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

08, 'Control of Overpopulation of Dogs and Cats,' triggers on a specific record: any person found in violation of any other provision of Chapter 90 on at least two separate occasions is barred from owning or harboring a dog or cat over six months old that has not been spayed or neutered, with an exemption for animals a veterinarian certifies as medically ineligible for the surgery. HARBOR is defined as feeding or sheltering an animal for seven days unless it is boarded for a fee, and VIOLATION means an unappealed citation, or one where the appeal was denied, for breach of any other Chapter 90 provision.

§ 153A-123: the county may pursue a criminal misdemeanor path, punishable by a fine of $100 per day or up to 30 days in jail (aggregate capped at $500), a civil penalty of $100 per day, or an equitable remedy such as an injunction, with each day of continuing noncompliance a separate offense. Animal Control Officers issue citations in person or by certified mail, giving the violator until a stated date to pay at the County Finance Department and at least 72 hours (six days if served by mail) to prove the violation has been remedied.

The County Attorney can escalate an unanswered citation to a criminal summons or a civil-fine court action. All fines may be waived within 30 days of citation if a veterinarian certifies the animal has since been spayed or neutered, or is proven ineligible, and an owner may appeal any citation to the County Manager's Office within three days of issuance. 08 itself did not begin until six months after its December 12, 2017 enactment.