Animal welfare advocates push for more support for rural shelters

The state enacted regulations for animal shelters in 2006, and rural shelters like Montgomery County's have been slow to comply with standards for animal conditions, staffing and training. In return, the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offsets some of the costs the shelters incur in trying to control their local pet populations through spaying and neutering animals.

Rescue groups say meeting those guidelines and pursuing the reimbursements are complicated for poorer counties, and they want the state to do more to help.

"I think some of the rural counties are losing out," said Kim Alboum, state director for the Humane Society of the United States. "We're seeing some of our communities that are better funded receiving the (reimbursement) funds, whereas our rural shelters are just out there on their own."

The SPCA of Wake County recently pulled 14 dogs from the Montgomery County shelter for adoption. Mondy Lamb, the group's spokeswoman, said she likewise would like the state to adopt a formula that better helps poorer counties to raise their shelter, adoption and spay and neuter standards.

"It's our state lawmakers that need to take action on this," Lamb said. "They have to recognize who's falling through the cracks. There are smaller counties and smaller shelters that are falling through the cracks, and they're not getting access to the funds that they need."

Penny Page, who coordinates North Carolina's spay and neuter training and reimbursement program, disputes the notion that rural shelters are at a disadvantage. Half of the state's reimbursement funds are set aside for so-called Tier 1 counties, she said, and those poor counties need to show some effort to meet standards to qualify for the money.

"It's not an excuse because there are plenty of Tier 1 counties requesting reimbursement," Page said.

Alboum said lowering the kill rate at the Montgomery County shelter will take more commitment from the county government and more community support in addition to a simpler way to distribute state spay and neuter funds.

"The county also needs to be more accountable," she said.

The Montgomery Humane Society, a nonprofit that isn't affiliated with the shelter, is raising money to build an adoption center next door. After the WRAL Investigates' story aired, viewers donated more than $2,000 to the group.

WRAL News reached out to Montgomery County manager Matt Woodard and offered to help promote an adoption clinic for the animals in the county shelter. Instead, Woodard asked that people who want to help should coordinate through the Montgomery County Humane Society, either by donating money or adopting animals.

Troy, N.C. 27371

kalboum@hsus.org