Raleigh, North Carolina

Sec. 12-3004. Definitions

Extreme weather. Weather below 40-degrees Fahrenheit or when conditions are present not limited to snow, wind, rain, ice, sleet or hail and it is reasonable to know that it poses an adverse risk based on the animal’s size, age, physical condition, or thickness of the animal’s hair or fur. Weather above 80-degrees Fahrenheit or exposure to direct sunlight or hot pavement, or any other hot surfaces when it is reasonable to know that it poses an adverse risk based on the animal’s size, age, physical condition, or thickness of the animal’s hair or fur. Additionally, when a freeze, heat, hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning has been issued by the National Weather Service and the temperatures that are forecasted by the warning are present.

Sec. 12-3010. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADEQUATE SHELTER DURING EXTREME WEATHER.

(a) An owner or custodian shall not leave an animal outdoors without human accompaniment or adequate shelter for more than fifteen (15) minutes during periods of extreme weather, unless the age, condition, and type of each animal allows the animal to withstand extreme weather.

Sec. 12-3013. TETHERING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) No person shall tether a dog to a tree, fence, post, dog house, or other stationary object for more than three (3) hours total in a twenty-four (24) hour period. Any device used to tether shall be at least ten (10) feet long and attached in such a manner as to prevent strangulation or other injury to the dog and entanglement with other objects. A cable trolley system may be used to tether for the allowed period so long as the stationary cable is at least ten (10) feet long and the dog can perpendicularly move at least ten (10) feet away from the stationary line. The line should be attached to the dog with a buckle type collar or a body harness. The device used to tether shall weigh no more than ten (10) percent of the dog’s body weight and must allow the dog access to adequate food and water. In addition to being a misdemeanor, a violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day for each day of violation.

(b) Any dog that is confined in the manner described in this section shall have access to adequate shelter as herein defined to include periods of extreme weather.