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16.52015 Enforcement--Law enforcement agencies and animal care and control agencies cont...
(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 misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations of this chapter or RCW 9.08.070 or 81.56.120;
(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 81.56.120. 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 81.56.120, 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 81.56.120, a law enforcement agency officer may arrest the alleged offender.
16.52.020 Humane societies--Enforcement authority
Any citizens of the state of Washington incorporated under the laws of
this state as a humane society or as a society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals may enforce the provisions of this chapter through
its animal control officers subject to the limitations in RCW 16.52.015
and 16.52.025. The legislative authority in each county may grant exclusive
authority to exercise the privileges and authority granted by this
section to one or more qualified corporations for a period of up to
three years based upon ability to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
16.52.025 Humane societies--Animal control officers
Trustees of humane societies incorporated pursuant to RCW 16.52.020 may
appoint society members to act as animal control officers. The trustee
appointments shall be in writing. The appointment shall be effective
in a particular county only if an appointee obtains written authorization
from the superior court of the county in which the appointee seeks
to enforce this chapter. To obtain judicial authorization, an appointee
seeking judicial authorization on or after June 9, 1994, shall provide
evidence satisfactory to the judge that the appointee has successfully
completed training which has prepared the appointee to assume the powers
granted to animal control officers pursuant to RCW 16.52.015. The trustees
shall review appointments every three years and may revoke an appointment
at any time by filing a certified revocation with the superior court
that approved the appointment. Authorizations shall not exceed three
years or trustee termination, whichever occurs first. To qualify for
reappointment when a term expires on or after June 9, 1994, the officer
shall obtain training or satisfy the court that the officer has sufficient
experience to exercise the powers granted to animal control officers
pursuant to RCW 16.52.015.
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