(A) (1) No person may have or keep within the town any domestic animal, to include a dog or cat, unless the animal is kept continually within a dwelling, other substantial structure, or cage, except that such an animal may be walked with a leash.
(2) Not more than 5 dogs or 5 cats, more than 6 months of age, or a combination thereof, not to exceed 5 are permitted pursuant to § 154.092 of the Liberty Zoning Code.
(B) No person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any animal may cause, permit or allow the animal to stray or in any manner to run at large upon any public street, sidewalk or other public property or to stray, run at large or otherwise trespass upon the private property of another.
(C) (1) As provided in G.S. § 67-2, no person owning, having or keeping any female dog may allow her to run at large while she is in heat, and as provided in G.S. § 67-12, no person may allow his or her dog over 6 months old to run at large at night unaccompanied by the owner or some person acting on his or her behalf.
(2) Every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in a manner so that the female cannot come into contact with a male animal.
(3) Females in heat are not permitted to run at large. If a female in heat is removed from the property, it must be restrained by leash or harness and accompanied by its owner or some responsible person acting on its behalf.
(D) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally, unless with consent of the owner, harbor, feed or keep in his or her possession, by confinement or otherwise, any animal which does not belong to him or her unless he or she has within 72 hours from the time the animal has come into his or her possession notified the Administrator.
(1) Upon receiving the notice, the Administrator may in his or her discretion place the animal in the animal shelter. It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to surrender any like animal to the Animal Control Officer upon demand.
(2) The Animal Control Officer may, in his or her discretion, allow the animal, to remain with the person reporting the animal, provided the person holds the animal for a minimum of 72 hours from the time of report.
(3) After the 72-hour holding period, the person shall be considered the owner or keeper of the animal, and accepts the responsibilities of ownership, as put forth in this chapter.
(4) The purpose of this section is to aid in rabies control, and to prevent the intentional or unintentional possession of the pets of other person.
(E) The owner of an animal shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by his or her animal on public property, public walks, recreation areas or private property not his or her own, unless he or she has consent from the owner of the property, whether on leash or not.
(F) All cats and dogs shall be required to wear a collar with current information identifying the owner, contact information and valid rabies vaccination at any time they are off the owners premise.
(1981 Code, § 10-7) (Ord. passed 2-26-2001; Am. Ord. passed 2021) Penalty, see § 96.99