1. Become involved in enforcing the state’s
limited restrictions on animals running at-large
There is no statewide leash law in North Carolina,
but there are two provisions that limit dogs running
at-large. One statute prohibits persons from allowing
dogs to run at large, but it only applies during
the night. Another prohibits “bitches…during
the erotic stage of copulation” to run at-large.
A violation of either law is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
There is also a law that authorizes the Wildlife
Resources Commission to kill and seize dogs in wildlife
management areas under certain circumstances.
Statutory authority: G.S. §§ 67.2; 67-12;
67-14.1
2. Adopt a local leash ordinance
Because the state laws are far from comprehensive,
many cities and counties have enacted local leash
laws. Without a local leash ordinance, animal control
officers have limited authority to pick up stray
animals. They generally must rely on their rabies
enforcement authority to pick up those stray cats
or dogs that do not have vaccination tags. A few
examples of local ordinances follow:
Any dog or cat that is not confined as provided
in this article, and not under the actual physical
control or restraint of its owner, leaseholder or
keeper, shall be presumed to be running at large.
Any animal control officer shall impound such animal
at the animal shelter. It shall be a violation of
this article for any dog or cat running at large
off its owner's or keeper's property to bite any
person so as to break such person's skin. A first
offense shall subject such owner or keeper to a
civil penalty of $250.00. A second offense shall
subject such owner or keeper to a civil penalty
of $500.00. A third offense shall subject such owner
or keeper to a civil penalty of $1,000.00. (City
of Fayetteville, § 6-77)
It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit any
animal belonging to him to run at large upon the
streets of the city. (City of Winston-Salem, §
6-2)
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping,
possessing or maintaining a dog in this county to
intentionally or negligently allow the dog to run
at large.
(a) If an animal control officer receives a
first-time at large complaint and the officer
does not personally observe the dog at large,
the officer shall investigate the complaint. Upon
finding probable cause to believe the dog was
at large he shall issue a first civil penalty
in accordance with section 4-9.
(b) If an animal control officer personally observes
a dog at large animal control may seize and impound
the animal and shall issue the appropriate civil
penalty in accordance with section 4-9.
(c) Nothing in this article shall prevent a private
citizen from bringing an action against the owner
of an animal, which has caused injury to the private
citizen or his property, for damages or any other
loss resulting from an animal being at large.
(Durham County, § 4-86 to -87).
Cities have specific statutory authority to enact
local leash ordinances but counties must rely on
their general ordinance making power.
Statutory authority: G.S. §§ 153A-121;
160A-186
Relevant laws
Chapter 67: Dogs
Chapter 153A: Counties
Chapter 160A: Cities and towns
