<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-41. - General care; prohibited acts.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="p0">
               All animals shall be kept and treated under sanitary and humane conditions, and it
               is unlawful for any person to engage in one or more of the following acts:
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (1)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Failure to provide adequate food.</span> All animals, unless otherwise indicated in this chapter, must be given at suitable
                  intervals, not to exceed 24 hours, a quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for
                  the species and age, sufficient to maintain nutrition in each animal. Such foodstuff
                  shall be served in a receptacle, dish or container that is physically clean and in
                  which agents injurious to health have been removed or destroyed to a practical minimum.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (2)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Failure to provide adequate water.</span> All animals must have constant access to a supply of clean, fresh water suitable
                  for drinking and provided in a sanitary manner. No algae shall be in the receptacle
                  and water must not be frozen or too hot to be utilized for drinking.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (3)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Failure to provide adequate shelter.</span> Animals must be provided with adequate shelter, as that term is defined in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH6AN_ARTIINGE_S6-3DE" class="section-link" data-product-id="13891">section 6-3</a>, to reasonably protect them from the elements and from the weather at all times.
                  It shall be within the discretion of animal services to determine what constitutes
                  adequate shelter. This section does not apply to aquatic animals or livestock and
                  other large animals which are normally pastured or otherwise live in the open. Examples
                  of inadequate shelter include, but are not limited to, the following:
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  a.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Underneath outside steps, decks and stoops.
                  </p>
               		
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                  b.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Underneath houses.
                  </p>
               		
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                  c.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Inside or underneath motor vehicles.
                  </p>
               		
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                  d.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Inside metal barrels.
                  </p>
               		
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                  e.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Inside cardboard boxes.
                  </p>
               		
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                  f.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Inside temporary animal carriers or crates.
                  </p>
               		
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                  g.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Shelters located in flood prone areas or areas that lack a suitable method of draining
                  so as to eliminate excess water or moisture.
                  </p>
               		
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                  h.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Shelters surrounded by waste, debris, obstructions or impediments that may endanger
                  an animal.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (4)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Failure or refusal of an owner of a sick, diseased or injured animal to provide proper
                     medical treatment for the animal.</span> The owner of an animal must provide the animal with adequate veterinary care and
                  must take steps necessary to protect the health of the animal and avoid suffering.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (5)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Animal cruelty.</span> Examples of animal cruelty include, but are not limited to, the following:
                  </p>
               		
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                  a.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Intentionally overdriving, overloading, wounding, injuring, tormenting, killing, or
                  depriving necessary sustenance, or causing or procuring to be overdriven, overloaded,
                  wounded, injured, tormented, killed, or deprived of necessary sustenance.
                  </p>
               		
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                  b.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Allowing a collar, rope or chain to become embedded in or cause injury to an animal's
                  neck.
                  </p>
               		
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                  c.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Allowing a choke or pinch collar to be used as a primary collar when the animal is
                  left unsupervised.
                  </p>
               		
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                  d.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Allowing a dog or cat to be left outside in inclement weather or extreme temperatures
                  without adequate shelter.
                  </p>
               		
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                  e.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Intentionally allowing animals to engage in a fight.
                  </p>
               		
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                  f.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Allowing animals to live in unsanitary or crowded conditions.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  g.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Failing or refusing to obtain medical treatment for an animal when reasonably needed.
                  </p>
               		
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                  h.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Trapping a dog or cat without the use of a recognized humane live animal trap.
                  </p>
               		
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                  i.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Permitting any exhibit, function or activity where animals are being cruelly treated
                  or animals run the risk of causing injury to the public or themselves. The animal
                  services division shall have the authority to inspect and to close down public exhibits
                  of animals which are part of fairs, carnivals, festivals, fundraising events, petting
                  zoos and any other activity or function carried out in the county if it is determined
                  that animals are being cruelly treated, abused or run the risk of causing injury to
                  the public or themselves.
                  </p>
               		
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                  j.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Confining or restraining an animal to the premises of a vacant or abandoned structure.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  k.
                  </p>
               		
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                  Failing to provide adequate drainage to prevent surface water from standing in the
                  area where the animal is kept or restrained. It shall be within the discretion of
                  animal services as to what constitutes adequate drainage.
                  </p>
               		
