Section 17-345. Determination of a dangerous dog

The commissioner shall have
  the  authority  to  make  a  determination  that  a dog is dangerous, as
  defined in subdivision (c) of section 17-342, upon the complaint of  any
  person  that  a  dog  is  dangerous.  The  commissioner  shall make such
  determination after a hearing, written notice of which shall be given to
  the complainant and to the owner of the dog, within fifteen  days  after
  seizure  when  seizure  of  the  dog has been ordered by the department,
  where  the  owner's  address  can  be  reasonably  ascertained  by   the
  commissioner.  The  hearing shall be held no less than ten days nor more
  than twenty days after such notice is mailed to the owner of the dog. At
  such hearing all  interested  persons  shall  have  the  opportunity  to
  present  evidence  on the issue of the dog's dangerousness. In the event
  that the dog in question has caused severe injury  to  any  person,  the
  commissioner  may  impound  the dog, at the owner's expense, pending the
  hearing and determination of the complaint. If, after the  hearing,  the
  commissioner  determines  that the dog is dangerous, he or she may order
  the owner to comply with one or more of the following  requirements,  in
  any combination thereof:
    a.  Registration.  The commissioner may order the owner of a dangerous
  dog to register such dog with the department. The application  for  such
  registration shall contain the name and address of the owner, the breed,
  age,  sex,  color,  and  any  other  identifying  marks  of the dog, the
  location where the dog is to be kept if not at the address of the  owner
  and  any  other  information  which  the  commissioner  may require. The
  application  for  registration  pursuant  to  this  paragraph  shall  be
  accompanied  by  a  registration  fee  of  twenty-five dollars. Each dog
  registered pursuant hereto shall be assigned  an  official  registration
  number by the department. Such registration number shall be inscribed on
  a  metal  tag  which shall be attached to the dog's collar at all times.
  The tag and a certificate of registration shall  be  of  such  form  and
  design  and  shall  contain  such  information as the commissioner shall
  prescribe and  shall  be  issued  to  the  owner  upon  payment  of  the
  registration  fee  and  the  presentment of sufficient evidence that the
  owner has complied with  all  of  the  orders  of  the  commissioner  as
  prescribed at the determination hearing.
    b.  Muzzling or confinement. The commissioner may order the owner of a
  dangerous dog to muzzle the dog  or  confine  the  dog,  at  all  times,
  indoors or in a proper enclosure for a dangerous dog which shall consist
  of  a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent
  the entry of young children, or  any  part  of  their  bodies  or  other
  foreign  objects, and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such
  pen or structure shall have  secure  sides  and  prevent  the  dog  from
  digging  his way out through the bottom. The pen or structure shall also
  provide the dog with protection from the elements. The owner shall  also
  conspicuously  display a sign designed with a warning symbol approved by
  the commissioner  which  indicates  to  both  children  and  adults  the
  presence  of a dangerous dog, on the pen or structure and on or near the
  entrance to the residence where the dog is kept. At any  time  that  the
  dog is not confined as required herein, the dog shall be muzzled in such
  a  manner  as to prevent it from biting or injuring any person, and kept
  on a leash no longer  than  six  feet  with  the  owner  or  some  other
  responsible person attending such dog.
    c.  Liability  insurance.  The  commissioner  may order the owner of a
  dangerous dog to  maintain,  in  full  force  and  effect,  a  liability
  insurance  policy of one hundred thousand dollars for personal injury or
  death of any person, resulting from an attack of such dangerous dog.
    d.  Humane  destruction.  The  commissioner  may  order   the   humane
  destruction  of  any  dog  that kills or causes severe injury to a human

  being, based upon the severity of the injury and  the  circumstances  of
  the injury.
    e.  Other  remedies.  The  commissioner  may order (i) that the dog be
  permanently removed from the city; or (ii) that the owner  and  the  dog
  complete a course of obedience and/or anti-bite training approved by the
  commissioner.
    In the event that the owner or keeper of the dangerous dog is a minor,
  the  parent  or  guardian or such minor shall be liable for all injuries
  and property damage sustained by any person or domestic animal caused by
  an unprovoked attack by such dangerous dog.