Any animal which appears to be lost or strayed shall be confined in the County Animal Shelter in a humane manner for a period of not less than three days for redemption by the owner.
(A) Adoption or euthanization.
(1) If an impound animal is not redeemed by the owner within the period specified in this division or elsewhere in related ordinances or the North Carolina General Statutes, it may be offered for adoption to any responsible adult who is willing to comply with these animal control laws and pays the required adoption fees, as provided hereinafter. An animal adopted by a qualified person, shall not thereafter be disposed of by the owner for a period of six months without the written approval of the County Animal Shelter.
(2) Animals not redeemed within three days after being taken into custody may be placed for adoption or euthanized in a humane manner by the County Animal Shelter. Adoption fees for these animals will be pre-set by the County Board of Commissioners and will be posted at the County Animal Shelter.
(B) Notifying owner. Immediately upon impounding an animal, the Sheriff’s Department shall make reasonable effort to notify the owner, and inform the owner of the conditions whereby the animal may be redeemed.
(C) Suspected rabies. Animals impounded which have been bitten by a rabid animal or appear to be suffering from rabies shall not be redeemed or adopted, but shall be dealt with as provided hereinabove.
(D) Other diseased or injured animals. Any animal that is impounded which is badly wounded, diseased or which is sick or diseased or poses a health threat to other animals in the County Animal Shelter (not a rabies suspect) and has no identification shall be euthanized immediately in a humane manner. If the animal has identification, the staff of the County Animal Shelter shall attempt to notify the owner before euthanizing the animal; but if the owner cannot be reached readily, and the animal is suffering or poses a health threat to other animals in the shelter, the staff of the County Animal Shelter may euthanize the animal at its discretion in a humane manner.
(E) Public nuisance animals. The Sheriff's Department or the County Animal Shelter staff may euthanize any public nuisance animal when it poses a threat to the personal safety of any person.
(F) Redemption procedure for impounded animals. When any animal has been impounded pursuant to this section at the County Animal Shelter, notice thereof shall be given to the owner. The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of his or her animal, except as already provided for certain animals, upon compliance with the provisions of this section and the payment of shelter fees incurred and proof of rabies vaccination. The redemption fees will be pre-set and will be posted in the office of the County Animal Shelter. The fees will be fixed by the Board of Commissioners.
(G) Personal safety of shelter workers. Any animal that is impounded and endangers the personal safety of any shelter staff member may be euthanized at any time. Examples of endangering the personal safety of the shelter staff include, but are not limited to, scratching, biting and/or aggressively attacking shelter staff.
(Ord. passed 7-9-2018)