§ 10-89. Administrative provisions.

(a)

Responsibility. The director shall administer and enforce this article and shall promulgate rules and regulations for such administration and enforcement as may be necessary or desirable to such end.

(b)

Authority to enter upon premises. Animal control officers shall have authority to enter into and inspect any premises, dwellings, rooming units, barns and other outbuildings, any part of the curtilage thereof, or any yard or other enclosure to:

(1)

Conduct any investigation of a dog alleged or suspected of being potentially dangerous or dangerous;

(2)

Apprehend a dog determined to be potentially dangerous or dangerous or as to which there is reasonable suspicion to believe is potentially dangerous or dangerous;

(3)

Investigate any violation of this article; or

(4)

Serve a citation upon a person for violation of this article.

(c)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an animal control officer shall only make such entry upon consent, pursuant to an administrative search warrant under G.S. 15-27.2, or otherwise as authorized by law.

(d)

Authority to immobilize or kill a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog.

(1)

If in the course of investigating, apprehending or otherwise taking custody of a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog, or a dog as to which there is reasonable suspicion to believe is potentially dangerous or dangerous, such dog is not securely restrained and an animal control officer or a law enforcement officer has reasonable cause to believe the dog poses an imminent risk of serious physical injury or death to any person or domestic animal, said officer shall have authority to render such dog immobile by means of tranquilizers or other safe drugs or, if that is not safely or timely possible under the circumstances, then the officer may humanely dispose of said dog.

(2)

If a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog impounded in the department's shelter cannot be cared for or handled without risk of serious physical injury or death to persons caring for or handling such dog or to other animals, the department shall render such dog immobile by means of tranquilizers or other safe drugs or, if that is not safely or timely possible under the circumstances, then the department may humanely dispose of said dog.

(3)

The animal control department may humanely dispose of any dog being investigated under the provisions of this article at the request of or with the consent of its owner.

(Ord. of 3-11-2015, § 10-39)