COMMII III', I'KOC KKDINCS 



TIk- Animal Wcllaro Ail SIikI\ ('oinmilkc mcl li\c (imcs prior (o issuing this final 

 ivp(»iC. Novonihcr 20. I')X7; April X. |t)SS: Aiijiiisl .S. I^)XX: Sopk-mbcr \h. 19X8; and 

 OcIoIk-i 27. I')XX. IjsIs oI ('oMiinilict' niccling altcnilccs. as well as the meeting 

 miiuilcs. arc lontaiiicil in liie C'ommillccs records. Tlie records are on Tile in the 

 Legislative Library. 



Novemher 20. 10X7 Mectmjj 



A( (he initial meeting, the Commitlee lielil a fact lincling session in order to 

 delciniiiie the conrse ol the Commillees work. Ihe Director ol the Animal Wellare 

 Section ol the Depaitment ol Agiicnilnie. Mi. Albert Batmon. presented a report ol that 

 ageiicys duties. Mr. hatmon desciiiud tiie Sections role as the agency responsible lor 

 enlorcing the provisions ol the Animal Wellare Act. He inlormed Ihe Committee thai 

 the agency does not inspect city and conrjty pounds, and that livestock inspectors are 

 used to insitecl Ihe animal shelters, pet siiops. dealers, and boarding lacilities which are 

 covered by the Act. He noleil thai there were no designated "Animal Welfare" 

 personnel, and that due to a lack ol lunds. the enlbrcement ol the Act was incidental to 

 other concerns such as ilisease eradication in livestock across Ihe slate. 



Dr. David Kelley. U.S. Depaitment ol Agriculture, explained that city and county 

 pounds are exempt Irom USDA regulation. He ilescribed thai inspection of facilities that 

 are covered by USDA regulation which are mainly kennels which sell wholesale or to 

 research facilities. 



Mr. Tom Cuirin. North ("amliiia Nelwoik lor Animals, strongly recommended that 

 city aiKl county pounds lie iiuluded under Ihe Ail. \\v noletl that rabies control laws did 

 not pro\ide recordkeeping aiillioiilv. He suggesletl thai lunds for increased cost of 

 enforcemenl ol Ihe Act come Irom lees, ralhei than Irom stale lunds. 



Ms. lilaine Bridges. Association of Animal Control Ofllcers. staled that her 

 organi/alion siipporleil iiiilling all shelters under Ihe Animal Welfare Act. She 

 recommended a public education program and mandatory spay/neuter programs for all 

 shelters. 



Dr. Donna Brown. Norlli ( aioliua Humane I eileialion. noted thai funding was 

 inadequate loi eiilorcemeiil ol the Acl . and Ihal the ledeiation receives numerous calls 

 coiiieining pool coiulilions in Kiuiily ami iiiniiiiipal pounds. 



Ml Viigil Cook. Diiecloi ol Ihe llalilax County Health Department, staled that 

 poliie and coiiils in his aiea igiioie the Animal Welfare Acl. He recommended Ihal 

 rural counlies leieise stale support. Ihal animal lacilities be inspected by trained 

 personnel on the slate level, and Ihal the Animal Wellare Act should apply to county and 

 inunici|ial pounds. 



Ihe Commillee clisciissed vaiioiis ways lo leceive iiiformalion on Ihe issues, 

 including luluic presentations Irom the Norlli Carolina Stale University Veterinary 

 School, coiinly and city animal wellare personnel, and inloiination from other states. 



