(A) In accordance with G.S. § 14-360, no person shall willfully overdrive, overload, wound, injure, torture, cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill any animal or cause or procure the same.
(B) In addition to division (A) above cruelty to animals may be determined by the Administrator under the following circumstances, but not limited to:
(1) If an animal is left within a car, truck, trailer or other vehicle for a period or at temperatures as to be harmful or potentially harmful to the animal, under exigent circumstances, the Administrator or officer shall access the animal, and provide care for its well-being. The Administrator or officer shall attempt to locate the owner or keeper as expeditiously as possible after caring for the animal;
(2) In case of injury to animal, as provided in § 96.32, does not notify the Administrator or LPD as soon as possible after the incident occurs;
(3) Any person who shall witness an injured animal shall report its location to the LPD as soon as possible;
(4) If animals are not provided the proper care as provided in § 96.30 above;
(5) It shall be unlawful for any person to expose any known poisonous substance so that it is likely to be eaten by an animal, except it shall not be unlawful for a person to expose on his or her own property:
(a) Common rat poison that is mixed with vegetable substances. In placing the rat poison, however, it shall not exposed in any place in which children and larger mammals can encounter it; and
(b) Pesticides, insecticides and herbicides in accordance with the law.
(6) (a) It shall be unlawful to use lethal force against an animal unless it is in the process of attacking a person or other domestic animal.
(b) Any like incident shall be immediately reported to the LPD.
(1981 Code, § 10-28) (Ord. passed 2-26-2001; Am. Ord. passed 2021) Penalty, see § 96.99