HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Control Ordinance Harnett County w/Amendments 1/6/97r
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BOOK PAGE
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GAYLE P. HOLDER
REGISTER OF DEEDS
HARNETT CCUNTY, NC
HARNETT COUNTY
ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE
Originally adopted November 15, 1993
Amended December 4, 1995
Amended January 6, 1997
SECTION I.
SECTION II.
SECTION III.
SECTION IV.
SECTION V.
SECTION VI.
SECTION VII.
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX.
SECTION X.
SECTION XI.
SECTION XII.
SECTION XIII.
SECTION XIV.
SECTION XV.
SECTION XVI.
SECTION XVII.
SECTION XVIII.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Purpose ........ ..............................1
Definitions ..... ...............................
1
Authority and Responsibility of Animal Control Officers ........
2
Record Keeping at the Animal Shelter ...................
3
Animal Control -- Offenses ..........................
3
Rabies Control .. ...............................
4
Unlawful Killing, Releasing, Etc., of Certain Animals .........
6
Failure to Surrender Animal for Quarantine ................
6
Dangerous Dogs . ...............................
6
Seizure and Impounding of Animals ....................
6
Redemption of Animals ............................
8
Rabies Vaccination Tag ............................
8
Interference ..... ..............................8
Penalties ....... ..............................8
Severability ..... ..............................9
Conflict ........ ..............................9
Application to Municipalities .........................
9
Effective Date .. ...............................
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF HARNETT COUNTY:
SECTION I. PURPOSE
The purpose,of this ordinance is to protect the people of Harnett County from rabies transmitted
by unconfined, uncontrolled or unimmunized dogs, to regulate dogs and other animals that may
be a nuisance, and to insure that dogs and other animals are treated in an humane manner and
other purposes.
SECTION II. DEFINITIONS
A. Animal: Any live, vertebrate creature, wild or domestic, other than human beings.
B. Animal Control Officer: A person employed to pick up, restrain, impound, care for,
sell or dispose of animals, and who is responsible for discharging such other duties or
functions as may be prescribed by this or any other County ordinance, or by state laws,
or by the Health Director. The Animal Control Officer is under direct supervision of the
Human Resources Director.
C. Animal Shelter: Any premises designated by the County for the purpose of
impounding and caring for animals found running at large or otherwise subject to
impounding in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.
D. At Large: An animal shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the property of its
owner and not under direct control of a competent person. An animal which is wearing
a rabies immunization tag affixed to a collar or harness shall not be deemed, within
itself, to be at large.
E. Castrated Male: Any male which has been operated upon to prevent reproduction.
F. Cat: A domestic feline of either sex.
G. Direct Control: An animal is under direct control under this ordinance if it is
controlled and is obedient to a person's commands, or within a vehicle, or is within a
secure enclosure. A hunting or working dog in the field training or working will be
considered to be under direct control.
H. Dog: A domestic canine of either sex.
I. Health Director: The Director of the Harnett County Health Department or
authorized representative.
J. Human Resources Director: The Director of the Harnett County Department of Human
Resources or authorized representative.
K. Owner: Any person, group of persons, firm, partnership, or corporation owning,
keeping, having charge of, sheltering, feeding, harboring, or taking care of any animal.
L. Restraint: A lease, chain, or other physical device of sufficient strength to maintain
the direct control over an animal by its owner.
M. Secure Enclosure: An enclosure from which an animal cannot escape unless freed by
an owner.
N. Spayed Female: Any female which has been operated upon to prevent reproduction.
O. Stray Animal: A domestic animal that roams at large with no apparent ownership.
P. Vaccination: The administration of anti - rabies vaccine, approved by the United States
Bureau of Animal Industry, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and the North
Carolina Commission for Health Services.
Q. Veterinary Hospital: An establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian
for surgery, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and injuries of animals.
R. Wild Animals: All warm blooded animals not normally domesticated, plus reptiles.
By way of example, wild animals shall include, but not be limited to lions, tigers, or
other wild cats, wolves, bears, raccoons, monkeys, and apes.
SECTION III. AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ANIMAL CONTROL
OFFICERS
Animal Control Officers shall:
A. Enforcement: Have the power to issue citations for the violation of the Harnett County
Animal Control Ordinance and other laws of the State of North Carolina and relating to
the ownership, control, care, and custody of dogs, cats and other animals.
B. Investigate Cruelty to Animals: Investigating cruelty or abuse to dogs, cats and other
animals.
C. Rabies Control: Act as Rabies Control Officers and enforce and carry out all laws
of North Carolina and all ordinances of Harnett County pertaining to rabies control.
D. Dog and Cat Bites: Be responsible for the investigation of all reported animal bites and
for the quarantine of any such animal for a period of not less than ten days.
