(A) Created; authority. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Control Bureau is a consolidated bureau created by the execution of an interlocal agreement between the City of Charlotte and the town. Pursuant to that agreement, the Bureau is under the authority of the town.
(B) Duties of Manager and officers. There shall be a Bureau Manager of the Bureau. The Bureau Manager and animal control officers shall be charged with the responsibilities of the following:
(1) Enforcing and carrying out the sections of this chapter and of any other ordinance assigning animal control duties and of all relevant state laws, except that the Bureau Manager and animal control officers shall have no duties or responsibilities whatsoever with respect to organizing and carrying out any rabies vaccination clinics;
(2) Making canvasses, including homes and businesses, for the purpose of:
(a) Ascertaining that all dogs, cats and equine animals are properly licensed, if required;
(b) Ascertaining that all dogs and cats are currently vaccinated against rabies;
(c) Organizing and carrying out any such canvas having sole and exclusive authority, control and responsibility for those actions; and
(d) Ascertaining that sections of this chapter are being followed;
(3) Investigating complaints regarding animals;
(4) Enforcing the laws with regard to the vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies and enforcement of the county rabies ordinance; investigating all reported animal bites or other human physical contact of the suspected rabid animal, enforcement of quarantine of any animal involved, and submission of bite reports and reports of human contacts to the Health Director. The county ordinance for the control of rabies and other zoonoses declares that the Health Director is responsible for county programs to monitor and control rabies and other zoonotic diseases;
(5) Supervising the animal shelter and Bureau employees; and
(6) Protecting animals from neglect and abuse.
(C) Uniform. Every employee of the Bureau, while performing the respective duties in division (B) of this section, shall wear any required uniform and badge as determined by the Bureau Manager.
(D) Weapons. The employees of the Bureau shall not carry on their person any firearms of any kind unless specifically authorized by the Bureau Manager or his or her designee. However, employees of the Bureau may store at the animal shelter or carry in Bureau vehicles firearms, including tranquilizer guns, approved for use by the Bureau Manager or his or her designee. The firearms may be used when necessary to enforce sections of this chapter or other applicable laws for the control of wild, diseased or dangerous animals or for public safety when the Bureau Manager deems the action necessary. While acting with weapons in their official capacity, employees of the Bureau shall be exempt from any section of this code otherwise requiring permits or Town Council approval.
(1995 Code, § 10-26) (Ord. 2005-02, passed - -2005)