(a) The Director of Public Service-Safety may, if and as approved by Council, appoint a City Animal Control Officer for such period of time, from time to time, and at such compensation as he may deem necessary to supplement, within the City limits, the duties of the County Dog Warden in enforcing the provisions of Ohio R.C. Chapter 955 and the provisions of this chapter. Such Animal Control Officer shall patrol the limits of the City and seize and impound, on sight, all dogs more than three months of age found not wearing a valid registration tag, except dogs kept constantly confined in a registered dog kennel, and except dogs acquired by, and confined on the premises of, an institution or organization of the type described in Ohio R.C. Chapter 955. The Animal Control Officer shall also patrol the City and seize all animals found in violation of Section 618.19.
(b) Such Officer shall have the same police powers as are conferred upon police officers of the City in the performance of his duties as prescribed in Ohio R.C. Chapter 955 and this chapter.
(c) Such Officer shall, likewise, have power to summon the assistance of bystanders in performing his duties and may serve writs and other legal processes issued by any court within the limits of the City with reference to enforcing Ohio R.C. Chapter 955 and this chapter.
(d) After seizing any animal found by the Animal Control Officer to be in violation of any provision of law, the Officer shall impound such animal for a period of not less than three days, unless the animal is ill or injured and, in the opinion of the officer requires treatment by a veterinarian, in which case the officer shall impound such ill or injured dog for a period of not less than three days. An owner of such animal so impounded may secure the release of such animal during the impoundment period upon presentation of proof that such owner has duly registered such animal and that an animal license for the current year has been issued, as provided in Section 618.08 and upon payment to an agent of the City, as the Director may from time to time direct, of the following sums of money:
(1) For the first offense as contemplated by this chapter, a pick-up fee of ten dollars ($10.00) plus a two dollar ($2.00) impoundment fee for each day such animal has been impounded in kennels under the specifications of or contracted for by the City, and such charges as have been made by a veterinarian who has treated such animal if it is ill or injured.
(2) For the second offense as contemplated by this chapter, a pick-up fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) plus a two dollar ($2.00) impoundment fee for each day such animal has been impounded in kennels under the specifications of or contracted for by the City, and such charges as have been made by a veterinarian who has treated such animal if it is ill or injured.
(3) For the third offense as contemplated by this chapter, a pick-up fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) plus a two dollar ($2.00) impoundment fee for each day such animal has been impounded in kennels under the specifications of or contracted for by the City, and such charges as have been made by a veterinarian who has treated such animal if it is ill or injured.
(e) The above established pick-up and impoundment fees shall be charged and collected in addition to any pick-up, impoundment and license fee imposed by the County. If such animal is not so redeemed, the City Animal Control Officer shall deliver such animal to the County Dog Warden or make such other disposition as the City Animal Control Officer deems appropriate.
(Ord. 12-92. Passed 3-17-92; Ord. 157-92. Passed 12-1-92; Ord. 120-93. Passed 9-21-93.)