Animal Control

Town of Troutman Dog Ordinances:

Sec. 4-1. – County animal control provisions adopted by reference.
(a) The animal control ordinance enacted by the county commissioners, effective October 1, 2008, incorporated herein, is hereby adopted and enacted by the town as its own ordinance and shall be applicable within the town limits.
(b) The county is empowered to enforce this section within the town.
(c) All provisions of any ordinances enacted prior to this section within the town that conflict with the county animal control ordinance, effective October 1, 2008, which is incorporated herein, are hereby repealed. (Ord. No. 42-08, 12-11-2008)

Sec. 4-2. – Control of dogs.
(a) Dogs within the town shall be under the direct control of their owners.
(b) No dog shall be off of the property of the dog’s owner, including within any public right of way that adjoins the property of the dog’s owner, unless it is on a leash, under a direct attendant’s control by use of a leash of not more than 15 feet in length. At no time shall any dog be allowed to run at large within the town off of the dog owner’s property or within any public right of way adjoining the dog owner’s property.
(c) This section shall be enforced by the town police department.
(d) Any violation of this section shall subject the offender to a written warning by a police officer for the first offense and shall be given notice of the town ordinance; and then to a civil penalty in the amount of $15.00 for the second offense; $25.00 for the third offense; $50.00 for the fourth offense; $100.00 for the fifth offense; $200.00 for the sixth offense; $500.00 for the seventh offense to be recovered along with court costs by the town in a civil action in the nature of debt if the offender does not pay the penalty within a period of 72 hours after the offender has been cited for violation of said provisions. These citations shall be in writing signed by the appropriate law enforcement officer and shall be delivered to the offender at the place where the violation occurred or mailed to the offender either at the offender’s residence or place of business. Each violation shall be a separate and distinct offense. After the seventh subsequent offense, Iredell County Animal Control will be notified to pick up the dog. Any eighth offense shall constitute a misdemeanor and the offender, upon conviction, shall be punished in accordance with G.S. § 14-4. (Ord. No. 7-00, §§ 1—4, 7-6-2000; Ord. No. 10-11, §§ 1, 2, 4-14-2011)

Sec. 4-3. – Keeping of dogs above six in number.
(a) Prohibited. No person or persons shall keep or have upon their property, whether they own the property or have a leasehold interest in the property, more than six dogs at any one time.
(b) Violation. Except as otherwise provided herein, any owner or leaseholder who violates any provision of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty for each violation. Each violation shall be each separate dog above the number six and each day shall be a separate violation. For each dog above six and for each day’s violation the fine shall be $50.00 per dog per day. Nothing in this section shall prevent the town representatives from issuing warning violations.
(c) Written notice of violation penalty. The animal owner, keeper, or property owner, or leaseholder, shall be issued a written notice of violation and penalty and shall be required to make payment to the Town of Troutman within ten days of receipt of the notice. Notice of the civil penalty and violation shall be delivered in person to the violator or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner’s last known address. If the applicable civil penalty is not paid within the time described, a civil action may be commenced to recover the penalty and costs associated with the collection of the penalty.
(d) Criminal penalty. Violation of this article may subject the violator to criminal as well as a civil action. In addition to the civil penalties or fees imposed under this article, violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor for which a criminal summons or warrant may be issued. Any violator convicted of such violation shall be punishable as provided in G.S. 14-4. Each day’s violation of this section and each dog above the number of six is a separate offense and shall be fined not less than $50.00 per offense no more than a maximum of $500.00 per offense. Payment of a fine imposed in criminal proceedings pursuant to this section does not relieve the violator of his/her liability for taxes, civil penalties, or fees imposed under this section.
(e) Injunction and order of abatement. Any provision of this article that makes unlawful a condition existing upon or use made of real property may be enforced by injunction and order of abatement. When a violation of such a provision occurs, the town manager or his designee through the town attorney or any resident of the municipality may apply to the general court of justice for a mandatory or prohibitory injunction and order of abatement commanding the defendant to correct the unlawful condition upon or cease the unlawful use of the property. (Ord. No. 32-09, §§ 1—5, 11-12-2009)

For Iredell County Animal Services and Control information, please CLICK HERE. General information list below.

430 Bristol Drive
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 878-5424 (General Information & Administration Only)
(704) 878-5335 (Animal Control Officer Dispatch)

Iredell County Animal Services and Control Department

Direct Control Ordinance
On September 1, 1986, the ordinance pertaining to direct control of dogs became effective in Iredell County. The purpose of this ordinance is to protect people, property, and dogs from abuse and/or unfavorable conditions.

Direct control means that the dog is controlled and obedient at all times to the owner’s commands or is within a vehicle or other secure enclosure. For instance, you may walk your dog without a leash if he is obedient to your commands, but your dog is not permitted on another person’s property without that property owner’s permission.

If you violate the Direct Control ordinance, then you will be issued a citation and your dog can be impounded. You will be charged to reclaim your dog at the animal shelter. Daily board fees will also apply in addition to reclaim fees and citation fees.
Rabies Vaccinations

All dogs and cats over three (3) months old must receive a rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian or certified rabies vaccinator. All dogs and cats must wear a rabies tag on a collar or harness when the animal is off the owner’s property. (This excludes the actual duration of organized hunting activities.)

The Animal Control Department offers a rabies clinic on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30-7:30 pm.

Female Dogs in Estrus

Female dogs must be kept in a secure enclosure or under restraint during the estrus period (heat cycle). Restraint in this instance does not mean being tied to a stationary object.

Public Nuisance Animals
After the first offense, acts such as turning over garbage cans, damaging gardens, foliage, or other real property, will be considered a public nuisance. If an animal is determined by an Animal Control Officer to be a public nuisance, then it will be unlawful for the animal to leave the owner’s property unless under the direct control of the owner.

Animals Left Inside Vehicles
Remember that on warm days the temperature inside a vehicle climbs rapidly, even with the windows opened. Do not leave your pet inside your vehicle. If you do, your pet may be impounded and you may be charged with cruelty to animals.

Dangerous Dogs
The Animal Control Department may determine when a dog is dangerous after the dog has bitten a person or potentially dangerous if the dog attacks people, livestock or other pets when not on the owner’s property. Dogs determined to be dangerous or potentially dangerous will be dealt with in a very strict manner in order to preserve the safety and welfare of the people.