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5 <br /> Animal Control Ordinance <br /> Sec. 4-38. - Animal control program. <br /> The Orange County Animal Control Program, as herein described and as <br /> otherwise described in other County ordinances related to animals and as otherwise <br /> described in the laws of North Carolina, shall be administered by the Animal Services <br /> Director. Specifically: <br /> (a) The Animal Services Director shall have the duties of Animal Control Officer <br /> and direct the duties of designated County employees or agents in carrying out <br /> the enforcement of this Ordinance as Animal Control Officers including the <br /> duties of Rabies Control Officers and Animal Cruelty Investigators. <br /> (b) Except as may be otherwise provided by law, no officer, agent, or employee of <br /> the County charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of this Ordinance <br /> or other applicable laws, shall be personally liable for any damage that may <br /> accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required or permitted in the <br /> discharge of such duty unless he or she acts with actual malice. <br /> (c) Animal Control Officers shall have the authority to enter onto and inspect any <br /> premises, dwelling, rooming units, barns and other outbuildings, any part of <br /> the curtilage thereof, or any enclosure to (1) conduct any investigation of a <br /> dog alleged or suspected of being_potentially dangerous or dangerous; or (2) <br /> aqpprehend a dog determined to be potentially dangerous or dangerous or as <br /> to which there is reasonable suspicion to believe is potentially dangerous or <br /> dangerous; or (3) impound an animal determined to be in imminent danger <br /> due to Cruel Treatment or as to which there is reasonable suspicion to <br /> believe is in imminent danger due to Cruel Treatment; or (4) investigate y <br /> violation of this Chapter; or (5) serve a citation upon a person for violation of <br /> this Chapter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Animal Control Officer shall <br /> only make such entry pon consent, pursuant to an administrative search <br /> warrant under G.S. 15-27.2, or otherwise as authorized by law. <br /> (b)(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with, hinder, or molest any <br /> Animal Control or police officer while in the performance of any duty <br /> authorized by this Ordinance, or to seek to release any animal in the custody <br /> of said officers, except in the manner as herein provided. <br /> (O e) Animal Control Officers are not authorized to carry on their person firearms of <br /> any kind except as provided herein. The Orange County Animal Control <br /> Program may store firearms at the Animal Services Department and use those <br /> firearms when necessary to enforce sections of this Chapter or under <br /> applicable law for the control of wild, dangerous, or diseased animals. <br /> Adopted 1/21/2016 Unified Animal Control Ordinance <br /> Effective 3/1/2016 <br />