<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-4. - Animal abuse/cruelty.</div>
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               In addition to what is prohibited by G.S. 14-360â€”14-366, the following shall be prohibited:
               
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                  (1)
                  
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                  Abuse/cruelty to animals is a criminal offense. the animal services enforcement officers
                  shall investigate reported incidents involving cruelty to animals or support investigations
                  by other enforcement agencies when so requested and refer cases where probable cause
                  exists to the district attorney's office for criminal prosecution.
                  
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                  (2)
                  
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                  The following acts or omissions shall constitute abuse/cruelty to animals under this
                  article:
                  
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                  a.
                  
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                  To intentionally overload, overdrive, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, shelter,
                  or medical care, or maliciously mutilate, poison, beat, disfigure or kill any animal
                  or causing the same to be done, or transport in or upon any vehicle unsecured, or
                  otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner that jeopardizes the safety of
                  the animal.
                  
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                  b.
                  
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                  Confining an animal in a motor vehicle under conditions that are likely to cause suffering,
                  injury, or death to the animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or
                  other endangering conditions.
                  
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                  c.
                  
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                  Intentionally committing an act to any domestic animal which results in the cruel
                  death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering or causes
                  the same to be done.
                  
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                  d.
                  
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                  Abandoning an animal to suffer injury, malnutrition, or illness without veterinary
                  care.
                  
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                  e.
                  
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                  Leaving an animal in an enclosure that is deemed unsafe for the animal. All enclosures
                  should be free of hazards and appropriate for the size and species of the animal.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  f.
                  
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                  Injuring a domestic animal by way of including, but not limited to, motor vehicle
                  impact, firearm discharge or unforeseen accident.
                  
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                  g.
                  
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                  Performing surgical procedures, including cosmetic procedures on any domestic animal,
                  livestock excluded, except by a licensed veterinarian. This includes, but is not limited
                  to, tail docking, ear cropping, castration, de-clawing and dewclaw removal.
                  
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                  h.
                  
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                  To color, dye, stain or otherwise change the natural color of baby chickens or other
                  fowl or rabbits.
                  
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                  i.
                  
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                  For any individual, nonprofit, or commercial establishment to separate a dog or cat
                  from its mother until it is eight weeks of age or accustomed to taking food or nourishment
                  other than by nursing, whichever is later. This does not apply to an animal whose
                  mother is incapacitated for humane or medical reasons and cannot care for the animal.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  j.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  For any person to entice or lure any animal out of an enclosure or off the property
                  of its owner or keeper, or to seize, molest or tease any animal while the animal is
                  held or controlled by its owner or keeper or while the animal is on or off the property
                  of its owner or keeper, except a stray animal may be seized when trying to capture
                  it.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  k.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  It shall be unlawful for any person to commit any of the acts made unlawful under
                  the provisions of G.S. 14-360, 14-362 and 14-363 as the same relate to dogs, or to
                  commit any other act made unlawful by any other law of the state relating to animal
                  cruelty, fighting and abandonment. The repeal of such law or laws of the state shall
                  have no effect upon this section, and the acts herein made unlawful shall, in the
                  event of such repeal, be those referred to in said law or laws immediately prior to
                  such repeal.
                  
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                  l.
                  
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                  Failure or refusal to report a severely distressed, sick or injured domestic animals
                  to the County 911 or the animal's owner, if known.
                  
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                  m.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  A veterinarian rendering services is exempt from the provisions of this section.
                  
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                  (4)
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  The following acts or omissions shall constitute fighting or baiting under this article:
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  a.
                  
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                  Baiting, breeding, training, transporting, selling, owning, possessing, or using any
                  wild or domestic animal for the purpose of animal fighting or baiting.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  b.
                  
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                  Owning, possessing, or selling equipment for use in animal fighting or baiting.
                  
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                  c.
                  
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                  Owning, leasing, managing, operating, or having control of any property kept or used
                  for animal fighting or baiting.
                  
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                  d.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  Promoting, staging, advertising, or charging any admission fee to a fight or baiting
                  between two or more animals.
                  
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                  e.
                  
               </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Performing any service or act to facilitate animal fighting or baiting, including,
                  but not limited to, providing security, refereeing, or handling, or transporting animals
                  or being a stakeholder of any money wagered on animal fighting or baiting.
                  
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                  f.
                  
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                  Betting or wagering any money or other valuable consideration on the fighting or baiting
                  of animals.
                  
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                  g.
                  
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               <p class="content3">
                  Attending the fighting or baiting of animals.
                  
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                  (5)
                  
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               <p class="content2">
                  These provisions shall not apply to any person:
                  
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                  a.
                  
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                  Simulating a fight for the purpose of using the simulated fight as part of a motion
                  picture that will be used on television or in a motion picture.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  b.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  Using animals to pursue or take wildlife or to participate in any hunting regulated
                  or subject to being regulated by the rules and regulations of the North Carolina Wildlife
                  and Resources Commission.
                  
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                  c.
                  
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                  Using animals to work livestock for agricultural purposes.
                  
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                  d.
                  
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                  Simulating bloodless bullfighting; or
                  
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                  e.
                  
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                  Using animals to hunt wild hogs or retrieve domestic hogs.
                  
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                  (6)
                  
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                  Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit, impede, or otherwise interfere
                  with recognized animal husbandry and training techniques or practices not otherwise
                  specifically prohibited by law.
                  
               </p>
               		
               
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                  (7)
                  
               </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  In regard to the animal fighting and baiting regulations as stated in G.S. 14-362.2.,
                  the following exclusions will apply:
                  
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                  a.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  This section does not prohibit the use of dogs in the lawful taking of animals under
                  the jurisdiction and regulation of the wildlife resources commission.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  b.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  This section does not prohibit the use of dogs in earthdog trials that are sanctioned
                  or sponsored by entities approved by the commissioner of agriculture that meet standards
                  that protect the health and safety of the dogs. Quarry at an earthdog trial shall
                  at all times be kept separate from the dogs by a sturdy barrier, such as a cage, and
                  have access to food and water.
                  
               </p>
               		
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                  c.
                  
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                  This section does not apply to the use of herding dogs engaged in the working of domesticated
                  livestock for agricultural, entertainment, or sporting purposes.
                  
               </p>
               		
               
            
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No.
               <a class="ordinance-link" href="" data-product-id="14529" data-ordinance-id="1036807">
                  2020-04
                  </a>
               , 8-18-2020)
               
            </p></div>