§ 6.08.080. Dogs—Vicious.

A.

It is unlawful for any person to harbor or keep a vicious animal within the city. Any animal which is found off the premises of its owner may be seized by any police officer or animal control officer and upon establishment, to the satisfaction of any court of competent jurisdiction, of the vicious character of said animal, it may be destroyed by any animal control officer. This section shall not apply to animals under the control of a law enforcement or a military agency, nor to animals which are kept for the protection of property; provided, that such animals are restrained by a leash or chain, cage, fence or other adequate means, from contact with the general public or with persons who enter the premises with the actual or implied permission of the owner or occupant.

B.

An animal shall be considered a vicious animal when it has attacked or bitten a person or animal and has been adjudicated as such by a court of competent jurisdiction. An animal that has attacked or bitten a person or animal a second or subsequent time will be considered vicious and may be destroyed by an animal control officer or police officer without court approval. Any animal may be considered vicious which has behaved in such a manner that the person who harbors said animal knows or should reasonable know that the animal possesses tendencies to attack or bite persons or other animals. Any animal deemed vicious and impounded by an animal control officer or police officer will not be released to its owner or adopted.

(Ord. 1441-93 § 2(A)(part), 1993: Ord. 1084-77 § 3(3), 1977).