GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH30292-MH-1
Short Title: Duke's Rescue Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Ross.
Referred to:
*DRH30292 -MH-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE MINIMAL STANDARDS OF CARE FOR COMPANION ANIMALS . 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
SECTION 1. Article 47 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 4
a new section to read: 5
"§ 14-360.5. Care of companion animals. 6
(a) Minimum Standards. – Except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, any person 7
who owns a companion animal shall provide all of the following: 8
(1) Adequate care. 9
(2) Adequate exercise. 10
(3) Adequate feed. 11
(4) Adequate shelter. 12
(5) Adequate space. 13
(6) Adequate water. 14
(7) Appropriate veterinary treatment, including emergency veterinary treatment. 15
(b) Exception. – The requirements of this section pertaining to adequate shelter and 16
adequate space shall not apply to any of the following: 17
(1) The use of a dog in a lawful hunt. 18
(2) The use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct 19
directly related to the business of shepherding or herding cattle or livestock. 20
(3) The use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct 21
directly related to the business of cultivating agricultural products. 22
(4) The use of a restraint on a dog pursuant to the requirements of a camping or 23
recreational area. 24
(c) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 25
(1) Adequate care. – The responsible practice of good animal husbandry, 26
handling, confinement, feeding, watering, protection, shelter, transportation, 27
treatment, and, when necessary, euthanasia, appropriate for the age, species, 28
condition, size, and type of the animal and the provision of veterinary care 29
when needed to prevent suffering or impairment of health. 30
(2) Adequate exercise. – The opportunity for the animal to move sufficiently to 31
maintain normal muscle tone and mass for the age, species, size, and condition 32
of the animal. 33
(3) Adequate feed. – The provision of food meeting all of the following 34
requirements: 35
H.B. 657
Apr 1, 2025
HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 DRH30292-MH-1
a. It is of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to maintain the animal in 1
good health. 2
b. It is accessible to the animal. 3
c. It is prepared so as to permit ease of consumption for the animal's age, 4
species, condition, size, and type. 5
d. It is provided in a clean and sanitary manner to minimize 6
contamination by excrement and pests. 7
e. It is provided at suitable intervals for the species, age, and condition 8
of the animal, but at least once daily, except as otherwise prescribed 9
by a veterinarian. 10
(4) Adequate shelter. – Shelter that meets all of the conditions of this subdivision. 11
Adequate shelter does not include the outdoor tethering of an animal during 12
any period of extreme weather at the site where the animal is tethered. 13
a. The shelter is suitable for the species, age, condition, size, and type of 14
each animal. 15
b. The shelter protects each animal from injury, rain, sleet, snow, hail, 16
direct sunlight, the adverse effects of heat or cold, physical suffering, 17
and impairment of health. 18
c. The shelter is properly lighted and cleaned and enables each animal to 19
remain clean and dry, except when detrimental to the species. For 20
purposes of this subdivision, shelter is properly cleaned when (i) 21
carcasses, debris, food waste, and excrement are removed from the 22
primary enclosure with sufficient frequency to minimize the animals' 23
contact with those contaminants; (ii) the primary enclosure is sanitized 24
with sufficient frequency to minimize odors and the hazards of 25
disease; and (iii) the primary enclosure is cleaned so as to prevent the 26
animals confined therein from being directly or indirectly sprayed with 27
the stream of water or directly or indirectly exposed to hazardous 28
chemicals or disinfectants. 29
d. The shelter is properly shaded and does not readily conduct heat during 30
periods when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is greater than 31
85 degrees Fahrenheit. 32
e. The shelter provides a windbreak at its entrance and, during periods 33
when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is less than 32 degrees 34
Fahrenheit, bedding material consisting of straw, cedar shavings, or 35
the equivalent sufficient to protect the animal from cold and promote 36
the retention of body heat. 37
f. For dogs and cats, the shelter provides a solid surface, resting platform, 38
pad, floormat, or similar device that is large enough for the animal to 39
lie on in a normal manner and can be maintained in a sanitary manner. 40
g. The shelter's wire, grid, or slat floors (i) do not permit the animals' feet 41
to pass through the openings, (ii) do not sag under the animals' weight, 42
