(A) It is unlawful for an animal to bite a human being who does not ordinarily reside on the premises of the animal unless the animal has been subject to provocation or unless the victim has been trespassing.
(B) It is unlawful for a person to fail to report to the Animal Control Unit as soon as possible that an animal has bitten a person.
(C) It is unlawful for any person to fail to inform the Animal Control Unit of the location to which an animal that has bitten a human being has been taken if the owner has given the animal away, or caused in any way the animal to be taken from the owner's premises.
(D) The Animal Control Unit shall ensure that all bite notifications are forwarded to the Randolph County Health Department and shall fully cooperate, assist, and strictly comply with all of the rabies control measures required by all applicable state laws and regulations, the County Animal Control Ordinance, specifically including without limitation the county ordinance's quarantine and confinement/destruction measures, and any orders issued by the Randolph County Health Director.
(E) In furtherance of the prevention component of rabies control, the following prevention measures are required. It is unlawful for an owner to fail to comply with the following requirements:
(1) In accordance with state law, the owner of every dog, cat, and ferret over four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies. The time or times of vaccination shall be established by the North Carolina Commission for Health Services, or any successor entity to this Commission;
(2) As required by G.S. § 130A-190(a), dogs and cats shall wear rabies vaccination tags at all times. The rabies vaccination tag shall show the year issued, a vaccination number, the words "North Carolina" or the initials "N.C.," and the words "rabies vaccine;" and
(3) Ferrets are not required to wear the rabies inoculation tags, but the owner of a ferret shall maintain the tag or the rabies vaccination certificate as written evidence to prove the ferret has a current rabies inoculation and shall produce such tag or certificate as requested by animal control and as otherwise required by law.
(F) A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 02 ORD 1-15, passed 1-8-15; Am. Ord. 36 ORD 12-21, passed 12-9-21)