§ 7-3. Notices to appear.

(a)

Whenever any animal is found running at large in violation of subsection 7-215(c), the animal control officer finding such animal may take its license number, if such animal is wearing a collar with an identification tag as is required in section 7-265, and may take any other information the animal is wearing which may identify its owner. This section does not apply to unowned ear-tipped feral cats.

(b)

The officer who finds an animal running at large may sign a complaint against the person identified as the animal's owner, keeper or harborer pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. If a complaint is signed, then a notice to appear shall be served upon such identified owner in accordance with section 23-17. If the owner fails to appear as required in the notice to appear, a warrant shall be issued for that person's arrest. In any prosecution charging a violation of subsection 7-215(c), proof that the animal described in the complaint was in violation of such section, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time of such violation the owner of such animal, shall constitute prima facie evidence that the owner of the dog violated subsection 7-215(c). The foregoing stated presumption shall apply only when the procedure as prescribed in this section has been followed.

(Code 1988, § 7-3; Ord. No. O-22-03, § 1, 6-5-2003; Ord. No. O-8-15 , § 1, 1-29-2015)