For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDON. To forsake, desert or give up an animal previously under the custody or possession of a person without having secured another owner or custodian or by failing to make reasonable arrangements for adequate care for 24 or more consecutive hours.
ABUSE.
(1) Failing to provide an animal with adequate food and potable water for more than 24 hours without written instructions from a veterinarian who has recommended withholding food and water for medical reasons, or failing to consistently provide food at intervals sufficient to maintain the animal's health and well-being;
(2) Overworking or overdriving any animal causing physical pain, suffering, or death to the animal;
(3) Beating, torturing, molesting, harassing, injuring, tormenting, poisoning, or mutilating any animal causing physical pain, suffering, or death to the animal;
(4) Failing to provide adequate medical attention for any sick, diseased, or injured animal in order to prevent physical pain, suffering, or death to the animal;
(5) Keeping any animal under conditions which cause physical pain, suffering, disability or death to the animal or which increase the probability of the transmission of disease;
(6) Failing to provide an adequate shelter for an animal wherein the animal can be protected from extremes of weather (heat, cold, rain, sun, etc.) and which is large enough to allow the animal to make normal body movements;
(7) Failing to provide for animals, which are kept outside, a shelter, which is surrounded on three sides, covered by a roof, and has a floor (excluding barns), and which is structurally sound, maintained in good repair, and constructed in such a manner that it is water and wind resistant. For livestock, adequate shelter is a windbreak and shade;
(8) Transporting any type of animal in a motor vehicle or in a wagon or trailer pulled by a motor vehicle or in a truck or the back of a truck in such a way as to cause physical pain, suffering, disability, or death to the animal;
(9) Placing or confining an animal or allowing an animal to be placed or confined in a motor vehicle under such conditions or for such a period of time as to cause physical pain, suffering or death to the animal due to temperature, lack of food or drink, or such other conditions;
(10) Failing to provide adequate food. The provision at suitable intervals, not to exceed 24 hours, of a quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain the animal's health and well-being as determined by the Animal Control officer and Animal Cruelty Investigators;
(11) Failing to provide adequate water. Constant access to a supply of water that is clean, fresh, and visibly free of debris and organic material, provided in a sanitary manner.
ADULT. A person 18 years of age or older and who has not been judicially declared incompetent.
ANIMAL. Excluding fish, any non-human vertebrate species, domestic or non-domestic.
ANIMAL BITE. Any seizing, gripping or grasping, no matter how slight or momentary, by a dog between its jaws, of the body parts of a person or domestic animal, so as to cause physical injury to such person or domestic animal (physical injury to include bruising, scratches, abrasion, or breaking of the skin).
ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATORS. Persons duly appointed by the Greene County Board of County Commissioners pursuant to G.S. § 19A-45 to investigate neglect, abuse or cruelty of animals.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Any premises designated by the county for the purpose of impounding and caring for all animals found running at-large or otherwise subject to impounding in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
AT-LARGE. Any animal shall be deemed to be at-large when it is off the real property or premises of its owner and not under the restraint of a competent person. Real property in this context means curtilage and does not include public right-of-ways or easements.
ATTACK BY A DOG. Any assault or battery by a dog upon a person or domestic animal, to include biting, falling or toppling, tearing of clothing, provoking flight to escape attack or any other act which could reasonably cause physical injury to person or domestic animal.
ATTACK TRAINING FACILITY. Any person, group of persons, partnership or corporation engaged in boarding, breeding, selling or training dogs or other animals in mode of attack.
BOARDING FEE. As determined by the Board of County Commissioners, a per day fee for animals picked up by the animal control officer, turned in as strays or held for rabies quarantine.
DANGEROUS DOG. Any of the following are examples of dangerous dogs:
(1) A dog that without provocation has killed or inflicted injury on a person.
(2) A dog that has killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal when not on the real property of the owner of the dog causing injury.
(3) A dog that has approached a person when unrestrained and not on its owner's property in a vicious or terrorizing manner in an apparent attitude of attack (see
ATTACK BY A DOG definition).
(4) A dog that has been declared dangerous or potentially dangerous (or could be declared dangerous or potentially dangerous by a reasonable person using definitions in (1), (2), and (3) above), either under state law or local ordinance, by any North Carolina county or municipality.
