Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Animal Control Ordinance <br /> Sec d d S ... i iiu 1: o iiu m iiu t of animals <br /> Any animal found at large, found not to be wearing a currently valid rabies tag, has been <br /> declared vicious and is outside not in a secure pen or on a restraint, that is a danger to the <br /> public or for any other reason designated in this Chapter is a public nuisance and may be <br /> impounded and confined in the Animal Shelter in a humane manner for a period hereinafter <br /> prescribed: <br /> (a) Owner notification. Immediately upon impounding any animal, the Animal Services <br /> Director or designee shall attempt to notify the Owner or Keeper by either telephone or <br /> in person to inform that person of such impoundment, and the conditions whereby the <br /> animal may be redeemed. If unable to give notice by telephone, an official, dated, <br /> written notice shall be mailed to the registered owner by certified mail, return receipt <br /> requested, giving notice of the impoundment and the conditions whereby the animal <br /> may be redeemed. <br /> (b) Reclamation. A domesticated animal impounded under this Chapter may be reclaimed <br /> by its Owner or Keeper according to procedures of Animal Services. The owner or <br /> keeper of an impounded domesticated animal shall be responsible for and shall pay all <br /> expenses, boarding costs, redemption privilege taxes and costs associated with such <br /> impoundment prior to reclaiming the animal. Unless reclaimed, the impounded <br /> domesticated animal may be allowed to be adopted or humanely euthanized according <br /> to Animal Services procedures after five days of impoundment. Feral dogs and cats <br /> may be held for 72 hours and then euthanized pursuant to Animal Services procedures <br /> for humane euthanasia. The Owner or Keeper of an impounded domesticated animal <br /> shall also comply with any vaccination and licensing directives and be responsible for <br /> the payment to Orange County of all civil penalties and license privilege taxes imposed <br /> or associated with the animal's impoundment as prescribed in any citation or notice <br /> issued by the Animal Services Director. Animals impounded in accordance with N.C. <br /> Gen. Stat. 130A-196, after having bitten a person, not reclaimed within 72 hours after <br /> the end of the quarantine period will be considered abandoned and will become the <br /> property of the Orange County and disposed of according to standard Animal Services <br /> procedures. <br /> (c) Release to Owner. An Owner of an impounded animal may reclaim the animal after it <br /> has been impounded, upon compliance with this Section and in accordance with <br /> requirements set forth by the Animal Services Director. Nothing in this Chapter shall <br /> require the Animal Services Director to release an animal that has been impounded that <br /> is need of protection because of cruel treatment. <br /> (d) Diseased or injured animals. Severely diseased or badly injured animals may be <br /> euthanized in a humane manner, if authorized by a licensed veterinarian, prior to the <br /> end of the required redemption or adoption period. <br /> (e) Confinement Order. In lieu of impoundment, the Animal Services Director is <br /> authorized to issue a Confinement Order to the animal owner or keeper that would <br /> require the owner or keeper to confine a vicious animal or an animal otherwise <br /> violating provisions of the Ordinance. Failure to thus confine the animal would <br /> Adopted 1/21/2016 Unified Animal Control Ordinance Page 21 <br /> Effective 3/1/2016 <br />