KRS 436.605: Animal control officers and humane agents have powers of peace officers,

except power of arrest -- Search warrants -- Execution of search warrants --

Arrest by peace officer.

(1) Animal control officers and officers and agents of humane societi es who are

employed by, appointed by, or have contracted with a city, county, urban -county,

charter county, or consolidated local government to provide animal sheltering or

animal control services shall have the powers of peace officers, except for the

power of arrest, for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Kentucky Revised

Statutes relating to cruelty, mistreatment, sexual crimes against, or torture of

animals, provided they possess the qualifications required under KRS 61.300.

(2) When any pea ce officer, animal control officer, or any officer or agent of any

society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals duly incorporated

under the laws of this Commonwealth who is employed by, appointed by, or has

contracted with a city, county , urban-county, charter county, or consolidated local

government to provide animal sheltering or animal control services makes an oath

before any judge of a District Court that he has reasons to believe or does believe

that an act of cruelty, mistreatment, sexual crimes against, or torture of animals is

being committed in a building, barn, or other enclosure, the judge shall issue a

search warrant directed to the peace officer, animal control officer, or officer or

agent of the society or association for th e prevention of cruelty to animals to search

the premises. If a peace officer finds that an act of cruelty, mistreatment, sexual

crimes against, or torture of animals is being perpetrated, the offender or offenders

shall be immediately arrested by the peac e officer and brought before the court for

trial. If an animal control officer or an officer or agent of a society or association for

the prevention of cruelty to animals finds that an act of cruelty, mistreatment, sexual

crimes against, or torture of anim als is being perpetrated, the officer or agent shall

summon a peace officer to arrest the offender or offenders and bring them before

the court for trial.