<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-3. - Authority and purpose; general duties of animal services enforcement.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               This chapter is adopted pursuant to the powers granted Burke County in G.S. 153A-121,
               153A-127, and 153A-442. the animal services department is the entity designated by
               Burke County to carry out these statutory powers and duties: to protect the health,
               safety and welfare of county residents and the animals residing within the county;
               regulate and control the conduct, keeping, and care of those animals; facilitate as
               many responsible, lifetime adoptions of abandoned pets as possible; and encourage
               the reuniting of owners to their impounded animals. The animal services department
               shall be led by the animal services director and shall consist of animal services
               enforcement and the animal services center.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               The animal services enforcement officers of the animal services department are hereby
               empowered to perform, and shall perform the following duties:
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               
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               Enforce and carry out all state laws and all ordinances of the County pertaining to
               rabies control.
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Be responsible for the investigation of all reported animal bites, for the quarantine
               of any dog, cat, or ferret exposed to or suspected of having rabies, for a period
               of not less than ten days, and for reporting to the health director as soon as practical
               the occurrence of any such animal bite and the condition of any quarantined animal.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Be responsible for the investigation of reports or observations of incidents of harassment
               of or injuries to domesticated livestock caused by animals. Incidents committed by
               wildlife are not under the jurisdiction of the animal services department and are
               to be referred to the state wildlife resources commission.
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               Be responsible for the seizure and arranging for the impoundment, in consultation
               with the animal services director, where deemed necessary, of any dog or other animal
               in the county involved in a violation of this chapter or any other county ordinance
               or state law.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (5)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Investigate cruelty or abuse regarding animals. Incidents committed against wildlife
               are not under the jurisdiction of the animal services department and are to be referred
               to the state wildlife resources commission.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (6)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Make such investigations or inquiries as necessary for the purpose of ascertaining
               compliance with this chapter or applicable state statute.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (7)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Issue citations or notices of violation of this chapter in such form as the animal
               services director may prescribe.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (8)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Be trained and maintain training to standards established by the state and animal
               services department.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The county animal services center is a public shelter operated on a managed intake
               basis and must be in compliance with all state standards established for public animal
               shelters. Owners who wish to surrender their animal must contact animal services and
               schedule an appointment.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Animal services enforcement will only respond to resident calls regarding:
               
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            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               A resident's report of suspected violation of the standards of care,
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Violation of the animal ordinance, including bites, nuisance complaints, rabies,
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               A suspected case of animal abuse/cruelty,
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               When an animal is in severe distress or
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (5)
               
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            <p class="content2">
               When the animal's death appears imminent.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               
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            <p class="content1">
               It shall be the duty of the county animal services employees and the animal services
               enforcement officers to keep or cause to be kept accurate and detailed records of:
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Impoundment and disposition of all animals coming into the animal services center.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Bite cases, violations and complaints and investigation of the same.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               All other records deemed necessary per G.S. 132-1.1(e).
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Animal services enforcement officers shall have the following additional powers and
               duties within the county and within any municipality therein that has given prior
               approval in accordance with applicable law:
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               The responsibility for the enforcement of all state and local laws regarding the animal
               ordinance, as well as resolutions pertaining to the ownership and control of dogs
               and other animals.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               To cooperate with the county health director, the animal services employees and all
               other municipal law enforcement officers in the county and assist in the enforcement
               of the laws of the state with regard to animals, the vaccination of dogs and cats
               against rabies, the confinement and leashing of dangerous animals, and any other state
               law applicable to animals or animal control.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               To investigate reported or observed animal abuse, cruelty or animal neglect, complaints
               or violations and make written reports of such investigations and, when requested,
               provide such reports to the district attorney's office. Only county animal services
               enforcement officers shall be designated as animal cruelty investigators.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               To investigate reports of observed harassment or attacks by dogs or other animals
               against people, animals, or domesticated livestock and to assist in locating those
               persons owning or harboring the attacking animals.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (5)
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Animal enforcement officers and other personnel assigned to enforce this chapter shall
               have a broad range of power to carry out the provisions of this chapter and discretion
               in the use of an appropriate remedy for violations. Animal enforcement officers shall
               have the power to initiate investigations, not only when complaints are received but
               as a result of their own knowledge and observation of facts and circumstances.
               
            </p>
            		
            <p class="p2">
               Animal enforcement officers may take notice of facts and information in plain view
               in automobiles, in the yards surrounding houses and other areas that can be readily
               observed without intrusive investigations and as a result of those observations may
               take appropriate enforcement action including the impoundment of animals when violations
               are observed, or the issuance of any other order permitted hereunder.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p2">
               With the consent of property owners and individuals apparently in charge of the premises,
               animal enforcement officers may investigate the conditions and circumstances inside
               of locked fences, outbuildings, houses, apartment units, condominium units or other
               buildings and as a result of such investigations may impound animals or take other
               appropriate enforcement action.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p2">
               In the event circumstances are not plainly observable or in the event access to enclosed
               premises is denied, animal enforcement officers may seek the assistance of public
               safety officers, Burke County Sheriff's deputies and other sworn personnel, obtain
               administrative search and inspection warrants and conduct other lawful searches and
               inspections of such premises as authorized by G.S. Â§ 15-27.2.
               
            </p>
            <p class="p2">
               The animal services director, through his/her authorized designee, shall have the
               right of entry upon the premises of any place where entry is necessary to carry out
               the provisions of these rules. If consent for entry is not obtained, an administrative
               search and inspection warrant shall be obtained pursuant to G.S. 15-27.2. However,
               if an imminent hazard exists, no warrant is required for entry upon the premises.
               
            </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="1110285">
                  2021-19
                  </a>
               , 10-5-2021)
               
            </p></div>