The division, other agent designated by the city, or any law enforcement officer, are hereby authorized and empowered to enforce this title and to apprehend, to transport and impound any animal found in violation of this title, including licensable animals for which no license has been procured in accordance with this title, or any licensed or unlicensed animals for any other violation thereof and to issue criminal citations and/or notice of violation and stipulation for violations of this title. (Ord. 2012-16, 6-21-2012)
The division, or other agent designated by the city, or any law enforcement officer, shall:
A. Enforce this title and perform other responsibilities inherent thereto;
B. Supervise the animal shelter under his/her jurisdiction;
C. Keep records of all animals impounded in said shelter;
D. Keep accounts of all monies collected and received in accordance with governing law;
E. Establish rules and regulations for the training of all persons hired as animal control officers to assure professional conduct of said persons and compliance with governing law. (Ord. 2012-16, 6-21-2012)
Each animal control officer shall be authorized to enforce this title in all respects pertaining to animal control within the city, including, but not limited to, the apprehension, transport and impoundment of animals found to warrant such action; the care of animals; the prevention of cruelty to animals; and the issuance of criminal citations and/or notice of violation and stipulation for violations of this title. Animal control officers shall further carry out all lawful duties prescribed or delegated by the city by contract or otherwise. (Ord. 2012-16, 6-21-2012)
In the enforcement of this title, each animal control officer is authorized to enter into the open premises of any person to secure or take possession of any animal which is reasonably deemed by said officer to then and there, in the presence of said officer or official, be in violation of this title and issue criminal citations and/or notice of violation and stipulations for violations of this title to the owner or handler of said animal. (Ord. 2012-16, 6-21-2012)
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally interfere with any animal control officer in the lawful discharge of his/her duties as prescribed in this title. For the purpose of this section, interfering with animal control officers shall include, but not be limited to, failing to hand over to or release to an officer an identifiable animal which has been pursued but not captured by said officer, failing to make payment of agreed upon fees, knowingly and intentionally failing to comply with an abatement order lawfully issued by the city or the division or failing to meet the conditions imposed by a notice of violation and stipulation. (Ord. 2012-16, 6-21-2012)