When does an Animal Control Officer issue a Courtesy Notice vs a Citation?
A Courtesy Notice is provided to complainants and owners to advise them of the nature of the complaint against an owner, the results of the Officer’s visit, and corrective actions to be taken when necessary to resolve a problem. Warnings can take the form of verbal instructions to an owner or through written instructions to an owner by means of a Courtesy Notice. There is no fine involved when warnings are given. Citations are notices of a violation of law which result in fines or court appearances. Citizens receiving citations can contest the citation to the County Court or pay the fine. Citations are similar to traffic tickets issued by law enforcement officers. Failure to contest the charge(s) or pay the required fine will result in the Court entering a judgment against the owner and/or the Court issuing to the owner an Order to Show Cause why the owner has not responded to the Court’s directive. Failure to obey a Court’s directive can result in the Judge charging the owner with Con
