Analysis of Driii't Logishitioii 



In General. Under Ihe aulhorily ol Ihc Animal Welfare Acl (Chapter I9A. Arlicle 3) 

 animal shelters are regiilateil ami inspected by the Animal Wellare Seetion ol Ihe 

 Department of Ajjiicnltiiie. The ciment Act does not apply to shelters or pounds which 

 are operated In units o( local goNcrumenl. The principal portion ol this legislation 

 provides for all shelters ami pounds to he regulated and inspected by the Animal Wellare 

 Section. 



Section 1. A definition ol "animal control olficer" is added to the Act by paragraph 4a. 

 In section .1 (see analysis below), the dralt bill adtis "animal control oincer" to G. S. 

 IQA-.16. which currently only penalizes "dog wardens" for \iolaling Ihe Act. "Animal 

 control officers" and "dog wardens" are apjioinled under the authority of different state 

 statutes. Ihe definition is consistent wilh Ihe portions of the draft bill which would 

 regulate city and county animal control facilities, and with the definition of "animal 

 control officer" in the public health statutes. 



The definition of "animal shelter" is amended in paragraph 5 to include local 

 government facilities and private facilities which are under contract to a local 

 government. The Acl currently applies only to animal shelters owned, operated, or 

 maintained by humane societies or otiier nonprofit groups. 



The definition of "dealer" is amended in paragraph number 7. Only those persons 

 who raise and sell dogs or cats as a regular course of business would be required to 

 obtain a license under G.S. I9A 20. 



Section 2. The aniendnients to CIS. IOA-24 gives discretion to the Board of Agriculture 

 to determine recordkeeping and reporting requirements for any establishment or facility 

 covered by the Acl. Paragraph ^ allows the Board to establish a uniform formal for Ihe 

 collection' of data, and paragraph .^a provides for the submission of that data to the 

 State. 



Section 3. This section would establish Ihal local animal control personnel are subject to 

 Slate law if they violate the punisions of the Act. Fhe current section applies only to 

 "dog wardens." which may be appointed by counties pursuant to G.S. 67-.1I. 



Section 4. This new section would recjuire counties either to operate an animal control 

 facility, or contract witli a facility foi anin)al control requirements. The .section would 

 require Ihal impounded animals be kept not less than 11 hours before disposition. Fhe 

 72 hour holding period would not apply to animals volunlarily surrendered to Ihe 

 facilitv. The operator of the facility would be required to notify owners of animals 

 which' could be idcntifieil within 4X hours of Ihe animals confinement. The time period 

 requirements would not apply to animals which must be destroyed due to illness or 

 injury. 



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