Powers, duties, and functions of animal welfare officers of the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Agriculture [Effective until Jan. 23, 2027].
Del. Code tit. 16, § 3031F
in effect(a) The Office of Animal Welfare within the Department of Health and Social Services shall enforce all animal cruelty laws in the State, except in cases of domestic agricultural animals specified in § 101(8) of Title 3, where the Department of Agriculture shall have primary enforcement authority. In cases of imminent danger, the Office of Animal Welfare and the Department of Agriculture shall have concurrent jurisdiction to seize and impound an animal and take any other necessary step to alleviate the imminent danger or preserve evidence.
(b) The Office of Animal Welfare within the Department of Health and Social Services shall enforce all dog control, dog barking laws, dangerous dog and animal fighting laws, and laws concerning the maintenance of a dangerous animal in the State.
(c) The Office of Animal Welfare is a “law-enforcement agency” for purposes of § 8901B of Title 11 and any other purpose relating to communication and access to criminal justice information.
(d) Animal welfare officers of the Office of Animal Welfare or Department of Agriculture shall be trained and certified pursuant to § 122(3)bb. of this title.
(e) Animal welfare officers of the Office of Animal Welfare shall have the power to investigate, search, seize, detain and arrest when investigating and enforcing animal cruelty and fighting, dog control, dog barking, or dangerous animal laws.
(f) The Department of Agriculture shall have the power to investigate, search, seize and issue criminal summons when investigating and enforcing animal cruelty laws.
(g) Animal welfare officers of the Office of Animal Welfare and the Department of Agriculture shall have no police powers to investigate or enforce laws other than those related to animal cruelty or fighting, dog control, dog barking, or dangerous animal laws.
(h) Animal welfare officers of the Office of Animal Welfare or the Department of Agriculture shall not be permitted to carry firearms while on duty as such.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title16/c030f/sc03/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026