NC H849

Prohibits leasing, offering to lease, selling, or offering to sell any domestic cat or dog for personal, family, or household use if the agreement allows the pet to be used as security or repossessed by the seller or lender for nonpayment.

Exempts breeding agreements for purebred dogs registered with national registries, show or entertainment use, service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and security or law enforcement dogs used by government or business entities.

Violation is classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor and constitutes an unfair and deceptive trade practice under existing consumer protection law.

Any contract provision violating the prohibition is null and void, but does not restrict purchasing pets through unsecured personal loans.

Effective December 1, 2021, applying to contracts entered into on or after that date and offenses committed on or after that date.