E. Animal Shelter: Be responsible for the operation of the County Animal Shelter.
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F. Seizure and Impoundment: Be responsible for the seizure and impoundment, where
deemed necessary, of any dog, cat or other animal in Harnett County involved in a
violation of this or any other County ordinance or any state statute.
SECTION IV: I RECORDING KEEPING AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officers to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and
detailed records of:
A. Impoundment and disposition of all animals coming into the Animal Shelter.
B. Bite cases, violations and complaints, and investigations of same.
C. All monies belonging to the County which are derived from impoundment fees, penalties,
sale of animals, and licenses.
D. All other records deemed necessary by the Human Resources Director.
SECTION V: ANIMAL CONTROL - OFFENSES
A. Dogs Not Under Direct Control: A dog not under direct control of its owner or the
owner's agent and determined to be at large by the Animal Control Officer can be picked
up by such officer, and the owner, if identified, may be subject to a fine as outlined in
Penalties in Section XIV of this ordinance.
B. Female Dog During the Estrus Period: A female dog during the estrus period must
be kept in a secure enclosure and be at all times under restraint. Restraint in this
instance does not mean tied to a stationary object without being confined in a secure
enclosure.
C. Possession of Animals Owned by Others: It shall be unlawful for any person to
knowingly or intentionally, unless with consent of the owner, harbor, feed and keep in
his possession, by confinement or otherwise, any dog, cat or other animal which does
not belong to him unless he has within forty-eight hours from the time that such dog, cat
or other animal has come into his possession notified the Animal Control Officer.
I. Upon receiving such notice, the Animal Control Officer may at his discretion
place the dog, cat or other animal in the Animal Shelter. It shall be unlawful for
any person to refuse to surrender any such dog, cat or other animal to the Animal
Control Officer upon demand.
2. The purpose of this section is to aid in rabies control, and to prevent the
intentional possession of pets of other persons.
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i[a
Vicious and Public Nuisance Animals:
1. The Harnett County Health Director may declare an animal to be vicious and a
menace to the public health when the animal has attacked a person causing bodily
harm without being teased, molested, provoked, beaten, tortured, or otherwise
harmed. When an animal has been declared to be vicious and a menace to the
public health, the Health Director shall order the animal to be confined to its
owner's property. However, the animal may be permitted to leave its owner's
property when accompanied by a responsible adult and restrained on a leash (G.S.
§130A-200).
2. An animal may be determined by an Animal Control Officer to be a public
nuisance when it commits any of the following acts two or more times, or any
combination of two or more of the following acts one or more times:
a. chases, snaps at, attacks or otherwise molests pedestrians, bicyclists,
motor vehicle passengers, or farm livestock or domestic animals; or
b. turns over garbage pails; or
C. damages gardens or other foliage or other real or personal property; or
d. habitually or continuously barks, whines, or howls in an excessive nature;
or
e. habitually or continuously loiters on school grounds or official county
recreation areas; or
f. commits other acts that constitutes a public nuisance.
SECTION VI. RABIES CONTROL
A. ' " " Immunization: It shall be unlawful for any dog or. cat owner to keep any such
animal which is four-months of age or older unless such animal has been immunized
against rabies in accordance with North Carolina Statute with an approved rabies vaccine.
This vaccine is to be administered by a licensed veterinarian or a certified rabies
vaccinator
B. Bites:
L Wounds inflicted by dogs of cats upon humans shall be reported immediately to
the Health Department, the Human Resources Department, or the Sheriff's Office
by the person who has been bitten, or in the case of a child, his or her parents
or guardian or other responsible party. Physicians treating an animal bite wound
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shall report the incident to the Health Department within twenty -four hours of
treatment.
2. Every dog or cat that bites a human being and does not have a valid rabies
vaccination tag shall be delivered within eight hours of the bite incident by the
owner to the Animal Shelter or to a licensed veterinary hospital, at the choice of
the owner, where the animal shall be confined for observation for not less than
ten days. The owner shall be responsible for the cost of such confinement.
3. Every dog or cat that bites a human being and has a valid rabies vaccination tag
shall be delivered within eight hours of the bite incident by the owner to the
Animal Shelter or to a licensed veterinary hospital, at the choice of the owner,
where the animal shall be confined for observation for not less than ten days.
The owner shall be responsible for the cost of such confinement. An Animal
Control Officer may, at his discretion, permit the animal to be confined on the
premises of the owner only when, after personal inspection by the Officer, he
determines that there is a suitable secure enclosure on the premises and that other
circumstances warrant such action.
4. In the case of stray animals whose ownership is not known, the supervised
quarantine required by this section shall be at the Animal Shelter.