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                  l.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Abandoning any animal within the county.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  m.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Conducting surgical procedures, including cosmetic procedures, on any household pet
                  except by a licensed veterinarian. This includes, but is not limited to, tail docking,
                  ear cropping, castration, de-clawing, and dew claw removal.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (6)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Chaining or tethering an animal to a stationary object for a period of time or under
                     conditions that an animal control officer deems harmful or potentially harmful to
                     the animal.</span> Examples of improper chaining or tethering include, but are not limited to, the following:
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  a.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Using a length or weight of a chain or other tether that is not appropriate for the
                  size, weight and age of the animal. Note: Under no circumstances should the weight
                  of the tether exceed ten percent of the total body weight of the animal, but the tether
                  must be of sufficient strength to prevent breakage.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  b.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Using a chain or tether made of rope, twine, cord or similar material, unless such
                  chain or tether is sold commercially for the purpose of chaining or tethering an animal.
                  </p>
               		
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                  c.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Using a chain or tether that is less than ten feet in length and/or does not have
                  swivels on both ends. All chains or tethers must be attached to the animal by means
                  of a properly fitting harness or collar of not less than one inch in width.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  d.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Allowing an animal to be chained or tethered such that the animal is not confined
                  to the owner's property or the chain or tether can become entangled and prevent the
                  animal from moving about freely, lying down comfortably or having access to adequate
                  food, water and shelter.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  e.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Using a chain as a primary collar. All collars used for the purpose of chaining or
                  tethering an animal must be made of nylon or leather.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (7)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Confining animals in motor vehicles.</span> Leaving an animal in a closed vehicle for such duration or at such temperatures as
                  an animal control officer deems harmful or potentially harmful to the animal.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  a.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Pursuant to G.S. 14-363.3, in order to protect the health and safety of an animal,
                  any animal control officer, law enforcement officer, firefighter, or rescue squad
                  worker, who has probable cause to believe that an animal is confined 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 under other endangering conditions,
                  may enter the motor vehicle by any reasonable means under the circumstances after
                  making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible for the
                  animal.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  b.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  Nothing in subsection (7) shall be construed to apply to the transportation of horses,
                  cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, or other livestock.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (8)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Failure or refusal to report injured domestic animals.</span>
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  a.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  All persons who injure a domestic animal by running over, into or otherwise coming
                  into contact with an animal with an automobile, motorcycle, bicycle or other vehicle
                  must notify the owner of the animal immediately.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  b.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  If the owner is unknown, the person who injured the animal must immediately notify
                  animal services through the 911 center by giving his or her name and address, a description
                  of the animal and the location of the incident.
                  </p>
               		
               
               <p class="incr1">
                  (9)
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content2">
                  <span class="ital">Animal fighting.</span>
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  a.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  No animal shall be used for fighting, training other animals to fight, or baiting
                  other animals to exhibit fighting behavior.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  b.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  No person shall own, possess, keep, harbor, train, lend, borrow, or handle any dog,
                  cat, bird/fowl, or other domestic, feral or wild animal with the intent that such
                  animal shall be engaged in any animal fight/fight training, exhibited in animal fighting,
                  or used as bait for fighting animals.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  c.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  No person shall charge admission, participate, or be present as a spectator, handler,
                  timekeeper, referee, guard, etc. in any animal fight/battle.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr2">
                  d.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content3">
                  No person shall, for the purpose of any exhibition/occurrence of animal fighting,
                  or training for animal fighting:
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr3">
                  1.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content4">
                  Build, make, maintain, or keep a pit or other animal fighting arena or area, whether
                  permanent or portable, on premises owned or occupied by him/her; or
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr3">
                  2.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content4">
                  Allow a pit or other animal fighting arena or area whether permanent or portable,
                  to be built, made, maintained, or kept on his/her premises; or
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="incr3">
                  3.
                  </p>
               		
               <p class="content4">
                  Build, make, maintain, or keep a pit or other animal fighting arena or area, whether
                  permanent or portable, on any public or private property.
                  </p>
               		
               
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 8-17-2009; Ord. No. 2014-04, 6-16-2014; Ord. No. 2023-02, 3-6-2023)
               </p></div>