Sec. 4-3. Animal
control officer—Generally.
(a) There is hereby created and
established the position of animal control officer. The animal control
officer shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. The board may
appoint one (1) or more deputy animal control officers to assist the animal
control officer with enforcement of all county ordinances
and state laws enacted for animal control and protection.
The animal control officer and any deputy animal control officers shall
have all authority granted to such officers by the Virginia Comprehensive
Animal Control Laws, Chapter 27.4 of Title 3.1 of the Code of Virginia. The
animal control officer and the deputy animal control officers shall be paid
as the county board of supervisors shall prescribe.
(b)
The animal control officer and deputy animal control officer shall have a
knowledge of and shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and all
ordinances of the county and laws of the state enacted for animal control
and protection.
(c) Whenever the term
"animal control officer" is used in this chapter, it shall mean the animal
control officer appointed pursuant to this section or any duly appointed
deputy animal control officer.
(d)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the issuance of a
warrant for any violation of this chapter based upon the complaint of any
citizen or any law enforcement officer and upon a finding of probable cause
by an officer authorized to issue arrest warrants generally.
(e) Every animal control officer and deputy
animal control officers shall complete the following training: Within two
years after appointment, a basic animal control course that has been
approved by the State Veterinarian which shall include training in recognizing suspected
child abuse and neglect and information on how complaints may be filed,
and thereafter shall complete such additional training as may be required by
the Code of Virginia.
(Ord. No. 03-19, 6/17/03;
Ord. No. 04-17, 8/3/04)