(A) Dogs shall wear rabies tags at all times. Cats and ferrets shall not be required to wear rabies tags; however, the owner or person in possession of a cat or ferret shall maintain records of rabies vaccination and provide such proof upon request by an Animal Control Officer or the Animal Services Manager.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove the rabies vaccination tag from any dog, cat or ferret belonging to another person residing in Harnett County unless by the direction of the owner or the person in possession.
(C) Animal Control Officers shall canvass the county to determine if there are any dogs not wearing the required rabies vaccination tag. If a dog is found not wearing the required tag, the Animal Control Officer shall check to see if the owner's or person in possession's identification can be found on the dog. If the dog is wearing an owner or person in possession identification tag, or if the Animal Control Officer otherwise knows who the owner or person in possession is, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner or person in possession in writing to have the animal vaccinated against rabies and to produce the required rabies vaccination certificate to the Animal Control Officer within three days of notification. If the dog is not wearing an owner or person in possession identification tag and the Animal Control Officer does not otherwise know who the owner or person in possession is, the Animal Control Officer may impound the animal pursuant to the provisions of § 90.09.
(D) Before an owner or the person in possession is charged for violation of this rabies tag provision, the Animal Control Officer shall give the owner or the person in possession the opportunity to produce a rabies vaccination certificate to the Animal Control Officer showing the dog, cat or ferret to have been properly vaccinated and if said certificate is produced no citation shall be issued.
(Ord. passed 6-4-2018; Ord. 2022-25, passed 10-17-2022)