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North Carolina House Bill H657

North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H657 Compare Versions

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11 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
22 SESSION 2025
3-H 1
4-HOUSE BILL 657
3+H D
4+HOUSE BILL DRH30292-MH-1
5+
56
67
78 Short Title: Duke's Rescue Act. (Public)
8-Sponsors: Representatives Ross, Carney, Cotham, and Ward (Primary Sponsors).
9-For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10-Referred to: Wildlife Resources, if favorable, Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
11-Operations of the House
12-April 2, 2025
13-*H657 -v-1*
9+Sponsors: Representative Ross.
10+Referred to:
11+
12+*DRH30292 -MH-1*
1413 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
1514 AN ACT TO PROVIDE MINIMAL STANDARDS OF CARE FOR COMPANION ANIMALS . 2
1615 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
1716 SECTION 1. Article 47 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 4
1817 a new section to read: 5
1918 "§ 14-360.5. Care of companion animals. 6
2019 (a) Minimum Standards. – Except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, any person 7
2120 who owns a companion animal shall provide all of the following: 8
2221 (1) Adequate care. 9
2322 (2) Adequate exercise. 10
2423 (3) Adequate feed. 11
2524 (4) Adequate shelter. 12
2625 (5) Adequate space. 13
2726 (6) Adequate water. 14
2827 (7) Appropriate veterinary treatment, including emergency veterinary treatment. 15
2928 (b) Exception. – The requirements of this section pertaining to adequate shelter and 16
3029 adequate space shall not apply to any of the following: 17
3130 (1) The use of a dog in a lawful hunt. 18
3231 (2) The use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct 19
3332 directly related to the business of shepherding or herding cattle or livestock. 20
3433 (3) The use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and dog engage in conduct 21
3534 directly related to the business of cultivating agricultural products. 22
3635 (4) The use of a restraint on a dog pursuant to the requirements of a camping or 23
3736 recreational area. 24
3837 (c) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 25
3938 (1) Adequate care. – The responsible practice of good animal husbandry, 26
4039 handling, confinement, feeding, watering, protection, shelter, transportation, 27
4140 treatment, and, when necessary, euthanasia, appropriate for the age, species, 28
4241 condition, size, and type of the animal and the provision of veterinary care 29
4342 when needed to prevent suffering or impairment of health. 30
4443 (2) Adequate exercise. – The opportunity for the animal to move sufficiently to 31
4544 maintain normal muscle tone and mass for the age, species, size, and condition 32
46-of the animal. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47-Page 2 House Bill 657-First Edition
48-(3) Adequate feed. – The provision of food meeting all of the following 1
49-requirements: 2
50-a. It is of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to maintain the animal in 3
51-good health. 4
52-b. It is accessible to the animal. 5
53-c. It is prepared so as to permit ease of consumption for the animal's age, 6
54-species, condition, size, and type. 7
55-d. It is provided in a clean and sanitary manner to minimize 8
56-contamination by excrement and pests. 9
57-e. It is provided at suitable intervals for the species, age, and condition 10
58-of the animal, but at least once daily, except as otherwise prescribed 11
59-by a veterinarian. 12
60-(4) Adequate shelter. – Shelter that meets all of the conditions of this subdivision. 13
61-Adequate shelter does not include the outdoor tethering of an animal during 14
62-any period of extreme weather at the site where the animal is tethered. 15
63-a. The shelter is suitable for the species, age, condition, size, and type of 16
64-each animal. 17
65-b. The shelter protects each animal from injury, rain, sleet, snow, hail, 18
66-direct sunlight, the adverse effects of heat or cold, physical suffering, 19
67-and impairment of health. 20
68-c. The shelter is properly lighted and cleaned and enables each animal to 21
69-remain clean and dry, except when detrimental to the species. For 22
70-purposes of this subdivision, shelter is properly cleaned when (i) 23
71-carcasses, debris, food waste, and excrement are removed from the 24
72-primary enclosure with sufficient frequency to minimize the animals' 25
73-contact with those contaminants; (ii) the primary enclosure is sanitized 26
74-with sufficient frequency to minimize odors and the hazards of 27
75-disease; and (iii) the primary enclosure is cleaned so as to prevent the 28
76-animals confined therein from being directly or indirectly sprayed with 29
77-the stream of water or directly or indirectly exposed to hazardous 30
