Craven County, NC Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Chapter 6, Article III of the Craven County Code regulates reproduction of dogs and cats placed by a releasing agency, defined as any public or private pound, shelter or humane society. Section 6-55 conditions every adoption on payment of a standard fee, set by the county board of health, to defray the cost of spaying or neutering; the fee becomes a nonrefundable deposit after the first five days of ownership, and the releasing agency issues the adopter a certificate the adopter's chosen veterinarian applies toward the surgery cost, with the county paying the veterinarian the certificate's face amount.

Section 6-56 sets the sterilization deadline: an adult dog or cat must be sterilized within 30 days of adoption, while a puppy or kitten gets 30 days from the date a female reaches six months old or a male reaches eight months old, with the veterinarian using discretion to judge maturity. If the animal is not sterilized in that window, the adopter loses the deposit credit and must pay the veterinarian's full sterilization fee out of pocket. A veterinarian can extend the deadline where surgery would risk the animal's life or health, and further extensions are available on additional veterinary reports.

If an adopted animal dies before sterilization, the owner must report the death within 48 hours to receive a death certificate, which entitles the owner to a replacement animal within six months at no extra charge, provided the death was not due to negligence or cruelty.