Sec. 14-40Rights of officials to enter premises

(a) Whenever an animal control officer, a representative from the Turner County Health Department or its authorized representative, any law enforcement officer, or other city or county official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises any violation of the provisions of this article or other applicable law, or whenever it is necessary for such official to make an inspection to enforce any provisions or perform any duty imposed by this article or any other applicable law, such person shall have the right to enter such property at any reasonable time to inspect and perform any duty imposed by this article or another applicable law; provided, that:

(1) If such property be occupied, such person entering shall first present proper credentials to the occupant and request entry explaining the reason therefor; and

(2) If such property be unoccupied, such person entering shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or the person having charge or control of the property and request entry, explaining the reason therefor; and

(3) If such entry is refused or cannot be obtained because the owner or other person having charge or control of the property cannot be found after due diligence, recourse shall be had to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry and inspection of the property.

(b) Nothing in this section shall affect or otherwise abridge the right of any animal control officer to pursue or impound an animal or to issue a citation when an animal is on property other than that of the owner of the animal or that of a person who has a right to control such animal.