Smithfield, North Carolina

Sec. 4-67. – Animal abuse prohibited.

(a) Prohibited acts. All animals shall be kept and treated under sanitary and humane conditions and it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in one (1) or more of the following acts:

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(8) Allowing a collar, rope or chain to become embedded in or cause injury to an animal’s neck, or allowing a choke or pinch collar to be used as a primary collar on an unsupervised animal, or chaining or tethering an animal to a stationary object. Examples of harmful or potentially harmful chaining or tethering include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Using a length or weight of a chain or tether that is not appropriate for the size, weight and age of the animal. A chain or tether should not be less than ten (10) feet long. Using a chain or tether that exceeds ten (10) percent of the animal’s body weight shall be deemed not appropriate and potentially harmful.
2. An owner may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog’s movement:
3. Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
4. In case of extreme weather conditions, including conditions in which:

a. The actual or effective outdoor temperature is below thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit;

b. A heat advisory has been issued by a local or state authority or jurisdiction;

c. A hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning has been issued for the jurisdiction by the national weather service.