Boca Raton Police Animal Complaints PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Departmental Standards Directive 41.915 ANIMAL COMPLAINTS Revised: June 9, 2017 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this departmental standards directive is to establish guidelines for the Boca Raton Police Services Department governing the handling of animal-related...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Departmental Standards Directive 41.915 ANIMAL COMPLAINTS Revised: June 9, 2017 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this departmental standards directive is to establish guidelines for the Boca Raton Police Services Department governing the handling of animal-related complaints. II. POLICY: The Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control Division is responsible for the investigation of most animal-related calls, but the Department will assist in the investigations and/or conduct the investigations where applicable. III. PROCEDURE: A. ANIMAL BITES: 1. Law enforcement officers (LEOs) responding to a call regarding animal bites shall adhere to the following steps: a. The LEO shall record the complaint on an Incident Report and forward the complaint to the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control prior to the end of their shift. b. The bite number and the name of the representative with which the LEO spoke with at Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control shall be noted in the Incident Report. c. If the animal was at-large when the bite occurred, LEOs shall note this in their Incident Report. B. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: 1. LEOs responding to a call regarding cruelty to animals shall follow the following steps: Effective: May 1, 1982 Revised: June 9, 2017 a. Determine condition of animal in question. b. Impound animal if its life is threatened. c. Determine ownership of animal and notify owner of animal's condition. Animal Complaints Directive No. 41.915 Page 1 of 3 d. Determine person responsible for animal's condition. e. Charge responsible party under FSS 828.12, if appropriate. f. Notify Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. g. LEOs assigned to investigate cruelty-to-animal cases may call on the Animal Regulation Division of the Palm Beach County Department of Public Safety for assistance in investigation and prosecution. C. ANIMAL NOISE: 1. LEOs responding to a call regarding animal noise shall adhere to the following steps: a. Determine source of noise and owner of animal. b. Determine whether sound is, in fact, excessive and unnecessary. c. Document a warning to the owner or custodian of the animal if the noise is such that neighbors are being disturbed. d. Provide complainant information about the animal noise packet, which is available from Code Enforcement or the Records Section. Provide complainant with Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control phone number (233-1291). D. ANIMAL AT-LARGE: 1. LEOs responding to a call regarding animals at-large shall follow the following steps: a. Document the offense owner/custodian of the animal. and where appropriate, warn the b. If the animal is a danger to the public or to itself, it may be appropriate to attempt to impound the animal and notify Palm Beach County Animal for transport. c. If the animal has an identification tag, it can be released back to the registered owner with appropriate documentation. If there is no identification tag, the animal shall be turned over to the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. d. When appropriate, preferably after documented warnings, the LEO may cite the owner or custodian of the animal for City Ordinance violation 5-32 for allowing an animal to run at-large. E. ANIMAL FIGHTING: Effective: May 1, 1982 Revised: June 9, 2017 Animal Complaints Directive No. 41.915 Page 2 of 3 1. LEOs responding to a call regarding animal fighting shall adhere to the following steps: a. Determine that an animal fight is about to occur, has occurred, or is occurring. b. Identify person(s) owning, managing, or operating the facility being used for fighting. c. Identify persons owning or baiting such animals. d. Identify persons promoting, staging, advertising, or charging admission fee to any such event. e. Be aware that persons betting or wagering on the event may be guilty of gambling. F. f. Identify persons attending such an event, if possible. g. Charge above violators under FSS 828.122. h. Notify Palm Beach Animal Care & Control. ANIMALS AND TRANSPORTATION: 1. LEOs may take enforcement action of Palm Beach County Ordinance 89-2, Section 4-17 for violations regarding the restraint of animals in motor vehicles. 2. LEOs encountering domestic animals confined in a vehicle and in distress due to high temperature shall attempt to locate the owner/operator of the vehicle if practical. If the owner/operator cannot readily be located, LEOs may use force to enter the vehicle and remove the animal. 3. FSS 768.139 provides that a person who enters a motor vehicle, by force or otherwise, for the purpose of removing a domestic animal (as well as a vulnerable person) is immune from civil liability for damage to the motor vehicle. LEOs shall document their observations and the circumstances surrounding the incident when responding to calls of this nature. Approved: Daniel C. Alexander Chief of Police Effective: May 1, 1982 Revised: June 9, 2017 Date: Animal Complaints Directive No. 41.915 Page 3 of 3