A. Each county board of supervisors may:
1. Designate or employ a county enforcement agent. If such designation or employment is not made, the county sheriff shall be the county enforcement agent, but nothing in this article shall be deemed to prevent the county board of supervisors from designating or employing a county enforcement agent at any time it is deemed necessary or advisable.
2. Provide the county enforcement agent with such personnel and equipment as are necessary to enforce this article and the rules adopted under this article.
3. Contract with any city or town to enforce the provisions of any ordinance enacted by such city or town for the control of dogs if the provisions are not specific to any breed.
4. For the unincorporated areas of the county, by ordinance, regulate, restrain and prohibit the running at large of dogs, except dogs used for control of livestock or while being used or trained for hunting.
5. For the unincorporated areas of the county, by ordinance, regulate, restrain and prohibit the excessive and unrestrained barking of dogs.
6. Establish either:
(a) Criminal penalties not to exceed the penalties for a class 2 misdemeanor for violation of an ordinance adopted pursuant to paragraph 4 or 5 of this subsection.
(b) Civil penalties for violations of an ordinance adopted pursuant to paragraph 4 or 5 of this subsection, not to exceed five hundred dollars for each violation.
B. Fines received for violation of an ordinance adopted with a criminal penalty pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 6, subdivision (a) of this section shall be deposited in a special, permanent, nonlapsing and nonreverting county fund to be used solely for the operation of the county enforcement agency.
C. Each county board of supervisors may establish pound fees for impounding and maintaining animals at the county pound or any pound used by the county.
D. The county board of supervisors shall be responsible for declaring a rabies quarantine area within its jurisdiction on a recommendation of the county board of health or the local health department. If a rabies quarantine area is declared, the county board of supervisors shall meet with the county board of health and the county enforcement agent and institute an emergency program for the control of rabies within that area provided that any regulations restricting or involving the movement of livestock within that area shall be developed by the state veterinarian.
Credits
Added as § 24-365 by Laws 1962, Ch. 86, § 2. Amended by Laws 1975, Ch. 164, § 4; Laws 1976, Ch. 58, § 3; Laws 1980, Ch. 121, § 1; Laws 1988, Ch. 278, § 1. Renumbered as § 11-1005 by Laws 1990, Ch. 374, § 222, eff. Jan. 1, 1991. Amended by Laws 1991, Ch. 70, § 1; Laws 2002, Ch. 172, § 2; Laws 2016, Ch. 351, § 2.