{"data":{"id":"us-az/a.r.s.-9-499.04","jurisdiction":"us-az","citation":"A.R.S. § 9-499.04","heading":"Animal control officers; appointment; authority; regulation of dogs; powers and duties","body":"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.\n\nB. An animal control officer appointed pursuant to subsection A of this section shall:\n\n1. 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 bullet or a shotgun whose bore size does not exceed forty-one hundredths of an inch.\n\n2. Be an employee of the appointing city or town.\n\nC. A city or town may regulate the control of dogs if the regulation is not specific to any breed.\n\nD. 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.","path":["Title 9 Cities and Towns"],"source_url":"https://www.azleg.gov/ars/9/00499-04.htm","current_through":"2026-09-04","vintage":"2026-08-09","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T00:49:56Z","sha256":"3a2a4612facf5e21e4d2fc9663207a9a0dee5c00cc9fd4c7fc7ea057e5cef5c7","source_id":"us-az","stale":true,"prev":"us-az/a.r.s.-9-499.03","next":"us-az/a.r.s.-9-499.05"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}