§ 4-40. Investigation.

(a)

For the purpose of discharging the duties imposed by this chapter and to enforce its provisions, any animal control officer or any sheriff's deputy or police officer is empowered to enter upon any premises on which an animal is kept or harbored to demand the exhibition of a kennel license by the owner or operator thereof.

(b)

An animal control officer or any sheriff's deputy or police officer may enter unenclosed premises where an animal is kept upon reported information and belief that an animal is being held in a cruel or inhumane manner and demand to examine the animal and seize and impound the animal when, in his opinion, the animal is subjected to cruel or inhumane treatment, abandonment or neglect.

(c)

A sheriff's deputy or police officer may enter premises pursuant to right of entry laws governing criminal activity where an animal is kept in violation of the criminal laws of this state.

(d)

An animal control officer is authorized to request an administrative search warrant from the court if he has probable cause to believe that violations of F.S. ch. 828 that constitute a reasonable fear or expectation that an animal is subject to abandonment, abuse, injury, or neglect is contained within a building or other enclosure for which the officer is not authorized to enter absent a warrant.

(Code 1979, § 3-23; Ord. No. 006-2006, § 1)