Pet & Animal Law Enforcement

Animal Bites

North Carolina state law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets who have bitten someone are to be quarantined for ten days. If the animal has a current rabies vaccination, this quarantine may take place at home at the discretion of Animal Services. If the animal is not currently vaccinated against rabies, then this quarantine must be done at a veterinary hospital or the Animal Shelter. The purpose of this is to ensure that the animal did not transmit the rabies virus to the bite victim.

If a person is bit and chooses to go to the hospital, ER, family doctor, or urgent care the doctor is required by law to send in a bite report to Animal Services where an officer will be dispatched to investigate. If a wild animal bites or scratches a person and is apprehended, the animal will be euthanized so that its brain may be tested for the presence of the rabies virus. If the wild animal is positive or it cannot be caught, the bite victim will be advised to take the post-exposure rabies shots.

If a wild animal bites a dog (or any domestic animal), the course of action depends on the vaccination status of the dog. If the dog has a current rabies shot, the pet only needs to receive a booster vaccination. The wild animal will not be tested for rabies unless there is also a human exposure. If the dog is not currently vaccinated and the wild animal is apprehended, it will be quarantined at the Animal Shelter until the rabies test results on the wild animal come back. If the rabies test is negative, the dog may be reclaimed. If the rabies test is positive or the wild animal was not caught, the dog must be euthanized or quarantined for six months at the owner's expense. This is just one reason why rabies vaccinations for your pet are so important.

Dangerous Dogs

Citizens owning dogs determined to be dangerous will be subject to a variety of protective measures to ensure the safety of people and other animals. They include the following:

• Privacy fencing or secure fencing (with a top)
• Purchase of liability insurance
• Warning signs on the owner's property
• Muzzling the dog when off its property
• Tattooing the dog to identify it as dangerous

All decisions relative to dangerous dogs will be subject to a due process review.

If you have any questions about a possible dangerous dog situation, please call 311 or 704-336-7600.

The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have laws that describe what constitutes animal abuse. The ordinance is written so that the laws pertain to anyone that owns, possesses, or harbors any animal. The townships within Mecklenburg County don't all have the same laws as the city or county.

Animals that are kept outside must have access to fresh water all the time. Food is not required to be left outside, as long as they are fed at least once a day.

Animals that appear to be sick, diseased, or injured must receive medical attention immediately. Animal Services Officers will determine the condition of the animal based on its body condition and request the owner provides any and all paperwork as proof that the animal is receiving medical care. If the owner cannot provide this proof then they will be given time to seek medical attention and the ACC  Officer will conduct a follow-up review inspection.

Animals may not be kept in unsanitary or inhumane conditions at any time. This includes an environment where an animal's health and general welfare is threatened, along with raising the risk of transmitting disease. ACC  Officers may inspect the animal's living conditions to make sure their environment is clean and sanitary. (This also applies to suspicion of puppy mills.)

Animals must have an adequate shelter so that the animal can be protected from extremes of weather (heat, cold, rain, etc.) and able to remain dry and comfortable. An adequate shelter is defined as an enclosed area accessible by an animal, of sufficient size and nature so as to provide the animal with reasonable protection from adverse weather conditions. It is not required that the adequate shelter provided be kept warm/cool or insulated during the cold/hot seasons. Items that are not considered adequate shelter: airline crates, wire cages, or anything with holes other than the main opening.

Animals that are outside for an extended period of time, or live outside, must have a shaded location when sunlight is likely to cause overheating and discomfort. An adequate shelter should be placed in a shaded location for this reason.

Animals must be contained by fencing, proper tethering or a properly sized kennel.

Animals may not be left in a structure, property, or motor vehicle that can be considered dangerous for the animals' health or well-being due to temperature, and/or lack of food or drink. If an animal is discovered in such a location, an ACC  Officer will come investigate the situation, attempt to make contact with the owner using all available resources, and, in exigent circumstances, may be removed for its own protection/safety.

In the case of an animal in a vehicle and determined to be under extreme distress, an ACC  Officer must have a CMPD Officer present to forcefully enter the vehicle to remove it. Signs of distress include: excessive panting, excessive drooling, and unable to get up or move.

When a call for service is placed for an ACC  Officer to respond, a call will be placed for service and an ACC  Officer will come to observe the following:

• The animal  is being fed appropriately based on its body condition and weight (keep in mind some dog breeds are bred to be thinner than others)

• The animal has access to fresh water

• The animal has adequate shelter

• The tether/kennel is in compliance with the tethering law

• In cases of suspect dog fighting, analyze the dogs wounds

• Make an attempt to contact the owners regarding observations and take appropriate action if necessary. If an owner cannot be contacted the ACC  Officer will conduct a follow-up inspection.
  
  

If there are any violations seen, or has a concern for an animal, please call 311 or 704-336-7600.

Please do not send us a private message or tweet about a cruelty concern. 311 is how we capture our calls for service and all concerns must go through them.

Charlotte residents may request collection of either pets which have died or animals which have been killed on city streets. The solid waste special services division is ready to assist you.  To place a call for service in regard to dead animal pick up, call 311 or 704-336-7600. Please remember these few helpful points:

• Collection is made by request only; do not place any animals in your roll out container.

• Help us to serve you better: for animals which have been killed on the roads - please have a specific location for us to respond to. An address, intersection or block number is needed. 

