§ 6.16.270. Vicious animal hearing.

A.

"Hearing Officer" means an individual who has been designated by the City Manager to adjudicate vicious animal determination hearings.

B.

Where there exists evidence sufficient to give rise to the suspicion that a dog or other animal falls within the provisions of Subsection 6.16.250.A., the Director shall cause a public hearing to be conducted for the purpose of determining whether the dog or other animal is a vicious animal. The Director shall notify the person responsible for the animal of the time and place for the hearing during which he/she may present evidence as to why the animal should not be declared vicious. Each party shall be given the opportunity to present any evidence relevant to the issue. The Hearing Officer may find, by a preponderance of evidence, such dog or other animal to be a vicious animal, and may impose additional orders authorized by Section 6.16.290 of this Chapter.

C.

The hearing shall be conducted not less than five (5), nor more than ten (10) business days after notice was served or deemed to have been served upon the person responsible for the animal.

D.

Any person responsible for a dog or other animal determined to be vicious shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and/or be subject to administrative fines and penalties set forth in Section 6.16.210.

(ORD-09-0022, § 5, 2009)