and (iii) protect the animals' feet and toes from injury. 43
(5) Adequate space. – Sufficient space to allow each animal to (i) easily stand, sit, 44
lie, turn about, and make all other normal body movements in a comfortable, 45
normal position for the animal and (ii) interact safely with other animals in the 46
enclosure. Adequate space for an animal that is tethered also includes all of 47
the following: 48
a. The tether to which the animal is attached permits freedom of 49
movement and is appropriate to the age and size of the animal; is 50
attached to the animal by a properly applied collar, halter, or harness 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
DRH30292-MH-1 Page 3
configured so as to protect the animal from injury and prevent the 1
animal or tether from becoming entangled with other objects or 2
animals or from extending over an object or edge that could result in 3
the strangulation or injury of the animal. 4
b. The tether is at least 15 feet in length or four times the length of the 5
animal, as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, 6
whichever is greater, except when the animal is being walked on a 7
leash or is attached by a tether to a lead line; does not, by its material, 8
size, or weight or any other characteristic, cause injury or pain to the 9
animal. 10
c. The tether does not weigh more than one-tenth of the animal's body 11
weight and does not have weights or other heavy objects attached to 12
it. 13
d. Tethering does not include the walking of an animal on a leash. 14
(6) Adequate water. – The provision of access to clean, fresh, potable water of a 15
drinkable temperature that meets the following requirements: 16
a. The water is provided in a suitable manner, in sufficient volume, and 17
at suitable intervals appropriate for the weather and temperature to 18
maintain normal hydration for the age, species, condition, size, and 19
type of each animal, except as prescribed by a veterinarian or as 20
dictated by naturally occurring states of hibernation or fasting normal 21
for the species. 22
b. The water is provided in clean, durable receptacles that are accessible 23
to each animal and are placed so as to minimize contamination of the 24
water by excrement and pests or an alternative source of hydration 25
consistent with generally accepted husbandry practices. 26
(7) Companion animal. – Any domestic dog or domestic cat. The term does not 27
include animals being raised for human consumption, whether for their meat, 28
milk, or eggs. 29
(8) Emergency veterinary treatment. – Veterinary treatment to stabilize a 30
life-threatening condition, alleviate suffering, prevent further disease 31
transmission, or prevent further disease progression. 32
(9) Extreme weather. – Any of the following: 33
a. The effective period of a hurricane warning or tropical storm warning 34
issued for the area by the National Weather Service. 35
b. The effective period for a heat advisory issued by a local or State 36
authority. 37
c. Any period when the actual or effective outdoor temperature is (i) at 38
or in excess of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or (ii) at or below 32 degrees 39
Fahrenheit. 40
d. The effective period for a severe weather warning issued for the area 41
by the National Weather Service, including a hurricane, tropical storm, 42
winter storm, tornado, or severe thunderstorm warning. 43
(10) Owner, or to own. – With respect to companion animals, includes any person 44
who (i) has a right of property in an animal, (ii) keeps or harbors an animal, 45
(iii) has an animal in his or her care, or (iv) acts as a custodian of an animal. 46
(11) Tethering. – To restrain a companion animal by tying the animal to any object 47
or structure, including a house, tree, fence, post, garage, or shed, by any 48
means, including, without limitation, a chain, rope, cord, leash, or running 49
line. Tethering shall not include the use of a leash to walk a companion animal. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 DRH30292-MH-1
(12) Veterinary treatment. – Treatment of a companion animal by or on the order 1
of a duly licensed veterinarian. 2
(d) Violation. – A violation of this section is punishable as follows: 3
(1) For a first offense under this section, the person is guilty of a Class 3 4
misdemeanor. 5
(2) For a second or subsequent offense under this section, the person is guilty of 6
a Class 2 misdemeanor." 7
SECTION 2. Any local ordinances regulating the standard of care for companion 8
animals that were adopted prior to the date this act becomes law may remain in effect after this 9
act becomes law. The governing body of a county or city may adopt ordinances regulating the 10
standard of care for companion animals after the date this act becomes law if the ordinances meet 11
or exceed the requirements of G.S. 14-360.5, as enacted in Section 1 of this act. 12
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 13
committed on or after that date. 14