(A) Except as otherwise provided, any person who violates any provision of this chapter, shall be fined a civil penalty of $100. If the violation is continued, each day’s violation shall constitute a separate offense. Payment of the penalties shall be made within ten days. Civil penalties may be assessed by citation and recovered by Wake County in a civil action in the nature of a debt.
(B) If any dangerous animal or dangerous dog shall, when unprovoked, attack, assault, wound, bite or otherwise injure or kill a human being, the owner shall pay a $500 fine and, after a ten-day waiting period exclusive of Sundays and holidays, the dog shall be destroyed by the Animal Control Program. For each owner’s subsequent violation the owner shall pay a $1,500 civil penalty for owning or keeping a dangerous animal or dangerous dog which attacks, assaults, wounds, bites or otherwise injures or kills a human being.
(C) If any dangerous animal or dangerous dog shall, when unprovoked, kill, wound or worry or assist in killing or wounding any domestic animal or pet, the owner of the dog shall pay a $250 civil penalty and the Animal Control Program is empowered to confiscate and, after the expiration of a ten-day waiting period exclusive of Sundays and holidays, may destroy the dangerous dog or animal. For each subsequent violation the owner of the dog or animal shall pay a civil penalty of $500.
(D) Violation of this chapter may subject the violator to criminal as well as civil action. In addition to the civil penalties or fees imposed under this chapter, violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor for which a criminal summons may be issued. Any person convicted of the violation shall be punishable as provided in G.S. § 14-4. Each day’s violation of this section is a separate offense. Payment of a fine imposed in criminal proceedings pursuant to this division does not relieve a person of his or her liability for taxes, civil penalties or fees imposed under this chapter.
(E) In addition, enforcement of this chapter may be by appropriate equitable remedy, injunction or order of abatement issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(1985 Code, § 91.99)