(A) Animal Services responsibilities:
(1) Enforcement of all state laws, county ordinances, health regulations, and resolutions relating to the care, custody, and control of domestic animals, especially with regard to vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies, and the secure confinement or leashing and muzzling of dangerous and/or vicious animals within the county.
(2) Investigation of animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect with the regard to dogs, cats, and other domestic animals.
(3) Making such canvass of the county, including homes in the county, as deemed necessary for the purpose of ascertaining that all dogs, cats, and ferrets are duly vaccinated against rabies.
(4) Issuance to the owner of a citation for rabies vaccination for any unvaccinated dog, cat, and ferret four months of age or older. The animal shall be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian, a registered veterinary technician under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, or certified rabies vaccinator and the proof of certification is to be returned to the Animal Control Division by the owner of the dog, cat, or ferret within three business days. If the rabies vaccination is administrated within 72 hours, the citation shall be void. Individuals who fail to vaccinate their pet within 72 hours may be issued another citation.
(5) Issuance of civil citations to any person if there is probable cause to believe that such person has violated any of the provisions of this subchapter. Citations so issued may be served in person upon the violator by the Animal Services Manager or any Animal Control Officer or they may be mailed by certified mail. Any citation so served or mailed shall direct the alleged violator to make payment of the fine provided therein to the Animal Services on or before a specific date stated on the citation and the period so specified shall not be less than 30 days after service. If the violator is served by mail, the violator shall have 30 days from the date of the citation to pay said citation. The citation fines may be recovered by the county in a civil action in the nature of debt if the offender does not pay the penalty within 30 days after being cited. Except for the appeal processes set forth for public nuisances in § 90.06 and dangerous dogs in § 90.09, any alleged violator may make written appeal of the citation to the General Services Director or his/her designee within 30 days of the date of the citation. The right to appeal from the General Services Director is to the Harnett County Superior Court. All orders issued by the Harnett County Public Health Director must be appealed to Harnett County Superior Court.
(6) In addition to and/or in lieu of the civil citation provided for in the above division, the Animal Services Manager or any Animal Control Officer may forthwith have a criminal complaint entered against the violator and secure and issue a warrant for his/her arrest or issue a summons against such person to appear in court. The arrest or summons shall be for the violation of this section of this subchapter charged in the citation and upon conviction, the defendant shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by this chapter.
(7) Maintenance of all records with respect to the citation forms and their disposition so that all such forms are capable of an immediate accounting. Records of citations shall be maintained in the Animal Services Office.
(8) Periodic investigation by the General Services Director or his/her representative of the records of Animal Services for the purpose of determining the disposition of the citation forms and shall report the result of such investigation to the County Manager from time to time upon request by the County Manager. For the purpose of making this investigation, he/she shall have access to the records of Animal Services.
(B) Animal Control Officer responsibilities:
(1) Enforcement. Animal Control Officers have the power to issue citations for the violation of the Harnett County Animal Services Ordinance and other laws of the State of North Carolina relating to the ownership, control, care, and custody of dogs, cats, and other animals.
(2) Investigation of cruelty to animals. Investigation of cruelty or abuse to dogs, cats, and other animals.
(3) Rabies control. Act as rabies control officers and enforce and carry out all laws of North Carolina and all Harnett County ordinances pertaining to rabies control.
(4) Animal bites. Be responsible for the investigation of all reported animal bites and for the quarantine of any such animal for a period of not less than ten days. Be responsible for the procedures required for rabies testing if needed.
(5) Seizure and impoundment. Be responsible for the seizure and impoundment, where deemed necessary, of any dog, cat, or other animal in Harnett County involved in a violation of this or any other county ordinance or any state statute.
(Ord. passed 6-4-2018; Ord. 2022-25, passed 10-17-2022)