<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-10. - Handling of stray or abandoned animals.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               It shall be unlawful for any person, without the consent of the owner or keeper, knowingly
               and intentionally to harbor, feed, keep in their possession by confinement or otherwise,
               any animal that does not belong to him, including strays or abandoned animals, unless
               he has, within 24 hours from the time such animal came into his possession, notified
               the Burke County Animal Services Department. This allows animal services to have a
               record of the animal and its location in the event the owner or keeper calls or visits
               the animal services center in search of the animal.
               
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            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally remove or destroy an electronic
               collar or other electronic device placed on a dog by its owner to maintain control
               of the dog.
               
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            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               Any animal at large that is seized, impounded, and confined in the animal services
               center, after the mandatory 72-hour hold, may be adopted, transferred to an approved
               rescue or euthanized pursuant to procedures of the Burke County Animal Services Department
               and applicable state law.
               
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            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               Impoundment of such an animal shall not relieve the owner or keeper thereof from any
               penalty which may be imposed for violation of this chapter.
               
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            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               Any animal seized and impounded that is badly wounded or diseased and has no identification
               may be euthanized pursuant to procedures of the animal services department. If the
               animal has rabies or is suspected of having rabies, the body shall be disposed of
               in accordance with applicable state regulations. If the animal has identification,
               animal services shall attempt to notify the owner or keeper before euthanizing such
               animal; in any event, and except as may be otherwise provided by law, the animal services
               department shall have no liability for euthanizing wounded or diseased animals when
               such action is taken in accordance with G.S. 19A-32.1(b)(2).
               
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            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               If a stray animal is not claimed within 72 hours of the date of impoundment, the animal
               shall become the property of the county and be made available for adoption as allowed
               by this chapter. Owner-surrendered animals may be made available for immediate adoption.
               When attempting to locate a lost pet, the public may view every animal held at the
               animal services center anytime the center is open to the public. If the animal services
               center is housing animals that must be kept apart from the general public for health
               reasons, public safety concerns, or in order to preserve evidence for criminal proceedings,
               the animal services center shall make reasonable arrangements that allow pet owners
               to determine whether their lost pets are among those animals.
               
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            <p class="incr0">
               (g)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               The animal services director may allow an approved rescue group or the individual
               who found an animal to serve as a foster in the event the animal requires extensive
               or ongoing veterinary care and the group or individual has expressed a desire to seek
               treatment and assume all financial responsibility.
               
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            <p class="p0">
               When conditions make it advisable, the animal services director may allow other animals
               to be fostered during the 72-hour holding period, so long as such is done in compliance
               with G.S. Â§ 19A-32.19(d) and (e).
               
            </p>
            <p class="incr0">
               (h)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               Notification of the animal services department applies to the following:
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               Animal services must be notified of all stray or abandoned animals prior to adoption
               or placement. Any person who gives away, sells, or allows an otherwise strayed or
               abandoned animal to be adopted without first notifying animal services shall have
               no authority over the animal and ownership shall remain with the previous owner to
               the extent the previous owner is able to be identified.
               
            </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>