78-chemicals or disinfectants. 31
79-d. The shelter is properly shaded and does not readily conduct heat during 32
80-periods when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is greater than 33
81-85 degrees Fahrenheit. 34
82-e. The shelter provides a windbreak at its entrance and, during periods 35
83-when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is less than 32 degrees 36
84-Fahrenheit, bedding material consisting of straw, cedar shavings, or 37
85-the equivalent sufficient to protect the animal from cold and promote 38
86-the retention of body heat. 39
87-f. For dogs and cats, the shelter provides a solid surface, resting platform, 40
88-pad, floormat, or similar device that is large enough for the animal to 41
89-lie on in a normal manner and can be maintained in a sanitary manner. 42
90-g. The shelter's wire, grid, or slat floors (i) do not permit the animals' feet 43
91-to pass through the openings, (ii) do not sag under the animals' weight, 44
92-and (iii) protect the animals' feet and toes from injury. 45
93-(5) Adequate space. – Sufficient space to allow each animal to (i) easily stand, sit, 46
94-lie, turn about, and make all other normal body movements in a comfortable, 47
95-normal position for the animal and (ii) interact safely with other animals in the 48
96-enclosure. Adequate space for an animal that is tethered also includes all of 49
97-the following: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
98-House Bill 657-First Edition Page 3
99-a. The tether to which the animal is attached permits freedom of 1
100-movement and is appropriate to the age and size of the animal; is 2
101-attached to the animal by a properly applied collar, halter, or harness 3
102-configured so as to protect the animal from injury and prevent the 4
103-animal or tether from becoming entangled with other objects or 5
104-animals or from extending over an object or edge that could result in 6
105-the strangulation or injury of the animal. 7
106-b. The tether is at least 15 feet in length or four times the length of the 8
107-animal, as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, 9
108-whichever is greater, except when the animal is being walked on a 10
109-leash or is attached by a tether to a lead line; does not, by its material, 11
110-size, or weight or any other characteristic, cause injury or pain to the 12
111-animal. 13
112-c. The tether does not weigh more than one-tenth of the animal's body 14
113-weight and does not have weights or other heavy objects attached to 15
114-it. 16
115-d. Tethering does not include the walking of an animal on a leash. 17
116-(6) Adequate water. – The provision of access to clean, fresh, potable water of a 18
117-drinkable temperature that meets the following requirements: 19
118-a. The water is provided in a suitable manner, in sufficient volume, and 20
119-at suitable intervals appropriate for the weather and temperature to 21
120-maintain normal hydration for the age, species, condition, size, and 22
121-type of each animal, except as prescribed by a veterinarian or as 23
122-dictated by naturally occurring states of hibernation or fasting normal 24
123-for the species. 25
124-b. The water is provided in clean, durable receptacles that are accessible 26
125-to each animal and are placed so as to minimize contamination of the 27
126-water by excrement and pests or an alternative source of hydration 28
127-consistent with generally accepted husbandry practices. 29
128-(7) Companion animal. – Any domestic dog or domestic cat. The term does not 30
129-include animals being raised for human consumption, whether for their meat, 31
130-milk, or eggs. 32
131-(8) Emergency veterinary treatment. – Veterinary treatment to stabilize a 33
132-life-threatening condition, alleviate suffering, prevent further disease 34
133-transmission, or prevent further disease progression. 35
134-(9) Extreme weather. – Any of the following: 36
135-a. The effective period of a hurricane warning or tropical storm warning 37
136-issued for the area by the National Weather Service. 38
137-b. The effective period for a heat advisory issued by a local or State 39
138-authority. 40
139-c. Any period when the actual or effective outdoor temperature is (i) at 41
140-or in excess of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or (ii) at or below 32 degrees 42
141-Fahrenheit. 43
142-d. The effective period for a severe weather warning issued for the area 44
143-by the National Weather Service, including a hurricane, tropical storm, 45
144-winter storm, tornado, or severe thunderstorm warning. 46
145-(10) Owner, or to own. – With respect to companion animals, includes any person 47
146-who (i) has a right of property in an animal, (ii) keeps or harbors an animal, 48
147-(iii) has an animal in his or her care, or (iv) acts as a custodian of an animal. 49
