North Carolina Administrative Code

02 NCAC 52J .0203 OUTDOOR FACILITIES (a) In outdoor facilities that are subject to the Animal Welfare Act, primary enclosures, common areas and walkways with which an animal comes in contact: (1) shall have groundcover constructed of sealed concrete or other surfaces so long as i…

02 NCAC 52J .0204 PRIMARY ENCLOSURES (a) Primary enclosures and exercise areas shall be constructed so as to prevent contamination from waste and wastewater from animals in other enclosures. All surfaces with which an animal comes in contact shall be impervious to moisture exclud…

02 NCAC 52J .0205 FEEDING (a) Adult dogs and cats and puppies and kittens older than six months shall be fed at least once each 24-hour period. (b) Puppies and kittens less than six months of age shall be fed at least twice in each 24-hour period. An eight-hour interval between f…

02 NCAC 52J .0206 WATERING (a) Animals shall have continuous access to fresh, potable water, except as might otherwise be required to provide adequate veterinary care. (b) Veterinary care for a specific animal that requires water to be withheld, given in intervals, or any variati…

02 NCAC 52J .0207 SANITATION (a) Waste shall be removed from primary enclosures, exercise areas and common areas to prevent contamination of the dogs or cats contained therein and to reduce disease hazards and odors. Enclosures and exercise areas for dogs and cats shall be proper…

02 NCAC 52J .0208 EMPLOYEES History Note: Authority G.S. 19A-24; Eff. April 1, 1984; RRC Objection August 18, 2022 and rule returned to agency on November 7, 2022.

02 NCAC 52J .0209 CLASSIFICATION AND SEPARATION Animals housed in the same primary enclosure or confined to an exercise area shall be maintained in compatible groups, with the following additional restrictions: (1) Females in season (estrus) shall not be housed in the same primar…

02 NCAC 52J .0210 VETERINARY CARE (a) A written program of veterinary care ('PVC') to include disease control and prevention, vaccination, euthanasia (animal shelters only), disposition of diseased, ill, injured, infirm or deformed animals, and provision of adequate routine and e…

SECTION .0300 - TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS 02 NCAC 52J .0301 VEHICLES (a) Vehicles used in transporting dogs and cats subject to the Animal Welfare Act shall be mechanically sound and equipped to provide fresh air to all animals transported. (b) The animal cargo space shall be cons…

02 NCAC 52J .0302 PRIMARY ENCLOSURES USED IN TRANSPORTING DOGS AND CATS (a) Primary enclosures such as compartments or transport cages, cartons, or crates used by persons subject to the Animal Welfare Act to transport cats and dogs shall be constructed, ventilated and designed to…

02 NCAC 52J .0303 FOOD AND WATER REQUIREMENTS If dogs and cats are transported for a period of more than six hours: (1) The transportation vehicle shall stop a minimum of once every six hours for a period of no less than one hour. Dogs shall be removed from their respective prima…

02 NCAC 52J .0304 CARE IN TRANSIT (a) Drivers or traveling attendants shall inspect each animal in transit with adequate frequency to determine the animal's comfort, health, and safety, and to obtain or provide relief or emergency care if needed. (b) If a transport lasts more tha…

SECTION .0400 - EUTHANASIA STANDARDS 02 NCAC 52J .0401 ADOPTION BY REFERENCE A person required to obtain a certificate of registration pursuant to G.S. 19A, Article 3 may use any method of euthanasia approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association ('AVMA'), and/or the Hum…

02 NCAC 52J .0402 AUTHORIZED PERSONS Only a Certified Euthanasia Technician pursuant to 02 NCAC 52J .0403(1) or a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in North Carolina, may euthanize an animal in a certified facility. History Note: Authority G.S. 19A-24; Eff. Ma…

02 NCAC 52J .0403 DEFINITIONS As used in this Subchapter: (1) "Certified Euthanasia Technician" means a person who has: (a) been instructed in the proper methods of humane euthanasia, security and records keeping; (b) has passed the written examination and the practical examinati…

02 NCAC 52J .0404 CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR EUTHANASIA TECHNICIANS (a) Individuals who perform euthanasia shall be trained and qualified as a Certified Euthanasia Technician as set forth in this Section. (b) Individuals seeking certification as a Euthanasia Technician shall …

02 NCAC 52J .0405 CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Applicants for certification as a Certified Euthanasia Technician shall be at least 18 years of age at the date they receive certification and shall demonstrate compliance with this Section. Applicants are not eligible for certification i…

02 NCAC 52J .0406 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS An applicant for certification shall: (1) Submit a completed and signed application which can be obtained by calling the Animal Welfare Section ('AWS') office at (919) 707-3280. (2) The contents of the applications shall include the foll…

02 NCAC 52J .0407 TRAINING AND EXAMINATIONS (a) Training and examinations for euthanasia certification shall consist of: (1) Classroom lecture covering the entire list of subjects in Paragraph (b) of this Rule; (2) A written test provided by the Animal Welfare Section, demonstrat…

02 NCAC 52J .0408 TRAINERS (a) Certified Euthanasia Technician training shall be provided by the Animal Welfare Section or by companies or individuals meeting the following criteria: (1) be a NC licensed veterinarian that has euthanized dogs and cats; or (2) be a CET formerly or …

02 NCAC 52J .0409 PROBATIONARY EUTHANASIA TECHNICIANS History Note: Authority G.S. 19A-24; Eff. March 23, 2009; Repealed Eff. September 1, 2022.

02 NCAC 52J .0410 EXAM REQUIRED An individual who has not passed the written exam and the practical examination may not serve as a Certified Euthanasia Technician. History Note: Authority G.S. 19A-24; Eff. March 23, 2009; Readopted Eff. September 1, 2022.

02 NCAC 52J .0411 NEW APPLICATION The Animal Welfare Section shall deny the application of any applicant who fails the written examination twice or the practical examination twice. If the individual wishes to apply for certification again, the individual shall submit a new applic…

02 NCAC 52J .0412 ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATION Upon the receipt of materials specified in this Section the Animal Welfare Section shall issue a Euthanasia Technician Certificate. History Note: Authority G.S. 19A-24; Eff. March 23, 2009; Readopted Eff. September 1, 2022.

02 NCAC 52J .0413 LENGTH OF CERTIFICATION A Euthanasia Technician Certificate issued by the Animal Welfare Section is valid for five years from the date of issuance unless it is revoked pursuant to this Section or upon termination of employment as described in this Section. Histo…

02 NCAC 52J .0414 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT Upon termination of employment by voluntary or involuntary separation from the certified facility or closure of the certified facility, a Certified Euthanasia Technician shall not perform animal euthanasia in a certified facility until …

02 NCAC 52J .0415 NOTICE OF TERMINATION A certified facility shall notify the Animal Welfare Section of the termination of any Certified Euthanasia Technician within 10 days of the termination. Said notice shall be in writing and mailed to Animal Welfare Section; 1030 Mail Servic…

02 NCAC 52J .0416 REINSTATEMENT If a former Certified Euthanasia Technician is employed at a certified facility before the expiration of his or her certification, the employer may request reinstatement of the certification from the Animal Welfare Section ('AWS'). The AWS shall re…

02 NCAC 52J .0417 CERTIFICATION RENEWAL (a) Certifications may be renewed every five years provided that: (1) within the 12 months immediately preceding the application for certification renewal the Certified Euthanasia Technician has taken and passed a practical examination in c…

02 NCAC 52J .0418 DUTIES A Certified Euthanasia Technician shall: (1) Prepare animals for euthanasia in accordance with 02 NCAC 52J .0401; (2) Scan for a microchip, and attempt to reach the individual(s) or organization associated with the microchip present in the animal unless e…

02 NCAC 52J .0419 GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE - CERTIFIED EUTHANASIA TECHNICIANS The Department may refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate the certification of a Euthanasia Technician, or may deny, revoke, suspend, sanction, place on probation, or impose other forms of discipline upon a…

SECTION .0500 – EUTHANASIA BY INJECTION 02 NCAC 52J .0501 INTRACARDIAC INJECTION Intracardiac injection for euthanasia shall only be administered under the following conditions: (1) due to injury or other medical condition, the animal is unconscious, or the animal has been render…

SECTION .0700 - EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES 02 NCAC 52J .0701 EUTHANASIA UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES For purposes of this Section, an extraordinary circumstance is one in which an animal is offsite from a shelter and is an immediate risk to animals, humans, or public health…

02 NCAC 52J .0702 GUNSHOT OR OTHER METHODS Under extraordinary circumstances a shelter employee may use gunshot or other extreme method of euthanasia as set forth and in accordance with the American Veterinary Medical Association or the Humane Society of the United States incorpo…

02 NCAC 52J .0703 METHODS AND STANDARDS The methods of euthanasia used by a certified facility under an extraordinary circumstance must be a method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association and/or the Humane Society of the United States for use on that species of an…

02 NCAC 52J .0704 TECHNICIAN NOT REQUIRED If an extraordinary circumstance or situation occurs and euthanasia is necessary, the person performing the euthanasia is not required to be a Certified Euthanasia Technician at a certified facility. History Note: Authority G.S. 19A-24; E…

02 NCAC 52J .0705 REPORTS A certified facility or registrant shall prepare a report of any euthanasia performed under extraordinary circumstances or situations, and keep the report on file for at least two years. The report shall include the date, time, identification of the anim…

SECTION .0800 – POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL 02 NCAC 52J .0801 MANUAL REQUIRED Any certified facility performing euthanasia shall have a current policy and procedure manual about euthanasia. History Note: Authority G.S. 19A-24; Eff. March 23, 2009; Readopted Eff. September 1, 2022…

02 NCAC 52J .0802 CONTENTS The policy and procedure manual shall set forth the shelter's equipment, process, procedures and documentation requirements for the euthanasia of animals pursuant to G.S. 19A 32.1(b)(2) and (g)(ii) and 02 NCAC 52J .0101(4); .0418(1) and (2); and .0501. …

02 NCAC 52J .0803 ADDITIONAL CONTENTS A certified facility's policy and procedure manual shall be kept consistent with the publications listed below and reflect the current information for each. The manual shall include: (1) A copy of the current North Carolina Animal Welfare Act…

SECTION .0900 – ANIMAL SHELTER SUPPORT FUND 02 NCAC 52J .0901 ELIGIBLE EXPENSES Eligible expenses include: (1) Veterinary costs – Grant money may be requested for veterinary expenditures incurred for the assessment, diagnostic and triage evaluation, medical treatment, minor surgi…

02 NCAC 52J .0902 APPLICATION GUIDELINES (a) A local government applying for grant money from the Animal Shelter Support Fund (the Fund) shall submit the completed application to the Animal Welfare Section (AWS) of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service…

02 NCAC 52J .0903 EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS (a) Each completed application shall be evaluated by the Animal Welfare Section (AWS) staff. (b) The staff shall review all applications for completeness. If an application is incomplete, the applicant shall be asked to reapply with a …

SUBCHAPTER 52k – animal exhibitions SECTION .0100 – purpose and scope 02 NCAC 52K .0101 PURPOSE The purpose of this Subchapter is to establish standards for animal exhibitions at agricultural fairs to reduce the likelihood of the transmission of disease from animals to humans. Hi…

02 NCAC 52K .0102 SCOPE The rules in this Subchapter apply to animal exhibitions at agricultural fairs where animals are displayed for the purpose of physical contact with humans. History Note: Authority G.S. 106-520.3A; Eff. September 1, 2006; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule i…

SECTION .0200 - DEFINITIONS 02 NCAC 52K .0201 DEFINITIONS As used in this Subchapter: (1) "Agricultural fair" or "fair" means a fair required to be licensed by the Commissioner of Agriculture pursuant to G.S. 106-520.3. (2) "Animal contact exhibit" means any exhibit at an agricul…

SECTION .0300 - SIGNAGE 02 NCAC 52K .0301 SIGNAGE An animal contact exhibit shall provide visible signage at the entrance and exit of the exhibit to educate the public regarding: (1) the fact that animal contact may pose a health risk; (2) items that are prohibited in animal area…

02 NCAC 52K .0302 MINIMUM SIZE OF LETTERING ON SIGNAGE All lettering on signs shall be at least 3/8 inch high. History Note: Authority G.S. 106-520.3A; Eff. September 1, 2006; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. March 22, 2015.

SECTION .0400 – operations and staffing 02 NCAC 52K .0401 FENCING (a) Animals and bedding shall be separated from the public with fencing to minimize the public's contact with manure and bedding. This does not apply to: (1) animal rides (including pony, camel, and elephant rides)…

02 NCAC 52K .0402 PROHIBITED ITEMS In order to minimize hand to mouth contact, no pacifiers, baby bottles, drink cups, food, drink or smoking shall be allowed in animal contact exhibits. History Note: Authority G.S. 106-520.3A; Eff. September 1, 2006; Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A,…