Effective November 19th, 2009, Orange County's Animal Ordinance will restrict the tethering of dogs to a maximum of 3 hours within a 24-hour period. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the amendment, along with a year of outreach and a number of specific exceptions, in November of 2008.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click HERE for Spanish Version)

Summary

Exceptions

Jurisdictions

Resources

Background

Supporting Documents

Please find below the ordinance amendment itself and supporting documents related to the amendment.

Tethering Amendment (Effective November 19th, 2009)

Animal Services Standard Operating Guidelines

Tethering

Tethering Enforcement and Addendum

Tethering Progress Reports

June 2009

December 2009

May 2010

Tethering Committee's Full Report and Recommendations

The Town of Chapel Hill has enacted its own set of tethering restrictions, effective March 23, 2010.

Tethering Enforcement in Chapel Hill

County Ordinance

The link below provides access to the Animal Control sections of the Code of Ordinances of Orange County. It is not intended to serve as the official County Code for Orange County and may not include recent amendments to the County Code. Current information is available from records in the County Clerk’s office in the official minutes of the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Animal Control Ordinance

Other Ordinances

Orange County's Animal Control ordinance applies only to the unincorporated parts of the County and Hillsborough (which chooses to adopt the County's ordinance). The Townships of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Mebane have their own animal ordinances (as listed below).

Township Ordinances

See Chapter 4 of the Chapel Hill Town Code.

See Chapter 10 of the Carrboro Town Code.

Boards & Committees

The Animal Services Advisory Board is charged to provide input and advice to the staff of the Animal Services Department. This function may include reviewing the allocation of resources, assisting in planning programs, and advising the Animal Services Director on policies and operation of the Animal Services Department.

Currently, there are 3 vacant positions on the Animal Services Advisory Board. These are for the Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro, and for a certified animal handler technician. To learn about how to apply for one of these positions, please click here. Appointments to the Advisory Board are performed by the Board of Orange County Commissioners.

ASAB membership list
ASAB bylaws
ASAB meeting summaries
ASAB standing committees
Full meeting calendar (from County's overall meeting calendar)
ASAB Meeting Dates for 2011

Meetings of the Advisory Board and related committees are a public function and members of the public are invited to attend and permitted to speak within certain guidelines. See the County’s monthly Meeting Calendar here for times and dates of upcoming meetings.

Other Resources

State Organizations

National Organizations

Disaster Preparedness

Influenza in Pets and Other Animals

1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-PETS (7387)

Last modified Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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