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Animal Control Ordinance <br /> DIVISION 1. - GENERALLY <br /> Sec. 4-31. -Authority and Purpose. <br /> This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the power granted Orange County in N.C. Gen. <br /> Stat. §§ 153A-121, 153A-127, 153A-153 and 153A-442. The purpose of this Ordinance <br /> is to protect the health, safety and welfare of Orange County residents and the animals <br /> residing within the County and to regulate and control the conduct, keeping and care of <br /> those animals. <br /> (Ord. of 6-16-1987, §1, eff 1-1-1988) <br /> Sec. 4-32. -Applicability to animal shelter. <br /> Orange County shall operate and maintain a County Animal Shelter for the purpose of <br /> impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of state law, this Ordinance or <br /> any other county or municipal ordinance. Orange County may contract for the operation <br /> of the Animal Shelter as it deems appropriate. <br /> (Ord. of 6-16-1987, §XVIII, eff. 1-1-1988) <br /> Sec. 4-33. -Animal control officers. <br /> (a) Orange County may appoint one or more Animal Control Officers. Any County <br /> employee designated by the County Manager with the duties of an Animal Control <br /> Officer shall also be designated as an Animal Cruelty Investigator. Only Orange <br /> County employees shall be designated as an Animal Cruelty Investigator. <br /> (b) Animal Control Officers shall have only the following powers and duties within <br /> Orange County and within any municipality therein that has given prior approval in <br /> accordance with applicable law: <br /> (1) The responsibility for the enforcement of all state and local laws including <br /> ordinances, resolutions and proclamations pertaining to the ownership and <br /> control of dogs and other animals. <br /> (2) To cooperate with the County Health Director and all law enforcement <br /> officers in the county and the towns therein and assist in the enforcement of <br /> the laws of the state with regard to animals, the vaccination of dogs and cats <br /> against rabies, the confinement and leashing of dangerous animals, and any <br /> other state law applicable to animals or animal control. <br /> (3) To investigate reported or observed animal cruelty or animal abuse and make <br /> written reports of such investigations and, when requested, provide such <br /> reports to appropriate law enforcement officers or the District Attorney's <br /> office. <br /> (4) To investigate reports of observed harassment or attacks by dogs or other <br /> animals against people, animals, or domesticated livestock and to assist in <br /> locating those persons owning or harboring the attacking animals. <br /> Adopted 1/21/2016 Unified Animal Control Ordinance Page 3 <br /> Effective 3/1/2016 <br />