(A) Any person having reasonable grounds for believing any provision of this subchapter is being violated may make a report thereof to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department or the Town of Mills River, which shall investigate the alleged violation. If any such investigation reveals a violation, the investigating deputy or code enforcement officer has the authority to cause a written complaint to be made and may issue a citation for a civil penalty, and may obtain other enforcement measure as allowed in this chapter.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to file a false report or to provide false information to any enforcement official involving any investigation of any reported violation of this subchapter. Any person found violating this provision shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $500.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to repeatedly file frivolous or unfounded complaints with law enforcement in order to intimidate or harass any member of such department or any animal owner, or to otherwise hinder or interfere with any function of the department of animal control. Any person found violating this provision shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $500.
(Ord. 2021-10, passed 5-13-2021)