In North Carolina, almost 1,000 shelters and boarding facilities are inspected annually by the Animal Welfare Section of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This year, this section marks 20 years of upholding the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act at public and private shelters, boarding kennels and pet shops.
Prior to 2005, NCDA&CS Veterinary Division Livestock Inspectors performed their normal duties and additionally inspected boarding kennels, pet shops and private animal shelters. The public animal shelters were not part of the inspection process.
“There were not rules governing municipality-run animal shelters and boarding facilities across the state,” said Joe Blomquist, supervisor with the Animal Welfare Section. “Some counties would house animals in unheated/unairconditioned sheds. The passing of the Animal Welfare Act gave counties and shelters uniform standards that they had to follow and ultimately improved conditions for these animals. In fact, there are only a handful of counties that haven’t built entirely new shelters since coming under inspection by the section.”
Blomquist has been with the Animal Welfare Section since it’s inception and he has seen a lot of changes. While once responsible for inspecting shelters and boarding facilities in half the state. Blomquist now supervises a team of nine inspectors that cover the state. Blomquist also inspects the 135 shelters and boarding kennels in Johnston and Wake counties.
“The Animal Welfare Act was revised in 2005 to included public shelters from a desire from the community to have improved and consistent standards of care at county animal shelters,” said Blomquist. “Because of the poor conditions and euthanasia practices at some county-owned shelters, a committee was formed consisting of legislators, veterinarians, NCDA&CS Veterinary Division employees and citizens from across the state to work on rewriting the Animal Welfare Act to include inspection of public shelters and euthanasia standards.”
In the Animal Welfare Act, humane care is defined as the provision of adequate heat, ventilation, sanitary shelter and adequate food and water, consistent with the normal requirements and feeding habits of the animals, size, species and breed. The new law also established euthanasia protocols to ensure facilities complied with the rules that govern euthanasia established by the Act. It required that county and municipal animal shelters comply with the same standards of care of private facilities.
The new inspection program also included the hiring of a director, outreach coordinator, inspector and administrative assistant to form the Animal Welfare Section of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
In May of 2006, the four employees started in animal welfare. Being there was only one inspector to cover all 100 counties, Commissioner Troxler gave approval for the outreach coordinator to be reassigned to the field to perform inspections and supervise the other inspector. The two inspectors covered 50 counties apiece with Forsyth County being the dividing county of the state.
As the workload continued to increase three additional inspectors were needed. In 2007, three livestock inspectors transferred into animal welfare. In the 2010 budget, the section was allocated an additional three positions.
Each shelter and boarding facility in the state receives an unannounced inspection on an annual basis. Inspectors also inspect facilities if a complaint is received about conditions or animal care. Additionally, the section administers the Spay Neuter Program, which reimburses counties and municipalities for direct costs of spay/neuter procedures performed on dogs or cats owned by low-income individuals. In 2023, this program supported 5,855 procedures and reimbursed more than $341,000 to county and town governments.
Last year, through funds appropriated by the General Assembly, the Animal Welfare Section offered shelter support fund grants to municipal shelters from improvements to their facilities to help them better comply with the Animal Welfare Act. Up to $50,000 was available per shelter to assist with veterinary costs, animal housing, capital improvements and sanitation. Twelve shelters received one-time grants from this $250,000 appropriation.
The section also supports the shelter community during disasters. Division staff assist in coordinating resources such as food, water and vaccines, and assists in locating alternative housing in and out of state for shelter pets. All employees of the section assisted with disaster response for Hurricane Helene last year. Staff went into the affected counties and assisted with relief efforts including animal relocation efforts, coordinating veterinary care volunteers and supply runs.
“The growth in the number of facilities is one of the biggest changes for the Animal Welfare Section, with the number of facilities almost tripling in the last twenty years,’ said Dr. Patricia Norris, Animal Welfare Section Director. “Technology also offered it’s own challenges and opportunities. Online inspection reports makes it easy for everyone to access information about boarding kennels and shelters. However, technology has also made it easier for organizations or individuals to knowingly, or unknowingly, violate the animal welfare act.”
“The Animal Welfare act was before the explosion of the internet and social media,” Norris said. “It was written not anticipating online boarding services or doggie daycare. With the large number of individuals offering their services online it can be hard to locate them and make them aware of the need to be licensed and inspected until there is an issue such as a death of a pet or an injured animal. While the internet and social media are great resources for shelters to help promote their adoptable animals, it also grants more access to good- hearted people.”
Norris is proud of the work of the Animal Welfare Section and the role it has played in improving companion animal care in the state. As our population grows, she foresees an exponential growth in the number of facilities catering to the dog and cat population. “As we reach a 20-year milestone my hope is that communities will have compassion and grace for animals and the people taking care of them.”