§ 5-135. Disposition of potentially dangerous animals.

(a)

An animal determined to be a potentially dangerous animal, either after the owner of the animal has agreed to the designation, or the court has determined the designation applies to the animal, shall be placed on a list of potentially dangerous animals by the director and shall be maintained by the owners as follows:

(1)

A potentially dangerous animal shall be properly licensed and vaccinated. The director shall include the potentially dangerous designation in the registration records of the animal and shall charge a potentially dangerous animal fee, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 5-4, in addition to the license fee required in Section 5-43.

(2)

A potentially dangerous animal, while on the owner's premises, shall, at all times, be kept indoors, or in a secure enclosure. A potentially dangerous animal may be off the owner's premises only if it is restrained by a substantial leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length and it is under the control of a responsible adult.

(3)

If a potentially dangerous animal dies, or is sold, transferred or permanently removed from the unincorporated area of the county, the owner shall notify the director of the changed conditions and new location of the animal in writing within two (2) working days after such change.

(b)

If there are no additional instances of the behavior described in the definition of "potentially dangerous animal" in Section 5-6 within a thirty-six (36) month period from the date of designation as a potentially dangerous animal, the animal shall be removed from the list of potentially dangerous animals by the director. The animal may, but is not required to be, remove from the list of potentially dangerous animals prior to the expiration of the thirty-six (36) month period if the owner of the animal demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that changes in circumstances or measures taken by such owner, such as training of the animal, have mitigated the risk to public safety.

(Ord. No. 5664 § 1(e), 2006; Ord. No. 4653 § 2(w), 1993.)