8.02.090 DECLARATION OF DANGEROUS ANIMAL (County Code § 6.04.090).

(a) No Person shall knowingly keep, have, maintain, sell, trade, or let for hire an animal designated as Dangerous under this Chapter without obtaining a Dangerous Animal permit from the Animal Control Officer. The animal Owner shall comply with all conditions of the Dangerous Animal permit including, but not limited to, all requirements of section 8.02.100. Any animal which is determined to be Dangerous under this Chapter and for which a permit has not been obtained shall be surrendered to an Animal Control Officer, peace officer, or a County animal control contractor agency for appropriate disposition, which may include humane euthanasia.

(b) In determining whether or not an animal shall be designated as Dangerous, the Animal Control Officer, peace officer, or hearing officer may consider any relevant facts and circumstances, including but not limited to:

(1) the alleged attacking animal's prior history.

(2) the alleged attacking animal's Owner(s) ability to comply with this Chapter, and/or compliance with any prior Dangerous Animal permits held by the alleged attacking animal's Owner(s).

(3) whether any of the animals involved were previously deemed by a governmental jurisdiction as "potentially dangerous, "dangerous", "vicious" or any other similar designation.

(c) In determining whether or not an animal shall be designated as Dangerous, the Animal Control Officer, peace officer, or hearing officer, may consider the following mitigating factors:

(1) Whether at the time of the injury, attack or molestation, the Person or animal suffering the injury, attack or molestation:

(A) provoked, tormented, teased, abused or assaulted the animal, thereby causing or contributing to the alleged behavior;

(B) committed a willful trespass or other tort upon the private property of the Owner or Caretaker of the animal in the presence of the animal;

(C) threatened or committed an unjustified attack or assault against the Owner, Caretaker or other Person in control of the animal in the presence of the animal.

(2) Any other mitigating factor relevant to whether the animal poses a threat to public health or safety. The failure of the Owner or Person in control of a victim animal to have the victim animal on a leash shall not, in itself, constitute a mitigating factor in any attack.

(d) The unwillingess of a victim or a particular witness to testify at a hearing shall not prevent designation of an animal as a Dangerous Animal, as long as sufficient evidence exists to support the designation.

(e) In the event that an Animal Control Officer or peace officer determines it necessary to protect the health or safety of the public, or of any animal, they may immediately impound any animal according to the procedures set forth in this Chapter.

(f) If an Animal Control Officer or peace officer has investigated and determined that an animal is Dangerous, the Animal Control Officer or peace officer shall deliver written notice of such determination to the Owner of the animal pursuant to section 8.02.260.

(g) Should the Owner of the animal wish to contest the Dangerous Animal designation, the Owner may request a hearing, which hearing shall be conducted according to the procedures set forth in section 8.02.150 of this Chapter. The Owner shall submit a written request for a Dangerous Animal hearing to the Animal Control Officer within seven (7) calendar days of the written notification by the Animal Control Officer and/or peace officer that the animal has been declared Dangerous.

(1) Should the animal Owner not submit a request for an administrative hearing within the required timeframe, the administrative hearing process shall be deemed waived, the Dangerous Animal designation will be final, and the animal Owner shall obtain a Dangerous Animal permit within seven (7) calendar days of the written notification that the animal has been declared Dangerous.

(2) If the animal Owner requested a hearing and the hearing officer confirms the determination that the animal is Dangerous, the Owner must obtain the Dangerous Animal permit and meet the conditions required by such permit, within seven (7) calendar days of notice of such decision, unless the time is extended by an Animal Control Officer.

(3) If an animal is designated as Dangerous, but the Owner fails to obtain a Dangerous Animal permit within the required timeframe, the animal will be deemed abandoned, and will be subject to disposition as deemed appropriate, including potential euthanasia by the County's animal control contractor, at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer, peace officer or City or County representative. If not already impounded, the animal will be promptly impounded. The Owner of the animal shall be responsible for all costs of impoundment of the animal incurred prior to such abandonment.

(h) If after investigation by an Animal Control Officer or peace officer, that officer determines that the animal is not Dangerous, the victim or an Owner of a victim animal may appeal that determination, within seven (7) calendar days of notice of the decision given pursuant to section 8.02.260, by submitting to the Animal Control Officer or peace officer a written request for a hearing and paying the required fee. The Animal Control Officer or peace officer shall prepare a written report documenting its reasons for determining the animal not Dangerous and shall include evidence it has considered for and against the designation in its report. The hearing shall be conducted according to the procedures set forth in section 8.02.150 of this Chapter.

(i) No animal designated by the County as a Dangerous Animal may be transferred to a new place of residence or to a new Owner or Caretaker without prior written approval of the Animal Control Program Manager. Prior to the relocation, a written request for the relocation must be delivered to the Animal Control Program Manager and the County's animal control contractor, if any, at least 30 calendar days prior to the relocation.

(j) If an Animal Control Officer declares an animal as Dangerous which has already been declared Potentially Dangerous or Dangerous by another jurisdiction located outside of the County, the Owner of such animal must obtain and comply with a Dangerous Animal permit at least seven (7) calendar days prior to moving the animal into the County. The animal shall not reside in the County until the Dangerous Animal permit has been issued by the Animal Control Program and the Owner meets the conditions of said permit.

(k) A permit issued under this section is subject to renewal annually. An annual inspection of the location where the animal resides will be performed by an Animal Control Officer. Inspections may occur at any reasonable hour and will occur at least annually. The fee for such permit and inspection shall be as set forth in section 8.02.350 of this Chapter. Fees shall not be refundable. If the registered Owner fails to pay the permit fee and/or comply with the requirements of the permit within ten (10) calendar days of the annual inspection date, the permit may be revoked and the animal may be impounded for appropriate disposition, as determined by an Animal Control Officer, peace officer, County contracted agency or City designee, including humane euthanasia.

(l) A Dangerous Animal designation is a designation that remains with that animal for its lifetime, unless terminated as provided by this subsection. A Dangerous Animal designation may be terminated if all of the following criteria have been met, as determined by an Animal Control Officer or peace officer and the Animal Control Program Manager and/or City designee:

(1) The Owner has complied with all Dangerous Animal Permit requirements for a period of three (3) years and the animal has not been found to have committed any violations of the requirements of the permit, or of this Chapter, or any other applicable animal control laws, for the duration of that period.

(2) The animal has remained current on all rabies or similar required vaccinations and has remained current on its licensing and paid all fees for the duration of the three (3) year period.

If an animal Owner disputes a finding that the Dangerous Animal designation will not be terminated, the animal Owner may request an administrative hearing to be held according to the procedures set forth in section 8.02.150 of this Chapter.