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Animal Control Ordinance <br />Adopted 1/21/2016 Unified Animal Control Ordinance Page 3 <br />Effective 3/1/2016 <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, § I, 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 /> <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 /> <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 /> <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 />