<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 5-1. - Animal control division created.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               There is created the animal control division of the department of public health of
               the county, which shall be composed of the health director, animal control supervisor
               and such employees as shall be determined by the county board of health and approved
               by the board of commissioners. The director and employees shall be appointed and compensated
               in accordance with the personnel policies of the county.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               The animal control division shall designate employees or agents enforcing this chapter
               as animal control officers. In the performance of their duties, animal control officers
               shall have all the powers, authority and immunity granted under this chapter and by
               the general laws of this state to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and the
               General Statutes as they relate to the care, treatment, control or impounding of animals.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Except as may be otherwise provided by statutes, local laws or ordinances, no officer,
               agent or employee of the county charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions
               of this chapter or other applicable laws shall be personally liable for any damage
               that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted
               in the discharge of such duties unless he acts with actual malice.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with, hinder or molest any animal
               control officer, police officer, veterinarian or other duly appointed agent while
               in the performance of any duty authorized by this chapter or to seek to release any
               animal in the custody of such agents, except in the manner as herein provided. Each
               animal control officer while performing his respective duties shall wear an identification
               insignia of size and design to be determined by the county board of health.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               Animal control officers shall not be authorized to carry on their person any firearms
               of any kind unless otherwise authorized by the animal control supervisor. Animal control
               officers may store at the animal shelter or carry in departmental vehicles firearms
               approved for use and use such firearms when necessary to enforce sections of this
               chapter or under applicable laws for the control of wild, dangerous, vicious or diseased
               animals.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 6-17-2013(1))
               </p>
            <p class="refstatelaw0" block_type="hang"><b>State Law referenceâ€” </b>
               Appointment of animal control officers authorized G.S. 67-30 et seq.
               </p></div>