Town urges pet owners to obey leash law

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - 2:01pm

The Town of Wake Forest is reminding local dog owners to be good neighbors and great pet owners by obeying Wake County’s leash law.

The Town regularly receives complaints from residents about dogs running at large – particularly at Town parks and along local greenways. Although Wake Forest does not have an ordinance pertaining to dogs, Wake County Animal Control has jurisdiction to enforce animal control laws within the town and its park system.

Wake County Animal Control Ordinance 91.07 (A) states “It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit an animal to be at large.” Section 91.07 (C) further states “It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any dog to take the dog into or allow the dog to enter any public park without being at all times under the restraint of a leash unless said park is designated as a dog park.”

Any owner permitting an animal to be at large shall pay a civil penalty of $100 for the first violation.

Flaherty Dog Park, 1100 N. White St., provides a free place for dog owners to let their pets run free safely and legally without a leash. Approximately two acres in size, the park is open from dawn to dusk and located adjacent to the Flaherty Park baseball and softball fields. For more information about Flaherty Dog Park, visit https://bit.ly/FlahertyDogPark.

To report an animal control problem, including dogs running at large, call Wake County Animal Control at 919-856-6911.