9.24.030 Investigation of dangerous and potentially dangerous animals.
A. An animal control officer shall investigate any reported incident regarding a dangerous or potentially dangerous animal.
1. During that investigation, the animal control officer shall compose a report to be permanently retained pursuant to adopted procedures. The report shall be signed under penalty of perjury by the animal control officer. The animal control officer shall make best efforts to take a photograph of the animal to include with the report.
2. The animal control officer shall append to the report the statements of witnesses, victims and the animal owner. These statements shall also be signed under penalty of perjury.
B. If after conducting an investigation, the animal control officer determines that probable cause exists that the animal is dangerous or potentially dangerous, the animal control officer may impose reasonable conditions to protect the public health, safety and welfare upon the animal owner pending an administrative hearing. These conditions shall be in the form of a provisional abatement order and may include any reasonable conditions, including those contained in Section 9.24.050. The animal control officer shall provide notice of the provisional abatement order pursuant to Section 9.24.060. The provisional abatement order shall remain in effect unless superseded or overruled by another administrative or judicial decision. A failure to comply with the provisional abatement order shall be a misdemeanor.
C. If after conducting an investigation, the animal control officer determines that probable cause exists that the dog is dangerous or potentially dangerous, the animal control officer shall petition the hearing officer for an administrative hearing to determine whether an animal is dangerous or potentially dangerous. The administrative hearing shall follow the procedures of Section 9.24.040.
D. Pursuant to this title, the animal control officer shall also immediately impound any animal found to be dangerous and posing an imminent threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. 2185 NCS §2 (part), 2004.)