A. Authority. If the director has reasonable grounds to believe that an animal constitutes a public nuisance animal, as defined herein, and that such nuisance necessitates immediate abatement, he/she may issue an abatement order, by mail or posting, giving the animal owner or keeper seven days to abate the animal nuisance. If the animal nuisance is not abated within seven days after delivery of the abatement notice, an animal control officer may seize the animal pending delivery of an order concerning the disposition of the animal by a court of competent jurisdiction. Each day that an owner or keeper allows an animal nuisance to persist beyond seven days following delivery of an abatement notice will constitute a separate violation of this title.

B. Costs. If the court determines that the animal in question is not a nuisance and/or need not be abated for the public health and safety, the division shall cause the animal to be returned to the owner or handler forthwith, and shall assume the responsibility for the costs incurred while the animal is under the care and keeping of the division. If the court determines that the animal in question constitutes a public nuisance, the owner or handler shall be liable to the division for the cost incurred by the division for the animal’s care and keeping while the matter is before the courts, and for the cost of destroying the animal. (Ord. 2018-06 § 1 (Exh. A (part)); Ord. 2012-12 § 2 (Exh. A (part)))