Pender County, NC Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 6-6 bars any dog or cat from running at large anywhere in the county, and section 6-2 defines restraint narrowly: the animal must be on a chain, leash, or other tether; inside or on a vehicle under the owner's control; locked in a secure enclosure it cannot exit unassisted; locked inside the owner's dwelling or outbuildings; or under reliable voice control. The Pender County Sheriff's Office runs the animal control program under section 6-3 and its officers can issue criminal citations or civil notices of violation under section 6-5.

A hunting dog wearing a current rabies tag is exempt from the at-large rule only while it is actually hunting or training under its owner's supervision and the season or training use is lawful; a dog impounded under the rabies provisions or already declared dangerous cannot be released under this exemption. Every dog must also wear an identification tag with the owner's name and phone number under section 6-7. Under the chapter-wide penalty in section 6-162, violating the at-large rule is a Class 3 misdemeanor carrying a fine of no less than $50.00 and no more than $500.00, and the sheriff may instead issue a $50.00 civil citation, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense.

An animal control officer seizing a loose dog or cat impounds it at the county animal shelter, where the owner has 72 hours after posted notice to redeem it by paying the applicable fee set by the Board of Commissioners.