LEXINGTON, N.C.-- A sign on the door at the Davidson County Animal Shelter gets right to the point. It reads: The Shelter is FULL. "Please Note: If you are surrendering your animal to the shelter it may be euthanized in less than 24 hours."
The sign created discussion and debate on the WFMY News 2 Facebook page after we posted a story about the overcrowded shelter and the sign.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture, which oversees animal welfare, reports overcrowding is an issue at many shelters across the state, especially in the summer time. Euthanasia is not the first choice, but sometimes it becomes the only option.
In North Carolina, shelters have to abide by all rules detailed in the state's Animal Welfare Act. According to state law, if an animal is brought to a shelter it must be held for at least 72 hours before euthanization. But there are some exceptions to the rule.
Dr. Patricia Norris, head of the Animal Welfare Section in the state's Agriculture Department, says euthanization can occur before the 72-hour period if an owner surrendering a pet waives the wait period. In order to do that, a pet owner must show proof of ownership of the animal and sign written consent to euthanize the animal before the expiration of the minimum holding period. The owner also has to detail whether or not the dog has bitten anybody within 10 days before the surrender.
Dr. Norris also explains an animal can be euthanized before the holding period is up if it is seriously injured or ill, as long as the manager of the animal shelter determines in writing it is appropriate to do so.
The 72-hour holding period is designed to allow the public to view the animals for adoption before they are put down. Shelters are allowed to keep animals longer than the 72-hour holding period and will typically follow guidelines set by the county or city they are in.
According to state law, there are some circumstances in which an animal is not allowed to be made available for adoption:
- The animal has been found by the operator of the shelter to be unadoptable due to injury or defects of health or temperament.
- The animal is seriously ill or injured, in which case the animal may be euthanized before the expiration of the minimum holding period if the manager of the animal shelter determines, in writing, that it is appropriate to do so. The writing shall include the reason for the determination.
- The animal is being held as evidence in a pending criminal case.
There are also rules about who is allowed to do euthanizations. In North Carolina, euthanizations at shelters can only be performed by a veterinarian or a certified euthanasia technician. To become a certified euthanasia technician, a person must complete an application, pass a background check, receive training from a certified instructor, pass a written test, & pass a practical examination.
In a phone interview with WFMY News 2, Dr. Norris said there is no limit to the number of animals a shelter can euthanize per day or year. As long as shelters are following the rules, they are allowed to euthanize as they see fit.