North C'an)lina Network 



For Aiiimals 



/• , , -1 PO Box 33'i6'. 



[I voice lor the \'oiceless rwnigi,. nc ?/f.oG 



NEWS RELEASE 



From: N.-m y n. Rich 



Phone: 919 787 5190 

 For Immediate Release 



LIMITATUJHr. OF NORTH CAKOLltlA ANIMAL LAW 



l^Tlclph . . On Frldny, Aiip, . J. "L 10:00 n.m. in room 1/.03 of Lite Lep,lsl at Ive 

 lUilldlnp,, Lhc North Cnrolinn Nctwnrk for AiiimnlR will present to a leRislative Study 

 Commission evidence of viol nt Ions of the state's animal protection laws which have 

 gone iinprosecuted and unpunished hecanso of lej',nl limitations of the law and its 

 enforcement . 



Authorized hy the 1987 Cencial Asr.emhly to study provisions and effectiveness of 

 the North Carolina Animal Welfare Act, the Commission is examining whetlicr county 

 and municipal shelters ( pounds) r.hovild he included in the Act and whether the maintenance 

 of central records of acquisition and disiuisition of pound animals should be required. 



Of the 85 shelters opcratinf, in the state, 70-75 are not covered by C.S. 19-A, 

 the state's Animal Welfare Act. Established by cities and counties under the authori- 

 zation of C.S. 67 ( which was cnacicd in 1951) these 70 facilities exist for the 

 purpose of rabies control, not animal protection. They are operated by dog wardens, 

 who are directed by Chapter 67 to be responsible to the Department of Public Health. 

 Tiint agency requires the wardens to submit a monthly report to the state which, aside 

 from specific questions dealing with tabios, asks only for a list of the total number 

 of animals brought to the pound and "exterminated." No information as to acquisition, 

 adoption, or identification of animals related to helping owners find missing pets is 

 required in this report, even though the wardens are empowered to trap p'opies' pets 

 and take them to the pound. 



In 19B3, the rabies section of the state's jiublic health law (Chapter 130) was 

 amended to say that pound animals should be kept for 72 hours, that reasonable effort 

 to locale owners should be made, and thai accurate records of acquisition and disposition 

 of animals be kept. But no provision for enforcement was made, no funding for enforcement 

 was allocated, and as far as the Network can determine, little or no enforcement lias occur: 



Cbnpter 19, ibe Aiiiin.il Uilf.ito Act, has no such provisions for locating ouTi^rs and 

 minimum holding period. In fact, dogs and cats brougiit to any of the 15 shelters covered 

 bv this Act may be disposed of within minutes of tbiir arrival. 



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