<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 4-60. - Administrative provisions.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               
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               <span class="ital">Responsibility.</span> The director shall administer and enforce this article and shall promulgate rules
               and regulations for such administration and enforcement, as may be necessary or desirable,
               to such end.
               
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               (b)
               
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               <span class="ital">Citations assessing civil penalties.</span> The director or any animal control officer shall have authority to investigate alleged
               or suspected violations of this article and upon the determination by such person,
               based on observation or other evidence, that a violation has occurred; each such person
               shall have the authority to issue a written citation for violation of this article
               and to assess a civil penalty in the amount due. Such citation shall be mailed to
               the violator, by an animal control officer, a law enforcement officer, by certified
               mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the last known address of the violator,
               or shall be personally delivered to the violator, or to some responsible person at
               the violator's residence. Service shall be complete upon personal delivery, as provided
               herein, or upon execution of a receipt for the certified mail by the violator or his
               agent, in the event of such service. If a civil penalty, duly assessed, is not paid
               when due, the director shall initiate an action in a court of competent jurisdiction
               to collect such amount due.
               
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               (c)
               
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               <span class="ital">Authority to enter upon premises.</span> Animal control officers shall have authority to:
               
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               (1)
               
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               Enter into and inspect any premises, dwellings, rooming units, barns and other outbuildings,
               any part of the curtilage thereof, or any yard or other enclosure, to conduct any
               investigation of a dog alleged or suspected of being potentially dangerous, dangerous
               or vicious;
               
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               (2)
               
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               To apprehend a dog determined to be potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious, or
               as to which there is reasonable suspicion to believe is potentially dangerous, dangerous
               or vicious;
               
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               (3)
               
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               To investigate any violation of this article; or
               
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               (4)
               
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               To serve a citation upon a person for violation of this article. Notwithstanding the
               foregoing, any animal control officer shall only make such entry upon consent, pursuant
               to an administrative search warrant under G.S. 15-27.2, or otherwise as authorized
               by law.
               
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               (d)
               
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               <span class="ital">Authority to immobilize or kill a dangerous or vicious dog.</span>
               
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               (1)
               
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               If in the course of investigating, apprehending or otherwise taking into custody a
               potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious dog, or a dog as to which there is reasonable
               suspicion to believe is potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious; such dog is not
               securely restrained and an animal control officer or a law enforcement officer has
               reasonable cause to believe the dog poses an imminent risk of serious physical injury
               or death to any person or domestic animal, said officer shall have authority to render
               such dog immobile by means of tranquilizers or other safe drugs or, if that is not
               safely or timely possible under the circumstances, then said officer may humanely
               dispose of said dog.
               
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               (2)
               
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               If a potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious dog impounded in the animal shelter
               cannot be cared for or handled without risk of serious physical injury or death to
               persons caring for or handling such dog or to other animals, an animal control officer
               shall have the authority to render such dog immobile by means of tranquilizers or
               other safe drugs or, if that is not safely or timely possible under the circumstances,
               then said officer may humanely dispose of said dog.
               
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               (3)
               
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               An animal control officer may humanely dispose of any dog being investigated under
               the provisions of this article at the request of or with the consent of its owner,
               keeper, or harborer.
               
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            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 2008-5, Â§ X, 6-11-2008)
               
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