CCAC: STOP THE NEEDLESS KILLING OF INNOCENT LIVES

Dogs and cats are dying when Cleveland County Animal Control (North Carolina) has many empty kennels and tons of space available. 13 Dogs were labeled feral (somehow owner surrendered) killed the next morning without any attempt to find rescue for them. Many were only 12 weeks old, and one adult had a collar on. (feral?, beg to differ on this) Over 200 cats were put down in July alone. We feel that Cleveland County Animal Control needs to be a separate entity, not connected with the landfill (whether the county is aware or not, they are associating these precious souls with the trash of the county). We would suggest going a step further and adding Animal Care to Animal Control. You would then have the control to enforce cruelty, bite, seize cases, and the care to compassionately care for the abandoned animals. We also feel that for any of this to happen, CCAC has to be consistant with their policies and procedures.
Next, policies and procedures that are compassionate and should be followed:
1. There should be no euthanasia unless all resources have been exhausted and there is absolutely no space left. (If the no kill equation was put into effect and followed, we probably would not even be having to post this)
2. Volunteers allowed to interact with the animals, walking them, socializing with them, etc. ( a simple waiver could cover any issues)
3.Scanning of all animals for microchip, immediate contact of owners, and an attempt to return to owners before taking to AC, hence saving space for the others.
4.A compassionate, truthful Rescue Coordinator who works with all the rescues, not against them. Who promotes adoption events, who gets the word out as soon as animals come in, emailing rescues bio, info, pics. A Rescue Coordinator who is willing to go the extra mile to save lives, no matter the age or condition.
5. Giving all animals fair time for rescue/adoption. Any and every animal brought in should at least be offered as "rescue only" to save their lives. We are fortunate to work with rescues, who like ourselves, will take on ferals, seniors, parvo pups, distemper, cancer, major injuries, whatever it takes.
6. Immediate training on correct temperament testing. Also immediate training of the officers to have compassion, not hanging dogs in the air on catch poles and slinging them into the trucks. These type of procedures are doing nothing but damage to these babies.
7. Immediate training of all staff on trying to be community minded, instead of threatening. Many many people have called to report finding animals to be told immediately how they could be charged with a felony for stealing the animal. Newsflash, filing a report with CCAC, publicizing you have found the animal is protecting the animal not stealing.
8. Education of health and care of animals. Every dog that has come out of CCAC for the last six to seven months has had upper respiratory infections, and the cats are fighting a losing battle. Simple antibiotics given when first sign could go a long ways.
9. Animals being fed and watered properly twice a day. Beds being provided for said animals. Kennels cleaned with out animals in them,
and dried before animals returned. (actually dried, maybe a fan, a towel, whatever, maybe even a dehumidifier. Whatever it takes other than leaving tons of kennels open.
10. A set of guidelines for "rescue only" animals which should include sick, injured, pregnant, questionable temperament, bite records, etc.
11. Work toward animals being fully vetted including neuter before adopter picks up. ( and yes this is possible as we have talked to low cost about actually bringing a satellite office and doing the surgeries in Cleveland County)
12. County laws pertaining to spay/neuter. Although a law was passed, it has been tabled. If that law was not suitable, then commissioners quit waiting, draft another, and get the animals of our county altered. We have a major problem and it does not need to be tabled.
13. Education Educate the county on how to provide for their animals. Not only shelter, food, water, but educate on the importance of spay/neuter, heartworm preventive, vaccines. Educate the children, they are the future.
14. Work with the community, not against it. We have tried for six years, buying vaccines and donating before it became policy at CCAC for the dogs/cats. Buying and organizing a flea/tick med drive, purchasing hundreds of slip leads, crates, puppy food when we found out CCAC did not have but one kind of dry food, any and everything the former RC said she needed, we tried to provide. Ask CCAC/health services director what we have ever done, and your answer will be nothing. This is not a competition, as it seems CCAC wants to think. It should be the county working with the community to save lives.
15. Hours that the working public can actually come and adopt a dog/cat. At least one or two days where CCAC stays open past 5 pm. One or two Saturdays a month would also help. Offsite adoption events need to be held. CCAC can go to Charlotte to do an adoption event but none locally?.
17. A TNR program needs to be adopted for the cat/kittens in our county.
16. Last but definitely not least, if you do have to euthanize, it should be  IV EBI, and no other way.
I urge each and every one of you to sign this petition, email the health department director, the board of health, the county commissioners, the North Carolina Department of AG/animal welfare division and let them know, what is happening now is wrong, too many lives lost for no reason and it needs to stop.