(A) RULES AND REGULATIONS. Reasonable rules and regulations may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees to carry out the intent and purpose of this Article, pursuant to standards created by this Article. The Board of Trustees may delegate its powers to the Animal Control Officer as it may deem expedient. An Animal Control officer shall carry appropriate identification. Identification is to be surrendered to the Village upon cessation of employment.
(B) PROCEDURES AND COMPLAINTS. A complaint alleging any violation of this Article may be filed with the Animal Control Officer by a person who has personal knowledge of such violation and who can identify the owner of the animal involved or the premises where the animal is located. The Animal Control Officer may require the complainant to provide his name and address and swear to and affirm the complaint. It is unlawful for any person to intentionally make a report to the Animal Control Officer, which that person knows to be false at the time of making it, alleging a violation by another person of any violation of the Village of Los Ranchos Animal Control Ordinance.
(C) PROCEDURES FOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.
(1) The Animal Control Officer shall have the authority, and is directed to investigate upon probable cause, any alleged violation of this Article or of any law of the State of New Mexico relating to the care, treatment, control and prevention of cruelty to animals.
(2) Animal Control Officer is authorized to inspect premises as necessary to perform his/her duties. If the owner or occupant of the premises objects to inspection, a warrant shall be obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction prior to inspection. No warrant shall be necessary if probable cause exists to believe that there is an emergency requiring such inspection or investigation.
(3) Whenever the Animal Control Officer has probable cause to believe that a person has violated this Article, the Animal Control Officer may prepare a criminal complaint to be filed with the appropriate court or prepare a citation for the alleged violator to appear in court. The citation shall contain the name, address, date of birth and telephone number, if known, of the person violating this Article, the driver's license number of such violator, if known, the code section allegedly violated, and the date and place when and where such person allegedly committed the violation, and the location where such person shall appear in court and the deadline for appearance. The Animal Control Officer shall present the citation to the person he has probable cause to believe violated the code section in order to secure the alleged violator's written promise to appear in court by having the alleged violator sign a copy of the citation. The Animal Control Officer shall deliver a copy of the citation to the person promising to appear.
(4) If the alleged violator refuses to give his written promise to appear, the Animal Control Officer shall prepare a criminal complaint with the Village of Los Ranchos Municipal Court.
(D) FEES FOR PERMITS. Fees for permits required pursuant to this Article shall be established and adopted through resolution by the Board of Trustees.