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Arizona Revised Statutes Title 9. Cities and Towns § 9-499.04. Animal control officers; appointment; authority; regulation of dogs; powers and duties

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

A. Any city and town may by ordinance provide for the appointment of animal control officers who may commence an action or proceeding before a court for any violation of a state statute or local ordinance relating to rabies and animal control that occurs within the jurisdiction of the city or town.

B. An animal control officer appointed pursuant to subsection A of this section shall:

1. Be unarmed during the course of duties except that a small caliber firearm may be available to be used in controlling vicious animals or in dispatching of a wounded animal. For the purposes of this paragraph, “small caliber firearm” means a rifle or pistol utilizing a rimfire cartridge with a caliber not to exceed twenty-two hundredths of an inch and with a non-richocheting  1 bullet or a shotgun whose bore size does not exceed forty-one hundredths of an inch.

2. Be an employee of the appointing city or town.

C. A city or town may regulate the control of dogs if the regulation is not specific to any breed.

D. Subsection B of this section does not grant other powers or benefits to animal control officers to which peace officers of this state are entitled.

1 So in original. Probably should read “non-ricocheting”.
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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Arizona Revised Statutes Title 9. Cities and Towns § 9-499.04. Animal control officers; appointment; authority; regulation of dogs; powers and duties - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/az/title-9-cities-and-towns/az-rev-st-sect-9-499-04/

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