How to Read and Understand Law
All animal control officers should start by meeting with your County Attorney to ensure you follow all procedures regarding local enforcement. They are YOUR attorney!
Every animal control officer has a responsibility to know the laws they enforce. Start by reading through the entire statute. Then, read it again. Break the wording down into chunks that are easier to digest. Below is an example.
436.605 (1) Animal control officers and officers and agents of humane societies 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, or torture of animals, provided they possess the qualifications required under KRS 61.300.
Can be read as;
436.605 (1)Animal control officers and officers and agents of humane societies 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, or torture of animals, provided they possess the qualifications required under KRS 61.300.
Officer = Animal control officers and officers and agents of humane societies
appointed by = employed by, appointed by, or have contracted
government = city, county, urban-county, charter county, or consolidated local government
Powers of peace officer = is conditional on meeting qualifications under KRS 61.300
The Georgetown University Law Center created a A Guide to Reading Interpreting and Applying Statutes. It should not be your sole source of information. Again, talk to your county attorney.