Pender County, NC Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Under section 6-35, it is unlawful to possess or harbor a dangerous dog within the county, and the sheriff or a designee makes the initial determination that a dog is potentially dangerous, with the county animal shelter board serving as the appellate body and the process following G.S. 67-4.1(c). Once a dog is declared dangerous, the owner may keep it only if it stays in a building with securely fastened doors and windows, or in a locked enclosure with secured sides, top, and bottom that a small child cannot enter; off the property it must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than four feet, held by someone capable of controlling it.

The owner must have the dog sterilized within 30 days of the sheriff's declaration, or within 30 days of a final appellate decision if the declaration is timely appealed, and must post a two-foot by two-foot sign reading "BEWARE OF DOG, THIS DOG IS DANGEROUS, STAY AWAY!" on the enclosure or in the front yard. If ownership of the dog transfers, the prior owner must give the county written notice naming the new owner and describing the dog's dangerous history. The dog may leave the property only to go to a veterinarian or the shelter, to leave the county's jurisdiction permanently, or for supervised exercise, and must remain restrained during any such trip. Violating any part of section 6-35 is a Class 3 misdemeanor, separate from the chapter's general $50.00 to $500.00 penalty schedule in section 6-162.