148-(11) Tethering. – To restrain a companion animal by tying the animal to any object 50
149-or structure, including a house, tree, fence, post, garage, or shed, by any 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150-Page 4 House Bill 657-First Edition
151-means, including, without limitation, a chain, rope, cord, leash, or running 1
152-line. Tethering shall not include the use of a leash to walk a companion animal. 2
153-(12) Veterinary treatment. – Treatment of a companion animal by or on the order 3
154-of a duly licensed veterinarian. 4
155-(d) Violation. – A violation of this section is punishable as follows: 5
156-(1) For a first offense under this section, the person is guilty of a Class 3 6
157-misdemeanor. 7
158-(2) For a second or subsequent offense under this section, the person is guilty of 8
159-a Class 2 misdemeanor." 9
160-SECTION 2. Any local ordinances regulating the standard of care for companion 10
161-animals that were adopted prior to the date this act becomes law may remain in effect after this 11
162-act becomes law. The governing body of a county or city may adopt ordinances regulating the 12
163-standard of care for companion animals after the date this act becomes law if the ordinances meet 13
164-or exceed the requirements of G.S. 14-360.5, as enacted in Section 1 of this act. 14
165-SECTION 3. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 15
166-committed on or after that date. 16
45+of the animal. 33
46+(3) Adequate feed. – The provision of food meeting all of the following 34
47+requirements: 35
48+H.B. 657
49+Apr 1, 2025
50+HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
51+Page 2 DRH30292-MH-1
52+a. It is of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to maintain the animal in 1
53+good health. 2
54+b. It is accessible to the animal. 3
55+c. It is prepared so as to permit ease of consumption for the animal's age, 4
56+species, condition, size, and type. 5
57+d. It is provided in a clean and sanitary manner to minimize 6
58+contamination by excrement and pests. 7
59+e. It is provided at suitable intervals for the species, age, and condition 8
60+of the animal, but at least once daily, except as otherwise prescribed 9
61+by a veterinarian. 10
62+(4) Adequate shelter. – Shelter that meets all of the conditions of this subdivision. 11
63+Adequate shelter does not include the outdoor tethering of an animal during 12
64+any period of extreme weather at the site where the animal is tethered. 13
65+a. The shelter is suitable for the species, age, condition, size, and type of 14
66+each animal. 15
67+b. The shelter protects each animal from injury, rain, sleet, snow, hail, 16
68+direct sunlight, the adverse effects of heat or cold, physical suffering, 17
69+and impairment of health. 18
70+c. The shelter is properly lighted and cleaned and enables each animal to 19
71+remain clean and dry, except when detrimental to the species. For 20
72+purposes of this subdivision, shelter is properly cleaned when (i) 21
73+carcasses, debris, food waste, and excrement are removed from the 22
74+primary enclosure with sufficient frequency to minimize the animals' 23
75+contact with those contaminants; (ii) the primary enclosure is sanitized 24
76+with sufficient frequency to minimize odors and the hazards of 25
77+disease; and (iii) the primary enclosure is cleaned so as to prevent the 26
78+animals confined therein from being directly or indirectly sprayed with 27
79+the stream of water or directly or indirectly exposed to hazardous 28
80+chemicals or disinfectants. 29
81+d. The shelter is properly shaded and does not readily conduct heat during 30
82+periods when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is greater than 31
83+85 degrees Fahrenheit. 32
84+e. The shelter provides a windbreak at its entrance and, during periods 33
85+when the ambient air temperature at the shelter is less than 32 degrees 34
86+Fahrenheit, bedding material consisting of straw, cedar shavings, or 35
87+the equivalent sufficient to protect the animal from cold and promote 36
88+the retention of body heat. 37
89+f. For dogs and cats, the shelter provides a solid surface, resting platform, 38
90+pad, floormat, or similar device that is large enough for the animal to 39
91+lie on in a normal manner and can be maintained in a sanitary manner. 40
92+g. The shelter's wire, grid, or slat floors (i) do not permit the animals' feet 41
93+to pass through the openings, (ii) do not sag under the animals' weight, 42
94+and (iii) protect the animals' feet and toes from injury. 43
95+(5) Adequate space. – Sufficient space to allow each animal to (i) easily stand, sit, 44
96+lie, turn about, and make all other normal body movements in a comfortable, 45
97+normal position for the animal and (ii) interact safely with other animals in the 46
98+enclosure. Adequate space for an animal that is tethered also includes all of 47
