Char-Meck: Cats, Scarce; Chokepoles, Plentiful

Last week, an ACO from Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C took a cat on a local morning news show to promote an offsite adoption event.  This exchange between the news anchor and ACO Conner caught my attention: Anna Kooiman: "Do you guys have a pretty big surge of cats in the shelter at the moment?" Julia …

At least we won’t have to wait for a “thorough investigation” on this one…

Last Tuesday, a Charlotte Pitbull owner lost his dog Diesel when a repairman left the gate open in Diesel's yard.  The owner, Joe Gibson, immediately started searching for Diesel.  He posted over 150 fliers around the area.  He checked the Char-Meck ACC website for lost dogs.  He went to the shelter in person to search …

How Can We Save More Pitbulls in NC’s Largest City?

An Examiner article looks at the recent case of 13 Pitbulls that were surrendered by the owner to Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C and immediately killed.  The author mentions the popularity of Pitbulls as pets in Charlotte and the lack of options for those rescued: Sadly, many of the dogs that are rescued do not find …

Overwhelmed? Here, Let Us Help…

Charlotte resident Demetred Norman reportedly became financially overwhelmed in trying to provide proper care for his 13 Pitbulls.  A neighbor put in a call to Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C and ACOs showed up at the home on Monday.  Mr. Norman surrendered the dogs to AC & C which has a policy prohibiting the adoption of …

Another Oops Killing at Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C

In March, a NC man's two Pitbulls got out of his fenced yard through a hole and were picked up by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control.  He fixed the fence and tried to redeem the dogs but animal control had “mistakenly” killed them.  They could not explain why.  Adding insult to injury,  CMPD-ACC then sent …

Less Killing, Tastes Great

You might recall the video of Susan Boyer, an employee at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C shelter, offering her view that killing pets by injection is a "morale booster" for shelter staff vs. killing them via the gas chamber. Today, I came across a different view from Tommy Morson, the AC director in Tuscumbia, AL.  …

By What Right?

What gives a taxpayer funded animal shelter the right to abuse and/or kill pets?  Is it the law of Finders Keepers? "We got 'em now so we can do whatever we want to 'em"? There are laws to protect pets from abuse and killing by private citizens.  Should animal shelters and their workers be exempt …

Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C Volunteer of the Year Nominee

I was recently contacted by Ms. Beatriz "Betty" Gale, a current volunteer at the CMPD-ACC shelter in NC.  Ms. Gale said she has volunteered there for about 2 and 1/2 years and has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year in addition to receiving other accolades from the shelter.  I tried to reach shelter director …

NC Shelter Photos: Abuse or Just Poor Judgment?

I have read numerous online statements from Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C employees and supporters denying there was any abuse indicated in the shameful photos posted on Facebook.  "No animals were harmed" seems to be a common sentiment as well as "If this is abuse then everyone who dresses up their pets in Halloween costumes is …

UPDATED: Sign Petition for Change at NC Shelter

Demand accountability and transparency from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control in NC.  Tell the community leaders that business-as-usual at the shelter is not acceptable.  We want change. Thank you Stephanie Feldstein for helping spread awareness on the abuse at CMPD-ACC. Update, November 23:  There has been some action on the abuse at the shelter.  Mayor …