All animals shall be kept and treated under sanitary and humane conditions and failure of the owner or possessor of the animal to abide by the provisions listed below shall subject the owner or possessor to the sanctions described in section 4-80.
(1) Food, water and shelter. All animals in the possession of any persons shall be provided proper and adequate food and water. All animals, unless otherwise indicated in this chapter, shall be given at suitable intervals not to exceed 24 hours, a quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain a healthful level of nutrition. All animals shall have access to a constant supply of clean, fresh water. All animals shall be provided proper and adequate shelter from the weather at all times.
(2) Clean shelter. All shelter for animals and the area surrounding said shelter shall be kept clean at all times.
(3) Medical treatment. All owners or possessors of animals shall provide proper medical attention for sick, diseased or injured animals. A sick animal shall go no longer than 24 hours without veterinary care.
(4) Cruelty and cruel treatment. No person shall beat, torment, overload, overwork, tease, molest or bait an animal or otherwise cruelly treat an animal as defined in section 4-76. No person shall shoot a dog or any other animal, either on or off the owner's property, unless the animal is in the act of attacking a human being, sheep, cattle, hog, goat, or poultry or any domestic animal or as otherwise allowed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. This shall not apply to animal services officers when in the performance of their duties. No person shall trap a dog or cat without the permission of animal services.
(5) Illegal contest or combat. No person shall cause, permit or instigate any dogfight, cockfight, bullfight or other illegal contest or combat between animals or animals and humans.
(6) Poisoning of animals. No person shall expose any known poisonous substance or mix a poisonous substance with food, so that it will likely be eaten by any animal. This does not include acts or attempts of persons to rid their own property of rats or any other acts permitted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
(7) Confining animals to motor vehicles or transporting animals. No person shall leave an animal in a closed car, truck or other vehicle for such duration or at temperatures as an animal services officer, in his sole discretion, deems harmful or potentially harmful to the animal. No person shall carry or cause to be carried in or upon any vehicle or other conveyance, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.
(8) Abandonment. No person shall turn loose or discard any domesticated animal or pet with the intent of abandoning such animal or pet.
(9) Disposing of dead animals. All possessors or owners of animals that die, from any cause, shall bury the dead animal to a depth of at least three feet beneath the surface of the ground on his or her leased or owned property. No animal shall be buried within 300 feet of any flowing stream or public body of water. In the alternative, said animal shall be completely burned or otherwise disposed of in a manner approved by the state veterinarian. In any event, all dead animals shall be disposed of within 24 hours after knowledge of the death. No possessor or owner of a dead animal[(s)] shall remove the carcass of a dead animal from his premises to the premises of another person without written permission of the person having charge of such premises and without burying said carcass as provided above.
(10) Reporting injured or killed domestic animals. All persons who injure or kill a domesticated animal by running over, into, or otherwise coming in contact with such an animal with an automobile, motorcycle, bicycle or other vehicle shall notify the owner of the animal immediately. If the owner is not known, the person who injured or killed the animal shall immediately notify the animal services director, or the department of public safety if the injury or death occurred in the city, or the sheriff's department if the injury or death occurred in the county. The person who injured or killed the animal shall give his or her name and address to the appropriate authority. An owner or lessee of real property who finds an injured or suffering domesticated animal on his property shall report the same to animal services as soon as the animal is discovered on the real property.
(11) Animals given away as prizes. No live animal shall be given away, raffled or offered as a prize, premium or advertising device for, or as an inducement to enter, any contest, game or other competition involving skill or chance.
(12) Public exhibits of animals. Animal services shall have the authority to inspect public exhibits of animals which are a part of fairs, carnivals, festivals, fund raising events, petting zoos and any other activity or function carried on in Brunswick County. Brunswick County Animal Services shall have the authority to close down any exhibit, function or activity if it is determined that animals are being cruelly treated or animals run the risk of causing injury or harm to the public or run the risk of being injured or harmed themselves. Animal services, the health department nor brunswick county accept any liability for any injury, damage of property or loss visiting or monitoring public exhibits of animals.
(Ord. No. 2007-1001, Art. III, (3), 10-26-2007; Ord. No. 2007-1003, 10-26-2007; Ord. No. 2013-0501, 5-17-2013)