5. If evidence of rabies does not develop within ten days after a dog or cat is
quarantined under this section, the dog or cat may be released from quarantine.
If the dog or cat has been confined in the Animal Shelter, the owner shall pay a
redemption service fee of ten dollars ($10.00) plus a boarding fee of three dollars
($3.00) per day upon reclaiming the dog or cat.
C. Animals Bitten by Rabid Animals: Any domestic animal bitten by a proven rabid animal
or animal suspected of having rabies that is not available for laboratory diagnosis shall be
destroyed immediately by its owner, an Animal Control officer or a peace officer, unless a) the
owner agrees to strict isolation of the animal at a veterinary hospital for a period of six months
or b) the animal has been vaccinated against rabies more than three weeks prior to being bitten,
and is given a booster dose of rabies vaccine within three days of the bite.
If a dog develops rabies as determined by a licensed veterinarian, it shall be the duty of the
owner to have such animal killed and properly disposed of, subject to the provisions of Section
130A -199 of the North Carolina General Statutes, providing for the killing of rabid animals and
the laboratory examination of the heads of such animals.
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SECTION Al. UNLAWFUL KILLING, RELEASING, ETC. OF CERTAIN ANIMALS
It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, subject to the provisions of Section VI C., or release
any animal suspected of,having =been exposed to rabies, or any animal biting a human, or to
remove such animal `from the County without written permission from the Health Director or
Human Resources Director.
SECTION VIII. FAILURE TO SURRENDER ANIMAL FOR QUARANTINE
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or
destruction as required in Section VI of this ordinance when demand is made therefore by the
Health Director or the Human Resources Director.
SECTION IX. DANGEROUS DOGS
Article IA of Chapter 67 of the N.C. General Statutes entitled "Dangerous Dogs" is hereby
incorporated and made a part of this Animal Control Ordinance. As part of N.C. Gen. Stat.
§67-4.1(c), the County Human Resources Director is designated as the person to be responsible
for determining when a dog is a "potentially dangerous dog" as defined in Chapter 67. A
separate Board to hear any appeal of the Human Resources Director's determination shall be
composed of three members and one alternate. At least one of the regular Board members shall
be a licensed veterinarian. All the members and the alternate shall be residents of Harnett
County and appointed by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners to serve until a successor
is appointed.
SECTION X. SEIZURE AND IMPOUNDMENT OF ANIMALS
A. Power of Seizure and Impoundment: The Animal Control Officer and other law
enforcement officers are empowered to seize and impound the following:
1. Any animal determined to be vicious or a public nuisance under the provisions
of this ordinance.
2. Any animal which has been found to be a victim of cruel treatment as determined
by the Human Resources Director.
3. Any wild animal determined to be held in violation of the provisions of this
ordinance.
4. Any dog or cat appearing not to be in compliance with the rabies control
provisions of this ordinance.
B. Impoundment of such an animal shall not relieve the owner thereof from any penalty
which may be imposed for violation of this ordinance.
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C. Dead Animals: Animal Control Officers shall not be required to pick up dead
animals.
D. Dangerous Conditions: Animal Control Officers shall not be required, in the process
of seizing or impounding animals, to place themselves in a situation which may
jeopardize their health or safety.
E. Notification to Owners: Upon impoundment, the Animal Control Officer shall make
a reasonable, diligent attempt to determine the ownership of the impounded animal, if
not already known, and to notify the owners of the impoundment and the procedure for
redemption according to the provisions of this ordinance.
F. Impoundment Time Periods:
1. Impounded animals shall be held for the following period of time:
a. Impounded stray animals shall be held for seventy-two hours before
becoming available for adoption or euthanization.
b. Donated animals may be adopted immediately or they may be euthanized
immediately with the written permission of the owner.
c. In appropriate cases the Animal Control Officer may, at his discretion,
extend the three day holding period.
d. In appropriate cases, e.g., for animals which are badly wounded or
diseased with a highly contagious disease such as distemper or parvovirus,
the Animal Control Officer may use his discretion to reduce the three day
holding period and to destroy the animal immediately or at such
appropriate time as determined by the Human Resources Director.
2. After the holding period, animals may be disposed of by the following methods:
a. By adoption.
b. By sale pursuant to the provisions of Section XI of this Ordinance.
c. Euthanasia by one of the following methods:
(1) gassing by carbon monoxide or other humane gas'; or
(2) injection with a humane. euthanasia'solution.
