§ 6-5. Guard dogs; exceptions; penalties.

As used in this section, guard dog means any dog specifically trained to detect or attack a person, except as follows:

(a) Dogs used by law enforcement officers in the course and scope of their duties. A person owning or having control of a guard dog shall confine the dog indoors, in a securely enclosed pen or structure or in a securely fenced area and shall post the premises with a clearly visible warning sign at all entry points that informs both adults and children in English and Spanish of the presence of guard dogs on the property.

A code or law enforcement officer is authorized to issue a citation to a person when, based upon personal investigation, the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed a civil infraction in violation of this section. The person shall pay within thirty (30) days from the date a citation was issued a civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the police department in full satisfaction of the violation. If the person chooses to contest the citation, he or she must contact the clerk of the county court within the thirty (30) days and request a court hearing.

A person who violates this section two (2) times in six (6) months shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed sixty (60) days or five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. No. 2007-28, § 1, 8-21-07)