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Animal Control Ordinance <br />DRAFTv.3 - 8/15/2013 Page 16 <br /> <br />(Ord. of 6-16-1987, § XI, eff. 1-1-88; Amend. of 11-18-2008, eff. 11-19-09) <br /> <br />Sec. 4-42. - Control of vicious animals; security dogs[AM7]. <br />(a) In General. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any vicious animal within the <br />County, unless under restraint and on the premises of the owner or keeper. Security <br />dogs are subject to all other provisions of this Ordinance while off the premises of <br />their owner or keeper[AM8]. <br /> <br />(b) Vicious Animal. Any animal, security dog excluded, on or off the premises of its <br />owner or keeper, which is three (3) months of age or older and who: <br /> <br />(1) Without provocation has bitten, killed or caused physical harm through bite(s) to <br />a person; or <br /> <br />(2) Without provocation has attempted to bite a person or cause physical harm <br />through bite(s) to a person; or <br /> <br />(3) Without provocation has injured, maimed or killed a pet or domestic livestock, <br />except where such animal has bitten or killed an animal a pet or domestic <br />livestock that is not where is its (their) owner(s) have been told such animal(s) <br />cannot be trespassing on the land of another without permission or is defending a <br />person; or <br /> <br />(4) Has been deemed potentially dangerous or dangerous in accordance with N.C. <br />Gen. Stat. Chapter 67, Article 1A. Dangerous Dog[AM9]. <br /> <br />(c) Declaration of Vicious Animal. <br /> <br />(1) Upon observation by an Animal Control or law enforcement officer or receipt of a <br />written complaint that an animal is behaving or has behaved viciously and is at <br />large or is off the premises of its owner or keeper and is not restrained by a <br />competent person, an Animal Control Officer may impound the animal and <br />investigate the complaint and, upon a finding that there is probable cause to <br />believe a violation of this Ordinance or other applicable law or regulation has <br />occurred, shall take any action allowed by this Ordinance or State law as the <br />circumstances may require[AM10]. <br /> <br />(2) Any animal who, after investigation by an Animal Control officer, is found by the <br />Animal Services Director to have committed any act described in (b) above may, <br />in the Animal Services Director’s sole discretion, be declared vicious and is <br />subject to this Section of the Ordinance. <br /> <br />(d) Effect of Declaration. <br /> <br />(1) Permitted Locations. A vicious animal shall be permitted at the following <br />locations only: