(A) At no time may any person, firm, partnership, or corporation harbor, keep, shelter, lodge, feed, or take care of an inherently dangerous wild or exotic animal within Harnett County. Inherently dangerous wild animals and exotic animals include all felines (other than domesticated house cats), nonhuman primates, bears, wolves, coyotes, reptiles (poisonous, crushing, and giant), and any crossbreed of such animals which have similar characteristics of the animals specified herein.
(B) Exceptions. This section does not apply to:
(1) Veterinarian clinics or other state or federally licensed wildlife rehabilitators in possession of such wild or exotic animals for treatment or rehabilitation purposes.
(2) Any institute or organization, which exists primarily to educate the public in the areas of science and nature; which receives or has received financial support from federal, state, and/or local governments; which has a paid membership open to and composed of members of the general public; which is directed by a Board of Directors or similar body elected by the membership; and which has been declared a 501(c)(3) exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Services.
(3) Non-resident circuses for no longer than one seven-day period, per each separate location where such circus is held within the county, per calendar year.
(4) Non-resident carnivals for longer than one seven-day period, per each separate location where such carnival is held within the county, per calendar year.
(5) Persons temporarily transporting such mammals or reptiles through the county, provided that such transit time shall not be more than 24 hours.
(C) Impoundment.
(1) Any inherently dangerous wild or exotic animal which is harbored, kept, sheltered, lodged, fed, or taken care of within Harnett County in contravention of this section may be impounded by an Animal Control Officer for the protection and health of the animal and/or the protection of the public. Whenever possible, the Animal Control Officer shall impound the wild or exotic animal in the presence of its owner or the person in possession; however, if such is not practicable, then the Animal Control Officer may impound such wild or exotic animal consistent with the provisions of this section.
(2) If a wild or exotic animal is impounded pursuant to this section, the owner or the person in possession of the animal or reptile shall be notified by the Animal Control Officer as soon as possible.
(3) Any wild or exotic animal impounded pursuant to this section will be held three days for the owner or the person in possession to claim pursuant to division (C)(4) of this section, but if the wild or exotic animal cannot be impounded safely by the Animal Control Officer or if proper and safe housing cannot be found for the wild or exotic animal or reptile, the Animal Control Officer can immediately euthanize the wild or exotic animal.
(4) The owner or person in possession of the wild or exotic animal can reclaim the wild or exotic animal if the person satisfies the Animal Services Manager that a safe transfer of the wild or exotic animal to an appropriate location outside of the county has been arranged.
(5) If no owner or the person in possession can be located or will claim the wild or exotic animal within three days after impoundment the wild or exotic animal may be adopted or euthanized at the discretion of the Animals Services Manager.
(6) All costs of impoundment and care of the wild or exotic animal will be charged to its owner or the person in possession regardless of whether the wild or exotic animal is claimed by or returned to said owner or the person in possession. In the event the wild or exotic animal is reclaimed, such costs shall be paid in full prior to the owner or the person in possession reclaiming the wild or exotic animal pursuant to division (C)(4) of this section.
(Ord. passed 6-4-2018; Ord. 2022-25, passed 10-17-2022)