What Mecklenburg and Wake counties require of dog owners

The Mecklenburg County animal ordinance summary says dogs must be on a leash, inside a fence or inside an operable, marked invisible fence. A dog may be loose in its own yard only if an adult is right beside it and the dog obeys that adult's verbal commands. In neighborhoods and non-dog-park public parks, dogs must be on leash and under physical restraint at all times, and carrying an unattached leash does not count.

Fines begin at $50 for a first violation and can reach $500 plus permanent seizure of the animal for a fifth.

• A chain or runner at least 10 feet long.
• Chain weight under 10 percent of the dog's body weight.
• A properly fitted collar or harness, with swivel hardware.
• A clear tether area and regular checks on the dog.

Officers educate first, and the first citation is $50.

Owners of dogs found dangerous there may be required to provide secure fencing with a top, liability insurance, warning signs, a muzzle off the property and a tattoo marking the dog. Decisions are subject to due process review.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg rabies vaccination page says dogs over four months need current vaccination, the owner receives a certificate with the tag attached, and the tag should be displayed at all times. It lists a $50 fine for lacking a valid vaccination and notes that a first shot is good for one year, with later shots lasting three.

The Wake County code provisions on bites and rabies require a dog that has bitten anyone to be confined immediately for ten days and make it unlawful not to report a bite as soon as possible. Home confinement can be allowed with proof of current rabies vaccination, subject to inspections on the fifth and tenth days.

Individual towns inside Wake County, such as Wake Forest and Knightdale, publish their own animal rules too.

If you live outside these two counties, phone your county animal control or city clerk. Ask for the ordinance numbers on leashing, tethering and licensing before the dog comes home.