(A) Registration required. A current registration shall be maintained by the Animal Control Department as to every dog for which a final determination has been issued that the same is a potentially dangerous dog under this article. The owner of said dog is responsible for ensuring that the dog is registered hereunder. Registrations required under this section shall be made upon issuance of the final determination and shall include the name and address of the owner, identifying information concerning the dog, and such other information as the Animal Control Department may reasonably request. Thereafter the owner shall register the dog annually with the Animal Control Department during the month of January unless the dog has died, has been sold, or its ownership has been transferred to any other person, in which event the provisions of division (B) below shall apply.
(B) Sale, transfer, or death of dog.
(1) Sale or transfer of dog to new owner residing within county. The sale or transfer of any dog for which a registration is required under division (A) shall be subject to prior approval by the Animal Control Department if the new owner resides within the county. In the event the owner of such dog intends to sell or transfer the same, said owner shall first notify the Animal Control Department. Said notification shall include the information as required under section (A) above as to the new owner. The Animal Control Department shall have a period of 30 days from receipt of said notification in which to contact the same and investigate and determine whether said new owner has the capability to comply with the requirements of this chapter concerning potentially dangerous dogs. As a part of said determination, the Animal Control Department shall, no later than ten days after receipt of notification from the current owner, deliver a copy of this chapter to the new owner and request from said new owner a signed written statement, on such form as shall be approved by the Animal Control Department, certifying that said new owner has received such copy and will at all times be and remain in compliance with the requirements of the same. The new owner shall furnish a signed written statement to the Animal Control Department within the ten days, and shall cooperate with and provide such further information to the Animal Control Department as may be reasonably requested in connection with the proposed sale or transfer of the dog. If the Animal Control Department, upon timely receipt of said written statement and completion of the investigation required hereunder, determines that the new owner is able and willing to comply with the requirements of this chapter, the Animal Control Department shall so notify both the current owner and the new owner in writing within the above stated ten day period. Thereafter the sale or transfer of the dog may take place, and the new owner shall thereupon be responsible for compliance with the provisions of this section and for compliance with all other requirements of this chapter. If the new owner fails to timely furnish the signed written statement as required herein, the Animal Control Department shall not approve the proposed sale or transfer until such time as the same has been furnished.
(2) Sale or transfer of dog to new owner residing outside county. In the event the owner of a dog for which a registration is required under division (A) above intends to sell or transfer the same to a person residing outside the county, the selling or transferring owner shall notify the Animal Control Department as to the same prior to such sale or transfer. As soon as practical following receipt of said notification the Animal Control Department shall notify the Animal Control Department of the county of residence of the new owner, by registered or certified letter, return receipt requested, as to the sale or transfer of said dog and as to its designation under this chapter as a potentially dangerous dog, together with such other information as the Animal Control Department may deem appropriate.
(3) Bringing dog into county. In the event a dog which has been determined by another county or jurisdiction to be a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog under G.S. § 67-1A, or under similar provisions of any other applicable statute, ordinance, or law of any other jurisdiction, is sold or transferred to an owner residing within the county, or is brought into the county for any reason (other than temporary veterinary care), the owner to which said dog is being sold or transferred, or the person responsible for bringing said dog into the county, shall immediately notify the Animal Control Department as to the same and shall cause said dog to be registered in accordance with the requirements of this § 90.068. Any dog which is registered or required to be registered with the Animal Control Department under this division (3) shall be deemed to be a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog under this subchapter, as the case may be, and the owner of said dog shall comply with all of the applicable requirements hereof within such times as shall be established by the Animal Control Department, but in no event less than 30 days.
(4) Death of dog. In the event a dog for which a registration is required under division (A) dies, the owner shall immediately notify the Animal Control Department as to the same and shall, within 24 hours of said dog’s death, present the dog’s body for scanning as to the microchip identification required under this §§ 90.065 et seq. Said scanning may be performed either by a licensed veterinarian or by the Animal Control Department. A licensed veterinarian performing a scan under this division (4) shall report the results of the same to the Animal Control Department, which shall maintain a written record of all scans performed hereunder for the purpose of verifying the death of potentially dangerous dogs registered pursuant to this division (4). Payment of all fees and expenses for compliance with the foregoing requirements shall be the responsibility of the dog’s owner.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2016) Penalty, see § 90.999