(a) It shall be unlawful for any owner of a dog to permit the dog to run at large or be off the premises of its owner and not under the restraint of a competent person. Restraint of a competent person shall be a leash in the physical control of such person and not exceed twenty (20) feet in length. Having a trained dog under voice command will not be considered as a restraint.
(b) Upon an animal control officer's observation of a dog running at large or off the premises of its owner and not under the control of a competent person, the officer may, at his discretion, impound the dog or return it to its owner.
(c) Upon the animal control officer's receipt of a complaint that a dog is running at large or is off the premises of its owner and not under the control of a competent person, the officer shall investigate the complaint and, upon a finding that there is probable cause that a violation has occurred, the officer may issue a citation or a warning or take any other action provided for by this chapter or any state law as the circumstances may require.
(Ord. No. 1990-3, § 1, 2-6-90; Ord. No. 2020-14, § 1 (part), 12-1-20)
State law reference— Dogs running at large at night, G.S. 67-12.