§ 14-36. Administration and enforcement.

(a)

The Animal Services Director may employ Animal Services Officers to assist in the administration and enforcement of this article. Additionally, the County Administrator may employ Code Enforcement Officers to assist in the administration and enforcement of Section 14-53 of this article.

(b)

It shall be unlawful and a violation of this article for any Person to interfere with, obstruct, resist or oppose any Animal Services Officer or Code Enforcement Officer while apprehending Animals or performing any other duties, as set forth in this article. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this article for any Person to take or attempt to take any Animal from any Animal Services Officer or from any vehicle used by the Animal Services Officer to transport any Animal or to take or attempt to take any Animal from a County Animal shelter without proper authority.

(c)

For purposes of discharging the duties imposed by this article, including investigation of possible violation and for enforcing its provisions, an Animal Services Officer, Code Enforcement Officer, or the County Health Officer, is empowered to enter without authority of any court of competent jurisdiction upon any private property, not including any dwelling or structure or curtilage thereof, to demand that the Animal or, if applicable, the License Tag of such Animal be exhibited to said Officer, provided the Officer shall be empowered to enter into any curtilage of a dwelling or structure to investigate or impound any Animal known or suspected of biting or scratching any Person or any Animal infected with or showing suspicious symptoms of rabies, or for any other exigent circumstances which may affect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. The Animal Services Director and Officers shall be immune from prosecution for reasonable. good faith entry upon private property, as provided in F.S. § 810.12.

(d)

The Animal Services Director, Animal Services Officers, and Code Enforcement Officers shall investigate complaints of alleged violations of this article.

(e)

The Animal Services Director and Animal Services Officers may catch, seize, or pick up:

(1)

Any Animal At Large;

(2)

Any sick or injured Animal, including any Animal subject to Cruelty, in need of immediate medical attention;

(3)

Any Animal infected with or suspected of carrying rabies or any other infectious disease;

(4)

Any Vicious Animal not properly confined or restrained;

(5)

Any Animal not properly quarantined;

(6)

Any Animal creating a nuisance;

(7)

Any female dog or cat in heat not properly confined;

(8)

Any dog or cat not vaccinated against rabies;

(9)

Any dog or cat not wearing a License Tag; and

(10)

Any Animal otherwise in violation of this article.

(f)

The Animal Services Director and Animal Services Officers shall impound any Animal caught, seized, or picked up pursuant to this article.

(g)

It is a violation of this article for any Person to refuse or fail to surrender an Animal or the carcass of a dead Animal upon lawful demand by the Animal Services Director or an Animal Services Officer.

(h)

The Animal Services Director or his/her Designee and Animal Services Officers shall keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records and accounts of funds relating to the administration and enforcement of this article.

(i)

The Animal Services Director may declare an Animal to be a Vicious Animal, and shall order the Owner or Keeper to confine or restrain such Animal as required by this article. Animal Services Officers may inspect the premises of the Owner or Keeper of such Animal for compliance with the order of the Animal Services Director and the provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. 95-042, § 6, 5-9-1994; Ord. No. 97-044, § 1(6), 6-17-1997; Ord. No. 2015-089, § 5, 1-27-2016)

Cross reference

Administration, ch. 2.