<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 5-16. - Impounding animals.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
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               <span class="ital">Authorized.</span> Any animal which is lost, strayed or unwanted or any dog or cat which is found not
               wearing a currently valid rabies vaccination tag, as required by state law or this
               chapter, or any dog or cat found being treated inhumanely, shall be confined at animal
               control in a humane manner for a minimum period of five business days for redemption
               by the owner or otherwise disposed of as provided in this section. All dogs and cats
               shall be electronically scanned for micro-chips for identification.
               </p>
            		
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               There [shall] be a 72-hour minimum hold for feral/aggressive animals and animals displacing
               mental distress to have the same guidelines as the state on these animals, [the] same
               as G.S. Â§ 19A-32.1(a) and (B-1). Except as otherwise provided in this section, all
               animals received by an animal shelter or by an agent of an animal shelter shall be
               held for a minimum holding period of 72 hours, or for any longer minimum period established
               by a board of commissioners, prior to being euthanized or otherwise disposed of.
               </p>
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               Before an animal may be euthanized or otherwise disposed of, it shall be made available
               for adoption under procedures that enables members of the public to inspect the animal,
               except in the following cases:
               
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                  (1)
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                  The animal has been found by the operator of the shelter to be unadoptable due to
                  injury or defects of health or temperament.
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               (b)
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               <span class="ital">Adoption, release, destruction.</span>
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               (1)
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               <span class="ital">Adoption.</span> If an impounded animal is not redeemed by the owner within the time allowed for redemption,
               it may be offered for adoption to any responsible individual who is willing to comply
               with this chapter; and when such animal is offered for adoption, it shall be to the
               first person paying for it as provided in this article. The animal control supervisor
               may take a person's association with the prior owner into consideration when determined
               if he or she is sufficiently responsible to adopt.
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               (2)
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               <span class="ital">Release.</span> Animals not redeemed by the owner or adopted may be released to an animal rescue
               organization registered with animal control pursuant to <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-25REANREOR" class="section-link" data-product-id="13885">section 5-25</a>, an officially approved and recognized medical school or research institution, or
               a local veterinarian for use as a blood donor or for a study of local animal diseases.
               If the animal is made available for study of local animal diseases, "blood samples
               taken at animal control by a license veterinarian or a RVT"; then the animal will
               be euthanized at animal control. If the animal is made available for research, the
               animal must be euthanized at animal control.
               </p>
            		
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               (3)
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               <span class="ital">Destruction.</span> Animals not redeemed, adopted, or released may be destroyed by animal control in
               a humane manner approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
               </p>
            		
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               (c)
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               <span class="ital">Notifying owner.</span> Immediately upon impounding an animal, animal control shall make reasonable efforts
               to notify the owner and inform such owner of the conditions whereby the animal may
               be redeemed.
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               (d)
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               <span class="ital">Reserved.</span>
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               (e)
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               <span class="ital">Suspected rabies.</span> Animals impounded which have been bitten or are suspected of having been bitten by
               a rabid animal or appear to be suffering from rabies shall not be released but shall
               be treated in accordance with the provision in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-7RAVACO" class="section-link" data-product-id="13885">section 5-7</a>.
               </p>
            		
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               (f)
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               <span class="ital">Unwanted.</span> If an animal is officially surrendered by the owner to animal control, it becomes
               property of the county and may be adopted or destroyed in a humane manner after the
               five-day holding period.
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               (g)
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               <span class="ital">Diseased or injured animals.</span> Any animal impounded which is badly wounded or diseased and has no identification
               shall be destroyed immediately in a humane manner. If the animal has identification,
               animal control shall attempt to notify the owner before disposing of such animal;
               but if the owner cannot be reached readily, and the animal is suffering, animal control
               may destroy the animal in a humane manner within its discretion.
               </p>
            		
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               (h)
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               <span class="ital">Provision for animals, animal control cannot care for.</span> Animal control is authorized to obtain suitable board, maintenance and care for any
               impounded animal, from any available source, when animal control is not equipped to
               provide care. The owner of any animal impounded and provided care under this section
               may redeem the animal within five business days upon the payment of all costs of maintenance,
               transportation and care in addition to the regular redemption fees provided in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH5AN_ARTIINGE_S5-17REPRIMAN" class="section-link" data-product-id="13885">section 5-17</a>. If not redeemed, the animal may be sold for fair market value and report of the
               sale duly reported to county finance.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (i)
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            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Animals impounded pursuant to judicial process or administrative seizure.</span> Should animal control take possession of any animals pursuant to a judicial order,
               warrant or administrative seizure, or other authorized action, by any law enforcement
               officer or animal control officer, the animal shall be confined at animal control
               or another appropriate facility designated by the health director for a period of
               five business days. Prior to the end of the fifth business day of the holding period,
               the owner must remove the animal to a site acceptable to the director of animal control
               with a maintenance agreement acceptable to the director, pending resolution of any
               pertinent judicial proceeding. Any animals not removed in accord with the manner and
               time specified in this subsection shall be deemed abandoned. Any such abandoned animal
               shall become the sole property of the county and may be offered for adoption, destroyed
               or otherwise disposed at the county's election. Any and all incurred costs, expenses
               and fees for maintenance, transportation and care, whether within or outside the county,
               shall be the duty and liability of the owner whose animal was impounded under this
               section. Should a court order any injunctive relief permitting the subject animal
               to remain within the county at the animal control facility or at some other facility
               within the county acceptable to the director of animal control, the owner must pay
               all costs, expenses and fees for maintenance and care on a weekly basis, in advance
               of the weekly term. Should such costs, expenses and fees not be paid within two working
               days of their being due, the animal shall be deemed abandoned and shall become the
               sole property of the county.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 6-17-2013(1); Ord. of 1-16-2018(1))
               </p>
            <p class="refstatelaw0" block_type="hang"><b>State Law referenceâ€” </b>
               Care of seized animals, G.S. 19A-47.
               </p></div>