<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-131. - General enforcement, order, or other relief.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               
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               <span class="ital">Civil penalties.</span> Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provision of this chapter shall
               be subject to the imposition by citation of a civil penalty for each such violation
               which shall be paid in full within ten days of the service of the citation by a representative
               of the county animal services department or any law enforcement officer in accordance
               with G.S. 153A-123. If the offender does not pay the penalty within ten days, the
               county may recover said penalty plus court costs in a civil action in the nature of
               debt. Failure to correct the violation within the ten-day period will result in an
               additional penalty of $50.00 per violation per day until the violation is corrected.
               All civil penalties are subject to associated legal fees in the collection of delinquent
               penalties.
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, any person, firm, etc., violating any provision
               of this chapter shall be subject to the following penalties with a time frame of one
               year on the last citation.
               
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               a.
               
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               First offense, warning.
               
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               b.
               
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               Second offense, $50.00 penalty.
               
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               c.
               
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               Third offense, $100.00 penalty.
               
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               d.
               
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               Fourth offense, $200.00
               
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               d.
               
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               All offenses after fourth, $300.00 penalty per incident.
               
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               (2)
               
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               If any dangerous animal or dangerous dog (as defined in G.S. 67-4.1), when unprovoked,
               attacks, assaults, wounds, bites or otherwise injures or kills a human being, the
               owner shall pay a civil penalty of $3,000.00. After a ten-day waiting period, exclusive
               of Sundays and holidays, the owner may reclaim the animal or dangerous dog in injury
               cases only. Animals that kill a human being will be euthanized.
               
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               (3)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               If any dangerous animal or dangerous dog (as defined in G.S. 67-4.1), when unprovoked,
               kills, wounds or assists in killing or wounding any domestic animal or pet, the owner
               of said animal or dog shall pay a civil penalty of $200.00. For each subsequent violation,
               the owner of said animal or dog shall pay a civil penalty of $400.00.
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               If any dangerous animal or dangerous dog runs at large, the owner of said animal or
               dog shall pay a civil penalty of $200.00. For each subsequent violation, the owner
               of said animal or dog shall pay a civil penalty of $300.00.
               
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               (5)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               Any person in possession of or keeping an inherently exotic within the county in violation
               of the applicable provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the imposition by
               citation of a civil penalty for each such violation in the amount of $300.00.
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (6)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               Violation of the county ordinance for animal cruelty is subject to a first offense
               penalty of $500.00 and a second offense penalty of $1,000 if the second offense occurs
               within one year of the first offense.
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (7)
               
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               If the offender does not pay the full amount of the penalty within ten days, the county
               may recover all attorney fees in a civil action in the nature of debt.
               
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               (8)
               
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               The owner shall also be responsible for any costs incurred such as a tranquilizer
               fee, costs of which are at a minimum of $50.00.
               
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               (9)
               
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               The owner shall be responsible for all fees associated with the citation collection.
               
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               (10)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               Any civil penalty or fees owed to Burke County herein that are unpaid after ten days
               may be referred to the North Carolina Debt Setoff Collection Program for collection
               pursuant to G.S. 105A-2(6) as well as a local collection assistance fee of $15.00.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Criminal sanctions.</span> Violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor for which a criminal summons may
               be issued. Any person convicted of such violation shall be punishable as provided
               in G.S. 14-4. Each day's violation of this Section is a separate offense.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Injunctive relief.</span> In addition, enforcement of this chapter may be by appropriate equitable remedy,
               injunction or order of abatement issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
               
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            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Seizure or impoundment.</span> In addition to criminal or civil penalties, the animal services department is authorized
               to seize or impound an animal for violation of specific sections of this chapter as
               set forth in this chapter. If an animal is seized, the animal services enforcement
               officer shall issue a written notice of seizure and leave it with the owner, or it
               may be affixed to the premises from which the animal was seized.
               
            </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; Ord. No.
               <a class="ordinance-link" href="" data-product-id="14529" data-ordinance-id="1087240">
                  2021-04
                  </a>
               , 5-18-2021)
               
            </p></div>