director of Public Safety shall make certain there is an animal control officer, Police Officer, or other proper authority, available on-call 24-hours a day for enforcement of this chapter.
(9) The animal control officer has a duty to educate the public, including, but not limited to, pet sterilization, licensing, wildlife, guardianship, and any other animal laws or issues affecting the animal population.
(10) The animal control officer has a duty, during the course of performing his or her duties, to report any cases of suspected child abuse or suspected domestic violence.
(11) Enforcement of this chapter is not limited to the animal control officer. Police officers, humane agents, or any other entity with the proper authority can enforce the provisions of this chapter and applicable state laws.
(12) Upon conviction of any of the offenses set forth in this chapter, the animal control officer shall recommend to the court, when applicable, that the offender be subject to community service, evaluation and treatment, forfeiture of all legal interest in the animal, reimbursement of costs, restrictions on future possession of any animal, and restitution.
(13) The animal control officer shall be subject to the same care and humane standards as set forth in this chapter.
(14) The animal control officer will be under the direction of the Director of Public Safety.
(15) The animal control officer shall maintain written records of the citations written under this chapter, animal care and control calls for service, the total number of dogs and cats under six months of age, the total number of dogs and cats six months of age or older, and any other domestic animal received, returned to owners, adopted to new owners, sold, or transferred with or without remuneration to any person, the number of adopted dogs and cats that were altered, the number of dogs and cats that were not altered, and the number of dogs, cats, and other domestic animals euthanized. This report shall be available monthly, and the animal control officer shall provide a copy of the annual statistics to the Mayor and City Council, by January 31 of the year following the year for which the statistics were compiled.
(16) Sufficient funds shall be appropriated in each annual budget of the City for personnel, a badge and uniform, vehicles and any other equipment necessary to carry out the duties of the animal control officer. Sufficient funds shall also be appropriated, when available, for education of the animal control officer(s) and the public.
(Ord. 2019-3. Passed 2-11-19.)