The Animal Control Program shall be charged with the responsibility of:
(A) Enforcing, in this county, all state and county laws, ordinances and resolutions relating to the care, custody, and control of animals.
(B) Assisting in the enforcement of the laws of the state with regard to animals and especially with regard to vaccination of animals against rabies and the confinement or leashing of dangerous animals, dangerous dogs and exotic animals. Investigate all reported animal bites or other human physical contact of with suspected rabid animals.
(C) Investigate allegations of cruelty, neglect, or abuse of animals.
(D) Making such canvasses of the county, as is deemed necessary for the purpose of ascertaining that all animals are vaccinated against rabies as required by local ordinance or state statute.
(E) Operate the county animal shelter pursuant to policies of the Surry County Health and Nutrition Center and as defined in NCGS 19A Section 3 and 02 NCAC 52J.
(F) Seize and impound where deemed necessary, any animal involved in a violation of this or any other county ordinance or state law. Animal Control shall seize any animal, including any animal abandoned by reason of a set out, eviction or abandonment of real property as defined by G.S. § 14-361.1, at the time of offense.
(G) Be authorized to place live-capture animal traps on private property, with the consent of the landowner, or on public property, in order to trap and remove stray, at large, abandoned, or nuisance domestic animals.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2016)