§ 3-36. Suspension or revocation of permit.

(a)

A permit granted under this article may be suspended or revoked by the animal control officer upon a finding of any one or more of the following:

(1)

The owner is not in compliance with the permit requirements stipulated in this article.

(2)

The owner presented false or misleading information in the permit application.

(3)

The owner has failed to report an escape.

(4)

The enclosures do not comply with the requirements of this article.

(5)

The owner does not possess and have the ability to promptly use the tranquilizing and annihilating equipment required by this article.

(6)

The owner has not paid the required annual permit fee.

(b)

The owner may appeal the suspension or revocation of a permit to the board of county commissioners within five days of the suspension or revocation by submitting a written statement to the county manager. The board of commissioners shall hear the appeal at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

(c)

If a permit is suspended or revoked, and the animal control officer determines that the primary and secondary enclosures are not sufficient to reasonably protect the public during the appeal period, the animal control officer is authorized to impound the animal after notifying the owner. If the inherently dangerous animal can not be safely impounded, the animal control officer shall have the authority to tranquilize the animal in order to safely impound the animal. The animal control officer shall impound the animal until such time as the permit is reinstated or that section 3-34 and section 3-35 are activated.

(d)

The owner shall not be subject to the violations/penalties outlined in section 3-34 or the impoundment provisions outlined in section 3-35 of this article until such time as either the appeal period has expired and the owner has not filed an appeal or, if the owner has filed an appeal, until such time as the board of commissioners denies the appeal. The owner shall have a maximum period of ten days following the end of the appeal period (if the owner has not filed an appeal) or following the board of commissioners' hearing to correct the deficiencies before being subject to section 3-34 and section 3-35.

(e)

The owner shall be subject to the violations/penalties outlined in section 3-34 or the impoundment provisions outlined in section 3-35 of this article if the permit is suspended or revoked until such time as the owner fully satisfies the permit requirements outlined in section 3-33.

(f)

All costs of impoundment and care of the animal will be charged to its owner or keeper regardless of whether the animal is claimed by or returned to said owner or keeper, and in the event the animal is reclaimed, such costs shall be paid in full prior to the owner or keeper reclaiming the animal pursuant to this section.

(Ord. of 3-13-00)