99+the following: 48
100+a. The tether to which the animal is attached permits freedom of 49
101+movement and is appropriate to the age and size of the animal; is 50
102+attached to the animal by a properly applied collar, halter, or harness 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
103+DRH30292-MH-1 Page 3
104+configured so as to protect the animal from injury and prevent the 1
105+animal or tether from becoming entangled with other objects or 2
106+animals or from extending over an object or edge that could result in 3
107+the strangulation or injury of the animal. 4
108+b. The tether is at least 15 feet in length or four times the length of the 5
109+animal, as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, 6
110+whichever is greater, except when the animal is being walked on a 7
111+leash or is attached by a tether to a lead line; does not, by its material, 8
112+size, or weight or any other characteristic, cause injury or pain to the 9
113+animal. 10
114+c. The tether does not weigh more than one-tenth of the animal's body 11
115+weight and does not have weights or other heavy objects attached to 12
116+it. 13
117+d. Tethering does not include the walking of an animal on a leash. 14
118+(6) Adequate water. – The provision of access to clean, fresh, potable water of a 15
119+drinkable temperature that meets the following requirements: 16
120+a. The water is provided in a suitable manner, in sufficient volume, and 17
121+at suitable intervals appropriate for the weather and temperature to 18
122+maintain normal hydration for the age, species, condition, size, and 19
123+type of each animal, except as prescribed by a veterinarian or as 20
124+dictated by naturally occurring states of hibernation or fasting normal 21
125+for the species. 22
126+b. The water is provided in clean, durable receptacles that are accessible 23
127+to each animal and are placed so as to minimize contamination of the 24
128+water by excrement and pests or an alternative source of hydration 25
129+consistent with generally accepted husbandry practices. 26
130+(7) Companion animal. – Any domestic dog or domestic cat. The term does not 27
131+include animals being raised for human consumption, whether for their meat, 28
132+milk, or eggs. 29
133+(8) Emergency veterinary treatment. – Veterinary treatment to stabilize a 30
134+life-threatening condition, alleviate suffering, prevent further disease 31
135+transmission, or prevent further disease progression. 32
136+(9) Extreme weather. – Any of the following: 33
137+a. The effective period of a hurricane warning or tropical storm warning 34
138+issued for the area by the National Weather Service. 35
139+b. The effective period for a heat advisory issued by a local or State 36
140+authority. 37
141+c. Any period when the actual or effective outdoor temperature is (i) at 38
142+or in excess of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or (ii) at or below 32 degrees 39
143+Fahrenheit. 40
144+d. The effective period for a severe weather warning issued for the area 41
145+by the National Weather Service, including a hurricane, tropical storm, 42
146+winter storm, tornado, or severe thunderstorm warning. 43
147+(10) Owner, or to own. – With respect to companion animals, includes any person 44
148+who (i) has a right of property in an animal, (ii) keeps or harbors an animal, 45
149+(iii) has an animal in his or her care, or (iv) acts as a custodian of an animal. 46
150+(11) Tethering. – To restrain a companion animal by tying the animal to any object 47
151+or structure, including a house, tree, fence, post, garage, or shed, by any 48
152+means, including, without limitation, a chain, rope, cord, leash, or running 49
153+line. Tethering shall not include the use of a leash to walk a companion animal. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
154+Page 4 DRH30292-MH-1
155+(12) Veterinary treatment. – Treatment of a companion animal by or on the order 1
156+of a duly licensed veterinarian. 2
157+(d) Violation. – A violation of this section is punishable as follows: 3
158+(1) For a first offense under this section, the person is guilty of a Class 3 4
159+misdemeanor. 5
160+(2) For a second or subsequent offense under this section, the person is guilty of 6
161+a Class 2 misdemeanor." 7
162+SECTION 2. Any local ordinances regulating the standard of care for companion 8
163+animals that were adopted prior to the date this act becomes law may remain in effect after this 9
164+act becomes law. The governing body of a county or city may adopt ordinances regulating the 10
165+standard of care for companion animals after the date this act becomes law if the ordinances meet 11
166+or exceed the requirements of G.S. 14-360.5, as enacted in Section 1 of this act. 12
167+SECTION 3. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 13
168+committed on or after that date. 14