<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 8-105. - Minimum standards.</div>
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               All owners and operators of pet shops shall, in addition to the other requirements
               of this article, comply with the minimum standards of this section. Failure to meet
               these standards shall constitute a violation of this article and shall subject the
               owner or operator to the sanctions described in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH8BU_ARTIVPESH_S8-100SAPEFIRE" class="section-link" data-product-id="12650">section 8-100</a>. The provisions of subchapter 52J of the North Carolina Administrative Code and the
               1987 PIJAC Manual shall be controlling when questions of interpretation arise concerning
               the following minimum standards:
               
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                  (1)
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                  <span class="ital">Hot water.</span> There shall be available within each pet shop hot water.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (2)
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                  <span class="ital">Cold water.</span> There shall be available within each pet shop cold water.
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                  (3)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Fresh water.</span> Fresh water for drinking purposes shall be available to all species pursuant to <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH8BU_ARTIVPESH_S8-96DE" class="section-link" data-product-id="12650">section 8-96</a>. Water containers shall be cleaned and disinfected each day. All water containers
                  shall be removable for cleaning purposes. For purposes of this article, water is deemed
                  to be fresh if it is free of animal waste, food waste and trash and/or it has not
                  been in the animal's water container for more than 24 hours.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (4)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Temperature.</span> The temperature of the area around animal enclosures in the pet shop or wherever
                  animals are kept shall be maintained at the level recommended by the 1987 PIJAC Manual.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (5)
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                  <span class="ital">Cages and enclosures.</span> All cages and enclosures are to be of a nonporous material for easy cleaning and
                  disinfection. Each cage shall be of sufficient size that the animal will have room
                  to stand, turn, lie down and stretch out in a comfortable normal position. Floors
                  of all cages and enclosures shall be of sufficient strength and design to ensure that
                  the animal's limbs or paws cannot pass through the floor material. Enclosures for
                  dogs must have nonporous resting mats or boards. Enclosures for cats must have solid
                  floors. Cages for birds must have perches, unless it can be shown by the pet shop
                  owner or operator that a perch is detrimental to the health of a particular species
                  of bird.
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                  (6)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Feeding.</span> All dogs and cats under six months of age are to be fed at least two times per 24
                  hours. All other animals shall be fed at least once every 24 hours or as recommended
                  by the 1987 PIJAC Manual or a licensed North Carolina veterinarian. Food for all animals
                  shall be free from contamination, wholesome, palatable and of sufficient quantity
                  and nutritive value to meet the normal daily requirements for the condition and size
                  of the animal as recommended by the 1987 PIJAC Manual or a licensed North Carolina
                  veterinarian. Food for all animals shall be served in clean removable dishes. Sufficient
                  amounts of food shall be provided where animals are housed or caged together.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (7)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Bedding.</span> There shall be sufficient clean and dry bedding to meet the needs of each individual
                  animal.
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                  (8)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Removal of waste.</span> Animal waste, food waste, soiled bedding and debris shall be removed in a manner
                  that will keep the enclosure or cage clean and sanitary.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (9)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Routine care for dogs and cats.</span> All dogs and cats shall be fed and watered every day including Sundays and holidays.
                  All dog and cat cages and enclosures shall be cleaned every day including Sundays
                  and holidays.
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                  (10)
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                  <span class="ital">Birds.</span> Each bird must have a perch or sufficient room to sit on a perch. The following standards
                  shall constitute sufficient room on a perch per bird: finches, three inches per bird;
                  parakeets, four inches per bird; cockatiels, five inches per bird; conuress, six inches
                  per bird; parrots, nine inches per bird; macaws, ten inches per bird; and cockatoos,
                  ten inches per bird. Perches in the same cage shall be placed horizontal to each other.
                  Cages and perches must be cleaned every day and cages must be washed and disinfected
                  at least once per week and when all birds have been sold from a cage or when birds
                  are transferred from cage to cage. Parrots and other large birds shall not be caged
                  with smaller birds. Only birds of the same species shall be housed or caged together.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (11)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Hamsters, mice, other small animals.</span> Hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice and other small animals, except puppies and
                  kittens, shall be housed according to the standards set out in the PIJAC manual. Additional
                  cages or enclosures must be provided to prevent overcrowding.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (12)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Fish, amphibians, crustaceans.</span> All tanks used to house fish, amphibians and crustaceans shall be kept clean and
                  free of dead fish, amphibians and crustaceans. All glass of aquariums and tanks should
                  be clear and maintained free of algae, unless it can be shown by the pet shop owner
                  or operator that the fish requires algae as a part of its diet.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (13)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Snakes, lizards, spiders.</span> Snakes, lizards and spiders shall be caged or enclosed in a manner that will prevent
                  harm or danger to the animal and the public. Such animals shall be housed, fed and
                  watered according to the requirements set out in the 1987 PIJAC Manual or pursuant
                  to the instructions of a licensed North Carolina veterinarian. Cages and enclosures
                  for these animals shall be cleaned when needed.
                  </p>
               		
               
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                  (14)
                  </p>
               		
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                  <span class="ital">Treatment of sick animals, detection of diseased and sick animals.</span> The pet shop owner or operator shall have a written program or plan which covers
                  prevention and control of disease; adequate veterinary care; and euthanasia by a North
                  Carolina licensed veterinarian. This written program or plan shall be established
                  and maintained under the supervision and assistance of a licensed North Carolina veterinarian.
                  The program or plan shall include but not be limited to the inspection of animals
                  for illness or disease, a plan for treatment and guidelines for when and how an animal
                  will be humanely destroyed. The program or plan shall state that any animal in the
                  possession of a pet shop owner or operator, regardless of where the animal is, shall
                  be taken to a licensed North Carolina veterinarian within 24 hours of showing any
                  symptoms of illness to the pet shop owner or operator or an animal control officer.
                  Failure to provide treatment within 24 hours to an animal showing symptoms of illness
                  shall be a violation of this article. A copy of the program or plan shall be kept
                  on the pet shop premises and a copy of it shall be given to the animal control director.
                  </p>
               		
               
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 7-23-90(2), Â§ 6)
               </p></div>