GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH40415-MH-77
Short Title: Clarify Animal Welfare Statutes. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Harrison.
Referred to:
*DRH40415 -MH-77*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND THE DANG EROUS DOG LAWS TO PERMIT A CASE -BY-CASE 2
DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER A DOG TRAINED FOR DOG FIGHTING IS 3
DANGEROUS. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 67-4.1 reads as rewritten: 6
"§ 67-4.1. Definitions and procedures. 7
(a) As used in this Article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise and except as 8
modified in subsection (b) of this section, the term: 9
(1) "Dangerous dog" means 10
a. A a dog that: 11
1.a. Without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a 12
person; or 13
2.b. Is determined by the person or Board designated by the county 14
or municipal authority responsible for animal control to be 15
potentially dangerous because the dog has engaged in one or 16
more of the behaviors listed in subdivision (2) of this 17
subsection. 18
b. Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog 19
fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting. 20
…." 21
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 67-4.5 reads as rewritten: 22
"§ 67-4.5. Local ordinances. 23
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or 24
enforcing its own program for control of dangerous dogs.dogs consistent with this Article." 25
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025. 26
H.B. 865
Apr 9, 2025
HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK