Enacts GS 14-360.5 establishing minimum care standards for companion animals that require any person owning such an animal to provide adequate care, exercise, feed, shelter, space, and water, as well as appropriate veterinary treatment including emergency treatment. Provides exemptions pertaining to adequate shelter and space for certain actions like using a dog in a lawful hunt, restraints for certain business-related activities like shepherding, herding, or cultivating agricultural products or as required in camping or recreational areas. Provides definitions for adequate care, adequate exercise, adequate feed, adequate shelter, adequate space, adequate water, companion animal, emergency veterinary treatment, extreme weather, owner (or to own), tethering, and veterinary treatment. Defines “companion animal” as any domestic dog or cat, not including animals being raised for human consumption whether for their meat, milk, or eggs. Defines “owner, or to own” as someone who has a right of property in an animal, keeps or harbors an animal, has an animal in his or her care, or acts as a custodian of an animal. Provides that the first violation of this statute is punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor and for any second or subsequent offense is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Requires any local ordinances regulating companion animal standards of care adopted prior to the date this act becomes law to remain in effect after it becomes law. Permits the governing body of a county or city to adopt ordinances regulating companion animal standards of care after this act becomes law if they meet or exceed the requirements in new GS 14-360.5.

Effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.