(a) Duties of unit. The animal control unit is charged with the following:
(1) Enforcing and carrying out within the town the provisions of this chapter, any other ordinance assigning animal control duties, and all relevant state laws, and cooperating with the Wake County health department and other law enforcement agencies in so doing;
(2) Canvassing the town, including dwellings, businesses and institutions in the town as necessary and practical, for the purpose of ascertaining that all dogs and cats in the town are duly licensed and adequately inoculated against rabies, and for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with this chapter and state statutes. In addition, employees may scan the animal and utilize any information that may be available through a microchip to locate the owner of the animal, if possible;
(3) Investigating complaints with regard to animals or bees covered by this chapter and protecting animals from cruelty or abuse;
(4) [Reserved];
(5) Seizing, relocating and/or impounding, when necessary, any animals or bees in the town involved in a violation of this chapter or any other ordinance or state law;
(6) Going upon private property, and seizing animals or bees on public or private property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, state statute or with the consent of an owner or occupant of the property; as evidence; by criminal or administrative warrant; or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction of this state;
(7) Keeping, or causing to be kept, accurate records of seizures, relocations, impoundments, dangerous animals, disposition of animals or bees coming into the custody of the animal control unit, bite cases, violations, complaints, investigations and monies collected;
(8) Issuing citations and orders and assessing civil penalties for violations of this chapter and when authorized by law.
(b) Limited liability. Except as may be otherwise provided by statute or local law or ordinance, no officer, agent or employee of the town charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law 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.
(Code 1982, § 4-6; Ord. No. 01-022, § 1, 11-8-2001; Ord. No. 2010-Code-08, 10-14-2010; Ord. No. 2012-Code-06, 10-11-2012; Ord. No. 2019-Code-02, 9-12-2019)