ARTICLE II. - ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 8-45. - Animal control officer.#

(a)

Defined. For the purpose of this section, the term "animal control officer" shall be defined as any individual who provides service authorized by subsection (b) of this section to carry out the duties of animal control.

(b)

Appointment; term; filling of vacancies; refusal.

(1)

After due application process, the mayor, with the approval of a majority of the members of the city council, shall appoint a part-time animal control officer, who shall hold office during two current municipal years for which he was appointed or elected and until his successor is appointed and qualified, unless the services of such officer are deemed unnecessary by the mayor and a majority of the council. All vacancies in such office shall be filled for the remainder of the term by an appointment of the mayor and approval of a majority of the members of the city council.

(2)

If the council shall refuse to approve the appointment of an animal control officer at any time, the mayor, within two weeks thereafter, shall submit to the council another appointee to be animal control officer and shall continue to do so until an appointment is approved; provided, however, that the mayor shall not resubmit any appointee whose approval has been refused more than once.

(Code 1973, § 4-9; Code 1994, § 8-1; Ord. of 1-6-1993(1), §§ A, B; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))

Sec. 8-46. - Interference with animal control officer.#

No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest the animal control officer or any regular police officer in the performance of his duties or seek to release any animal in the custody of the animal control officer or any regular police officer, except as provided in this article.

(Code 1994, § 8-1.1; Ord. No. 96-005-O, 5-13-1996; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))

Sec. 8-47. - Authority of animal control officer.#

The animal control officer is empowered to make whatever inquiry is deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this article, and the animal control officer is empowered to seize and impound any aggressive dog whose owner or keeper fails to comply with the provisions of this article.

(Code 1994, § 8-1.2; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))

Sec. 8-48. - Right of entry of officers.#

In the discharge of the duties imposed by this article, the animal control officer accompanied by any police officer of the city shall have the authority at all reasonable times to enter upon any premises to examine a dog or other animal that is allegedly in violation of a provision of this article. Such authority shall not include the right to enter any residence on the premises. Such officer shall have further authority to take possession of any such dog or other animal and remove it from such premises.

(Code 1994, § 8-1.3; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))

Sec. 8-49. - Records of animal control officer.#

(a)

It shall be the duty of the animal control officer to keep or cause to be kept, in an accurate and detailed manner, the following records:

(1)

The impoundment and disposition of all animals coming into his custody;

(2)

All bite cases reported to him and his investigation of the same;

(3)

All impoundments and keeping fees received by the city.

(b)

Such records shall be open to inspection at reasonable times by such persons responsible for similar records of the city and shall be audited by the city annually in the same manner as other city records are audited.

(Code 1994, § 8-1.4; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))

Sec. 8-50. - Enforcement of chapter.#

The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the animal control officer and any police officer of the city.

(Code 1973, § 4-9; Code 1994, § 8-2; Ord. of 1-6-1993(1), § C; Ord. of 12-14-1998; Ord. of 9-29-2014(1))

Secs. 8-51—8-73. - Reserved.#