(a) Unless otherwise provided for in a particular section, Catawba County Animal Services and the Claremont Police Department are authorized to assess civil penalties in the following manner:
(1) A civil penalty of $50 shall be assessed for the first violation of any provision of this chapter.
(2) A civil penalty of $75 shall be assessed for the second violation of this chapter.
(3) A civil penalty of $150 shall be assessed for the third violation of this chapter.
(4) A civil penalty of $250 shall be assessed for habitual violations, as defined herein, of any provision of this chapter.
(5) A civil penalty of $150 shall be assessed for violation of any provision of this chapter by a dog that has been declared dangerous or potentially dangerous.
(6) A civil penalty of $300 shall be assessed for any animal cruelty violation as defined in this chapter.
(b) A civil penalty is due and owing upon assessment. Surrender of an animal or failure to redeem an animal shall not relieve the owner of responsibility for payment of any outstanding civil penalty that was assessed prior to the animal being surrendered or as a result of the animal being impounded. If payment of a civil penalty is not received within five working days of issuance, animal services may initiate legal proceedings to recover the amount of the penalty.
(Ord. of 8/4/14, No. 02-14; Ord. of 10/2/23, No. 18-24)