Orange County NC Website
Animal Control Ordinance <br />Adopted 1/21/2016 Unified Animal Control Ordinance Page 21 <br />Effective 3/1/2016 <br />(1) Upon payment of a citation or the conviction of the Owner or Keeper for <br />having an animal which without provocation has committed any of the acts <br />described in subsection (b) above, said animal is declared a dangerous animal. <br /> <br />(2) Upon the payment of a citation or the conviction of the Owner or Keeper for <br />having an animal which on or off the property of the Owner or Keeper and <br />without provocation has killed or caused life threatening injuries through <br />bite(s) to a person, the animal will be seized by the Animal Control Officer <br />and destroyed in a humane manner. <br /> <br />(3) Any animal previously declared dangerous upon the payment of a citation or <br />by conviction of the Owner or Keeper for a violation of this subsection, that <br />commits a subsequent violation of the subsection, will cause the Owner or <br />Keeper to be charged with that violation. Upon the Owner or Keeper's <br />conviction of that violation, the animal will be destroyed in a humane manner. <br /> <br />(4) Any violation of this section may be a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of <br />five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) <br />days. <br /> <br />(5) All persons owning security dogs as defined by this Ordinance shall register <br />such animals with the Animal Services Director; the Owner or Keeper of any <br />such dog shall place signs or placards on his premises noting "Beware of <br />Dog" or other information noting the presence of security dog(s). <br /> <br />(j) Appeal. Any declaration that an animal is “dangerous” may be appealed as provided <br />in Section 4-53 of this Chapter. <br /> <br />(k) Review of Declaration. Beginning six months after the first annual inspection <br />provided by subsection 4-42(d)(1)(a)ii., an owner may request annually that the <br />Animal Services Director review the declaration. The request shall be made in writing <br />on an application provided by Animal Services and shall be accompanied by an <br />overall assessment of the animal completed by a competent person accredited by the <br />Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers or another recognized and <br />approved body. The assessment shall have an emphasis on the behavior underlying <br />the declaration and the owner or keeper’s ability to manage the animal. The Animal <br />Services Director shall consider revocation of the declaration only if no violations of <br />this Chapter or, if applicable, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67-4.1 et al, have occurred within the <br />eighteen (18) months preceding the date of application for review. The Animal <br />Services Director shall further consider the following matters when reviewing the <br />declaration: <br /> <br />a. The outcomes of the assessment described in subsection (k), above. <br />b. The nature of the original attack/s and the reasons for the original declaration <br />c. The manner in which the animal has been cared for and managed since the <br />declaration was imposed