Ord 2008-062 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• (h) In the event that a registered dangerous animal escapes its cage. pen or enclosure or attacks a human being or another animal the owner of the dangerous animal shall immediately notifv the Animal Services Division For the purposes of this chapter immediately shall mean within thirtv (30) minutes of the owner becoming aware of the escape or attacks. (i) In the event that a registered dangerous animal dies the owner must present the body of the animal to the City Enforcement Agent or a licensed veterinarian for verification by microchip identification before disposal of its body. (j) Prior to transferring ownership in any way or moving a registered dangerous animal, either inside or outside the city limits the owner must obtain, in writing, permission from the Animal Services Manager to transfer ownership or move the animal. If ownership of the animal is being transferred the new owner will be required to comply with all provisions of this chapter before the animal can be moved from the previous owner's custody. If the animal is being moved from the city limits the owner must provide in writing to the Animal Services Manager, the destination address of where the animal is to be moved to and proof that the owner has alerted the agencv responsible for animal services in that area. (k) In the event that any owner of an animal declared to be dangerous violates any part of the Court's Order, the animal may be immediately seized and impounded by an Animal Control Officer. In addition the animal shall be seized immediately if the animal bites. injures, or attacks a human being or another animal. Any animal already declared to be dangerous which is • impounded due to any violation of this chapter or seized for causing injury to a human being or another animal shall immediately become the property of the City of San Marcos and shall not continue to be a registered dangerous animal. (1) If the dangerous animal makes an unprovoked attack on a person or another animal outside the animal's enclosure and causes bodily injury to the person or other animal, the owner of the dangerous animal will be charged with a misdemeanor, unless the attack causes serious bodily iniurv or death in which event the offense is a felony. (m) If an owner of a dangerous animal is found guilty of an offense under this section, the Public Health Director or his designee may order the dangerous animal be humanely euthanized by an Animal Control Officer or a licensed veterinarian. (n) No animal shall be declared a dangerous animal if the threat iniury or damage caused by the animal was the result of a willful trespass upon another's property, or the person injured was tormenting abusing or assaulting the animal or its owner. or was committing or attempting to commit a crime at the time of iniury. (o) Orders of the Municipal Court pertaining to dangerous animals may be appealed to the Hays County Court by filing a written notice of appeal within ten (10) days with the Municipal Court Clerk and by following all of the procedures set forth in Chapter 55 of the San Marcos Code of • Ordinances During the pendency of such appeal the order of the public health director shall be suspended and the animal shall remain impounded at the owner' s expense at the Animal Services Facility or other state approved quarantine facility for observation. If a proper appeal is not filed and perfected the Municipal Court's Order shall be a final Order.