§ 62-45. Mistreatment of animals.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person within the corporate limits of the town, or on any lake or stream of water within the corporate limits of the town, to willfully overdrive, overload, wound, injure, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill, or cause or procure to be overdriven, overloaded, wounded, injured, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, cruelly beaten, needlessly mutilated or killed as aforesaid, any useful beast, fowl, or animal.

(b)

In this section, and in every law which may be enacted relating to animals, the terms "animal" and "dumb animal" include every living creature; the term "torture," "torment," or "cruelty" includes every act, omission, or neglect whereby unjustifiable physical pain, suffering, or death is caused or permitted. Such terms shall not be construed to prohibit the lawful taking of animals under the jurisdiction and regulation of the wildlife resources commission.

(Code 1985, § 101.29(B); Code 1999, § 62-39; Ord. of 2-21-2018)

State law reference

Cruelty to animals, G.S. 14-360.