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SECTION XI. REDEMPTION OF ANIMALS
During. the time an animal, is impounded at the Animal Shelter it shall be available for
redemption by the owner unless the animal is under quarantine under the provisions of this
ordinance. A redemption service fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be charged each time an
animal is redeemed plus a boarding fee of three dollars ($3.00) per day. If the owner of an
impounded animal can be identified and if the owner chooses not to redeem his animal, the
Human Resources Director may charge said owner for said animal's boarding and veterinarian
costs. In order to recover said boarding and veterinarian costs, the Human Resources Director
may sell an impounded animal, if the owner cannot be identified or if the owner refuses to
redeem the animal pursuant to the provisions of N.C.G.S. §130A -192.
SECTION XII. RABIES VACCINATION TAG
A. Dogs and cats shall wear rabies vaccination tags at all times (N.C.G.S. §130A -190).
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove the rabies vaccination tag from any dog or
cat belonging to another person residing in Harnett County unless by the direction of the
owner.
C. The Animal Control Officer shall canvass the County to determine if there are any dogs
or cats not wearing the required rabies vaccination tag. If a dog or cat is found not
wearing the required tag, the Animal Control Officer shall check to see if the owner's
identification can be found on the animal. If the animal is wearing an owner
identification tag, or if the Animal Control Officer otherwise knows who the owner is,
the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner in writing to have the animal
vaccinated against rabies and to produce the required rabies vaccination certificate to the
Animal Control Officer within three days of the notification. If the animal is not wearing
an owner identification tag and the Animal Control Officer does not otherwise know who
the owner is, the Animal Control Officer may impound the animal under the provisions
of Section X. (N.C.G.S. §130A -192).
Before any. owner is cited for violation of this rabies tag provision, the Animal Control
Officer shall give the owner the opportunity to produce a rabies vaccination certificate
to the Animal Control Officer showing the dog or cat to have been properly vaccinated
and if said certificate is produced no citation shall be issued.
SECTION XIII. INTERFERENCE
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with, hinder, or molest the Heath Director,
Human Resources Director, Animal Control Officers or other certified law officers or their
agents or veterinarians, in the performance of any duty authorized by this ordinance.
SECTION XIV. PENALTIES
A. Misdemeanor: Notwithstanding any civil penalties outlined herein, any person
violating any provision of this ordinance may be found guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor
0
under North Carolina General Statutes §15A- 1340.20 et. seq. or any other applicable
section for misdemeanor sentencing. For a continuing violation, each day's violation
may be deemed to be a separate offense.
B. Equitable Remedies: This ordinance may be enforced by an appropriate equitable remedy
issuing from a court of competent jurisdiction.
C. In addition to the other remedies for violation of this ordinance, the Animal Control
Officer or any person authorized by him may issue to the known owner, or person
having custody or control of said animal, a ticket giving notice of the violation of this
ordinance. Any such official shall be authorized to secure the name and address of the
owner or person in control of the animal in violation. Tickets so issued may be delivered
in person or mailed by registered or certified mail to the person charged if he cannot
otherwise be readily located. Any such ticket issued shall impose upon the owner a civil
penalty of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for the first offense, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00)
for the second offense, and Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for the third and all
subsequent offenses. Said penalties must be paid within twenty days to the County
Department of Human Resources. In the event the owner of the animal or other violator
does not appear in response to the above described ticket, or if the applicable penalty is
not paid within the time prescribed, a criminal summons shall be issued against the
violator or owner or person having custody of the animal in violation of this ordinance,
and upon conviction, the violator or owner or person having custody of the animal shall
be punished as the court prescribes under Section XIV A.
The Animal Control Officer shall cause all tickets to be serially numbered in duplicate
and shall cause the records of the issuance and disposition of such tickets to be
maintained so that an accounting can be made.
SECTION XV. SEVERABILITY
If any. part of this ordinance or any portion of any provision thereof, or the application thereof
to any, person' or condition, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other parts of this
ordinance or: their application to` any other person or condition, and to this end, the provisions
of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.
SECTION XVI. CONFLICT
Insofar as the provisions of 'this ordinance are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law
except 'a provision of state or federal law; the provisions of this ordinance shall control.
SECTION XVII. APPLICATION TO MUNICIPALITIES
A. Authority in Municipalities: Animal Control Officers shall have no authority to enforce
this ordinance within the boundaries of any municipality unless the governing body of
that municipality negotiates an agreement with Harnett County regarding the enforcement
of the provisions of this ordinance within that municipality, and repeals any inconsistent
ordinance.
E
B. Non- Enforcement of Inconsistent Ordinances: The Animal Control Officers shall be
" prohibited from enforcing the provisions of any ordinance or municipal law not adopted
according to the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION XVIIL EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance shall be in effect from and after November 15, '1993.
Amended - December'4, 1995. C
Amended January 6, 1997x'
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PAGE_L4_ — .l -
REGISTER OF DEEDS
GAYLE P. HOLDER
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