DEALER. Any person who is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a dealer.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL. Any of various animals such as horses, sheep, cattle, goats, hogs, poultry, dogs, cats, etc.; domesticated by man so as to live and breed in a tame condition.
EXHIBITOR. Any person who is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an exhibitor.
EXPOSED TO RABIES. An animal has been exposed to rabies within the meaning of this chapter, if it has been bitten by, or been exposed to, any animal known or suspected to have been infected with rabies.
IMPOUNDMENT. The placement of an animal in the custody of the Greene County Animal Control Section or person or entity duly authorized by ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners or by state law for such purpose.
INHERENTLY DANGEROUS MAMMAL. Any live member of the canidae, felidae, or ursidae families, including hybrids thereof, which, due to their inherent nature, may be considered dangerous to humans and which include:
(1) Canidae, including any member of the dog (canid) family not customarily domesticated by man, or any hybrids thereof, including wolf hybrids which are a cross between a wolf and a domestic dog, but not including domestic dogs (Canis familiaris).
(2) Felidae including any member of the cat family weighing over 15 pounds not customarily domesticated by man, or any hybrids thereof, but not including domestic cats (Felis catus).
(3) Ursidae including any member of the bear family, or any hybrids thereof.
KENNEL DEALER OR BREEDER. Any person, group of persons, partnership or corporation engaged in buying, selling, breeding or boarding animals.
NEUTERED. Any male animal, which has been operated upon to prevent reproduction.
OWNER. Any person, group of persons, firm, partnership or corporation owning, keeping, having charge of, sheltering, feeding, harboring or taking care of any animal for more than five days. The owner is responsible for the care, actions and behavior of his animals. In the event that the owner of an animal is a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor shall be held liable for noncompliance with the provision of this chapter.
OWNER'S REAL PROPERTY. Any real property owned or leased by the owner of the animal, but does not include any public right-of-way or a common area of a condominium, apartment complex, or townhouse development.
PET. A domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.
PERFORMANCE DOG. A dog that is being trained, used in herding, hunting, tracking or shown.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG. A dog that the person or board designated by the county or municipal authority responsible for animal control determines to have:
(1) Inflicted a bite on a person that resulted in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations or caused a person to seek cosmetic surgery or hospitalization, or significant medical care;
(2) Killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal when not on the owner's real property; or
(3) Approached a person when not on the owner's property in a vicious or terrorizing manner in an apparent attitude of attack (based on the previous definition of
ATTACK BY A DOG).
PREMISES. A definite portion of real estate including land with its appurtenances, a building or part of a building; curtilage.
PROOF OF OWNERSHIP. Documentation in support of a property right in an animal that includes, but is not limited to, veterinary records; rabies vaccination certificates; license; photographs; bills of sale; signed affidavits, breed registries; written transfers of ownership.
PUBLIC SPACES. Any space that is not legally owned or rented by a dog owner.
RABIES EXPOSURE. Any animal or human bitten by or that has come in contact with the saliva or nervous tissue of any animal known or suspected to have been infected with rabies.
RESTRAINT. An animal is under restraint within the meaning of this chapter if it is (1) controlled by means of a chain, leash, or other like device; (2) on or within a vehicle being driven or parked; (3) within a secure enclosure; or (4) within the dwelling house of the owner.
SECURE ENCLOSURE. A fence or structure of adequate height, forming or causing a humane enclosure suitable to prevent the animal from escaping and to prevent the entry of children. A home, mobile home, underground fence or separate garage is not secure housing. (Secure enclosure is for dangerous dog-housing only, not to be confused with animal quarantine.)
SPAYED. Any female animal, which has been operated upon to prevent conception.
STERILIZATION. Any surgical or chemical procedure performed by a licensed veterinarian that renders any male or female animal permanently incapable of reproducing.
STRAY. Any animal, which is running at-large or appears to be lost, unwanted or abandoned; or whose owner is unknown or not readily available.
TETHER. A means by which an animal is confined so that it can range only within a set radius. All tethers are to be a minimum of ten feet in length.
(Ord. passed 1-21-20)