A. An animal control officer is a limited purpose deputy who may be appointed by the sheriff or the board of White Pine County commissioners, and who shall have the duty and power to enforce all of the provisions of this chapter.
B. An animal control officer is authorized to make all necessary seizures, impound, and keep any animal found to be in violation of the provisions of this chapter. No person shall interfere with, hinder, molest or abuse any animal control officer in the exercise of his or her duties. No person shall unlawfully take or attempt to take any animal seized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter from the custody of the animal control officer, nor shall any person remove or attempt to remove any animal from impoundment without having first redeemed the animal or having obtained the permission of the animal control officer to do so. Any violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a mandatory minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).
C. In the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, any peace officer or animal control officer is authorized to enter upon private property. The authority granted by this section does not authorize entry into any building on private property without the consent of the person entitled to control such building. Entry into any building on private property for enforcement purposes may be obtained upon application to any justice of the peace and upon good cause shown.
D. The animal control officer or any deputy sheriff is authorized to prepare, sign, and serve written citations on persons accused of a violation of this chapter.
E. The animal control officer may issue an oral or written warning to any person suspected of violating the provisions of this chapter. One warning may precede or be issued in lieu of a written citation.
F. Only two (2) dogs over the age of four (4) months are allowed per household in any area zoned residential with lots of two and one-half (2½) acres or less, and the authority to enforce this subsection is granted to any peace officer and animal control officer. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a mandatory minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). Any household with more than two (2) dogs on the date this chapter is enacted shall be exempt from this fine provided all dogs are properly licensed, and no dog is replaced or added to the household in violation of this subsection. No dogs may be kept or harbored on any property unless the owner or responsible party of such dogs resides upon that property. The above limitations do not apply to dogs being used for the purpose of herding livestock or the protection of livestock against predators on farm or ranch property, or kennels or animal hospitals operated by a licensed veterinarian or persons caring for a friend's dog for a period not longer than thirty (30) days in any one calendar year. (Ord. 521, 2021: Ord. 321 (part), 1997)