7.20.020 Investigation and classification of animals.
A. The animal care and regulation officer shall investigate and report each animal bite or attack incident to the chief animal care and regulation officer. The chief animal care and regulation officer shall classify bite and attack incidents as accidental or non-accidental.
1. No other conditions of release shall be required if the incident is classified as accidental, except for the supervised quarantine provisions set forth in WMC 7.24.050, registration requirements set forth in WMC Chapter 7.16 and fee and expense requirements set forth in WMC 7.28.030.
B. If the bite or attack incident is classified as non-accidental, the animal involved may be classified by the chief animal care and regulation officer as a Level 1, 2, 3, or 4, and shall recommend Level 5 classifications to the hearing officer.
C. If the incident is classified as non-accidental, the conditions, facts and circumstances of the incident, and seriousness of any bite, shall be considered in determining the classification of the animal.
D. The classification of an animal as a Level 1, 2, 3, or 4, or a recommendation to the hearing officer as a Level 5 classification shall be completed by the chief animal care and regulation officer within 15 business days of the receipt of the bite or attack report.
E. The animal care and regulation office shall provide written notification to the owner of the classified animal and the human victim or victim owner of any classification or recommended classification. Notice shall be provided in writing and served by personal service or certified mail. Notice by personal service shall be made pursuant to Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d). Notice by certified mail shall be made pursuant to Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h).
F. No person shall make a fraudulent complaint, statement or report to the animal care and regulation office. Violation of this provision is an infraction. (Ord. 09-69(AM) § 6, 2009; Ord. 03-37(AM) § 6, 2003; prior code § 12.25.020)