RCW 16.52.015
Enforcement—Law enforcement agencies and animal care and control agencies.
(1) Law enforcement agencies and animal care and control agencies may enforce the provisions of this chapter. Animal care and control agencies may enforce the provisions of this chapter in a county or city only if the county or city legislative authority has entered into a contract with the agency to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Animal control officers enforcing this chapter shall comply with the same constitutional and statutory restrictions concerning the execution of police powers imposed on law enforcement officers who enforce this chapter and other criminal laws of the state of Washington.
(3) Animal control officers have the following enforcement powers when enforcing this chapter:
(a) The power to issue citations based on probable cause to offenders for civil infractions and misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations of this chapter or RCW 9.08.070 through 9.08.078 or 81.48.070;
(b) The power to cause a law enforcement officer to arrest and take into custody any person the animal control officer has probable cause to believe has committed or is committing a violation of this chapter or RCW 9.08.070 or 81.48.070. Animal control officers may make an oral complaint to a prosecuting attorney or a law enforcement officer to initiate arrest. The animal control officer causing the arrest shall file with the arresting agency a written complaint within twenty-four hours of the arrest, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, stating the alleged act or acts constituting a violation;
(c) The power to carry nonfirearm protective devices for personal protection;
(d) The power to prepare affidavits in support of search warrants and to execute search warrants when accompanied by law enforcement officers to investigate violations of this chapter or RCW 9.08.070 or 81.48.070, and to seize evidence of those violations.
(4) Upon request of an animal control officer who has probable cause to believe that a person has violated this chapter or RCW 9.08.070 or 81.48.070, a law enforcement agency officer may arrest the alleged offender.
[ 2011 c 172 § 2; 2003 c 53 § 110; 1994 c 261 § 3.]
NOTES:
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Finding—Intent—1994 c 261: See note following RCW 16.52.011.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 16 - Animals and Livestock
Chapter 16.52 - Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
16.52.011 - Definitions—Principles of liability.
16.52.015 - Enforcement—Law enforcement agencies and animal care and control agencies.
16.52.020 - Humane societies—Enforcement authority.
16.52.025 - Humane societies—Animal control officers.
16.52.080 - Transporting or confining in unsafe manner—Penalty.
16.52.085 - Removal of animals for feeding and care—Examination—Notice—Euthanasia.
16.52.090 - Docking horses—Misdemeanor.
16.52.095 - Certain veterinary procedures—Misdemeanor.
16.52.100 - Confinement without food and water—Intervention by others.
16.52.117 - Animal fighting—Prohibited behavior—Penalty—Exceptions.
16.52.180 - Limitations on application of chapter.
16.52.185 - Exclusions from chapter.
16.52.190 - Poisoning animals—Penalty.
16.52.193 - Poisoning animals—Strychnine sales—Records—Report on suspected purchases.
16.52.200 - Sentences—Forfeiture of animals—Liability for costs—Penalty—Education, counseling.
16.52.205 - Animal cruelty in the first degree.
16.52.207 - Animal cruelty in the second degree—Penalty.
16.52.210 - Destruction of animal by law enforcement officer—Immunity from liability.
16.52.220 - Transfers of mammals for research—Certification requirements—Pet animals.
16.52.225 - Nonambulatory livestock—Transporting or accepting delivery—Gross misdemeanor—Definition.
16.52.230 - Remedies not impaired.
16.52.300 - Dogs or cats used as bait—Seizure—Limitation.
16.52.305 - Unlawful use of hook—Gross misdemeanor.
16.52.330 - Veterinarians—Animal cruelty—Liability immunity.