• City ordinance places requirements on any animal collected from homes or businesses. The animal must not weigh more than 100 pounds and MUST be placed at the curb. It is also helpful that the animal be placed in a trash bag if possible. 

• City Ordinance forbids City personnel from entering any private property to remove animals.

If your pet has passed away and you wish to bury it, you may do so as long as it is buried at least 3 feet beneath the surface of the ground and not closer than 300 feet to any flowing stream or public body of water. Large animals may also be buried, but they must be at least 4 feet below the ground surface. An owner must bury a pet within 24 hours of learning of its death.

If your pet has passed away and you would like to get them cremated or buried in a pet cemetery you can do a search for local pet crematoriums and pet cemeteries in Charlotte. There are several in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Two are listed below:
Paws, Whiskers and Wags 
Faithful Companion 
Good Shepherd 
Life Celebration Pet Crematory
Agape Pet Services
Be sure to look into the services as some will come to your house and pick up your pets for you.

LEASH LAWS

The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have strict leash laws that apply to all animals except cats (see the nuisance animal section for laws pertaining to cats).

Animals must be on a leash, contained within a fence or an operable and marked invisible fence. The invisible fence company should give owners a sign to place at the mailbox to indicate that there is an invisible fence present.

An animal may be loose in its own yard if there is an adult (18 years or older) immediately next to the animal and the animal responds to direct verbal commands of the person.

ALL dog owners that take their dogs for walks in their neighborhoods and/or in public parks (not designated as a dog park) are required to keep their dogs on leash and under physical restraint at ALL TIMES.  Please note that having the leash in your possession and not attached to the dog is not considered having the dog on a leash and you will still be subject to a fine. 

All regulations aim to protect the health and safety of our citizens. Please be a responsible pet owner and abide by the law. Violations will be investigated, and stiff fines may be applied. Fines range from a $50.00 citation for the first violation and up to a $500.00 citation and permanent seizure of the animal for a fifth violation.

To report an animal at large, please call 311 or 704-336-7600. Please note that it could take up to 4 hours for an officer to respond. Any information about where the owner lives would help greatly.

There are dog parks in Char-Meck that will allow pet owners to let their dogs off-leash in a fenced in and controlled area. To find where these parks are located and the rules for participation, visit the Dog Parks page.

PROPER TETHERING

An ideal environment for your dog may be a fenced or sheltered area that offers him or her the opportunity to roam and play safely. However, if you must restrain your pet, learn these new "tricks" that are part of the City's new pet restraint ordinance to keep your dog free from injury.

 
In addition to these new guidelines, check on your dog routinely to monitor the animal's well-being. Following these tips ensures a sound quality of life for your pet. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tether?
A tether is used to confine a dog to its owner’s property and consists of plastic-coated cable or chain attached to a permanent object. 
Tethering as a practice is affixing your dog to the chain or cable device or a pulley runner system that will confine a dog on your property.
 
What is the most important thing to remember about the ordinance?
That while an ideal environment for your dog may be a fenced or sheltered area that offers him or her the opportunity to roam and play safely, if you must restrain your pet, following these regulations will protect a dog’s quality of life. 
Additionally, it is easy and affordable to become compliant with the new rules.

When does this new ordinance take effect?
March 1st, 2011.

Is there a fine if I don't comply with the new ordinance?
Education is the first priority. Officers will educate you about the ordinance and how to come into compliance before issuing any civil citations. If you do not comply, the first citation is $50 dollars and will continue to escalate from there.

Ordinance reads that it is unlawful for any person to own or maintain an animal in such a manner to cause a public nuisance. Examples of situations which would constitute a nuisance are:

• Having an animal which disturbs the rights of or threatens the safety of a member of the general public or interferes with the ordinary use and enjoyment of their property.

• Allowing an animal to damage the property of anyone other than its owner.

• Maintaining animals in an environment of unsanitary conditions which results in offensive odors.

• Allowing or permitting an animal to bark, whine, howl, crow or cackle in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion so as to interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring premises.

• Failing to confine a female dog in heat.

• Failing to remove feces deposited by a dog on any public street, sidewalk, gutter, park or other publicly owned or private property unless the owner of the property has given permission allowing such use of the property. Dog waste is raw sewage. Roundworms, E. coli, and Giardia are just a few of the many harmful microorganisms that can be transmitted from pet waste to humans. Some can last in your yard for as long as four years if not cleaned up. Children who play outside and adults who garden are at greatest risk of infection. Pet waste is one of the causes of bacterial contamination of streams in Mecklenburg County.
  The solution is safe and easy: 1) Scoop the poop, 2) put it in a plastic bag, 3) place it in the trash, and 4) wash your hands.

If you have any questions about a possible nuisance situation, please call 311 or 704-336-7600.


Please note the following:

• ACC 's response to first time complaints will be to notify the owner by mail that we received a complaint concerning their animals and recommendations to remedy the situation. If future calls are submitted, an officer will be dispatched to evaluate the validity of the complaint.

• An ACC officer must see or hear the violation when they respond to take any kind of civil action.

• Regarding cat nuisances, including colonies, a call must be made to 311 for an officer to come investigate prior to any animal pick up or trapping. The caller will be given deterrent options first. Any healthy, stray cat that is picked up and brought to the shelter by a caller/citizen will be turned away as we do not intake healthy, stray cats. Learn more about the community cat program.