<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 5-3. - Duties of animal control division.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
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            <p class="content1">
               The animal control division shall be charged with the responsibility of:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
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            <p class="content2">
               Enforcing all state laws, county ordinances, health regulations and resolutions relating
               to the care, custody and control of domestic animals, notwithstanding the foregoing,
               reference is particularly made to G.S. 67-1 et seq. and G.S. 130A-184 et seq.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
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               Investigating cruelty, animal abuse or neglect with regard to dogs, cats and other
               animals.
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               (3)
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               Canvassing the county, including homes in the county, as necessary to enforce the
               state law governing rabies vaccinations.
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            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
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            <p class="content2">
               Operating the county animal shelter pursuant to regulations adopted by the board of
               county commissioners.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
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            <p class="content1">
               Enforcement.
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            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
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               The health director and all animal control officers are empowered to issue citations
               to any person if there is probable cause to believe that such person has violated
               any of the provisions of this chapter.
               </p>
            		
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               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Citations so issued may be served in person upon the violator by the director or any
               animal control officer or they may be mailed by certified mail. Any citation so served
               or mailed shall direct the alleged violator to make payment of the fine provided therein
               to animal control on or before a specific day and hour stated on the citation and
               the period so specified shall not be less than 72-hours after service or delivery
               to the violator. If the violator is served by mail; the violator shall have 20 days
               from the date of the citation to pay said citation. The citation fines may be recovered
               by the county in a civil action in the nature of a debt if the offender does not pay
               the penalty within 20 days after being cited.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
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            <p class="content2">
               Issuing to the owner a citation for rabies vaccination at the time of redemption for
               any unvaccinated dog or cat four months of age or older. The animal shall be vaccinated
               by a licensed veterinarian and proof returned to the animal control division by the
               owner of the dog or cat within three business days. If the rabies vaccination is administrated
               within 72 hours, the citation shall be void. Individuals who fail to vaccinate their
               pet within 72 hours shall be issued another citation.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Any person issued a citation may make written appeal of the citation to the health
               director or his designee within 20 days of the date of the citation. The right to
               appeal from the health director is to the county superior court.
               </p>
            		
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               (5)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               In addition to and/or in lieu of the civil citation provided for in subsection (b),
               the animal control supervisor may forthwith have a criminal complaint entered against
               the violator and secure and issue a warrant for his arrest or issue a summons against
               such person to appear in court. The arrest or summons shall be for the violation of
               the section of this chapter charged in the citation, and, upon conviction, the defendant
               shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by this chapter.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (6)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               All citation forms shall be serially numbered in triplicate, and all records with
               respect to the citation forms and their disposition shall be maintained so that all
               such forms shall be capable of an immediate accounting.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The county finance officer or his representative shall periodically investigate the
               records of the division for the purpose of determining the disposition of the citation
               forms and shall report the result of such investigation to the county manager. For
               the purpose of making this investigation, he shall have access to the records of the
               division.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 6-17-2013(1))
               </p>
            <p class="refstatelaw0" block_type="hang"><b>State Law referenceâ€” </b>
               Provision of local public health services, G.S. 130A-34 et seq.; dogs, G.S. 67-1 et
               seq.
               </p></div>