GCPD Animal Care and Enforcement Clarifies Animal Shelter Owner Surrender Process
GASTONIA, N.C. -- After recent media coverage of five abandoned puppies in a Gaston County neighborhood, there have been some concerns about the current animal owner surrender process. The current process requires that an appointment be made through the Kennel Supervisors in order to practically manage the flow of the animals in our care.
This management tool helps to eliminate some, but not all, surprise intakes from the public, which would contribute to an already “at capacity” shelter. This process takes into account required holding periods for certain animals (Stray, Bite, Seized Custody, etc.) animals awaiting surgery/medical clearance, animals awaiting transport, animals on rescue hold, etc.
By planning, in advance, the flow of animals coming into the shelter from the public we are able to keep our euthanasia rates lower and find positive outcomes form most of our animals. The Gaston County Animal Shelter is NOT a “No Kill” Shelter. However, we have been awarded that recognition by “Best Friends Society” due to our abilities to properly manage our intake and keep our annual euthanasia rate at or below 10%, despite surrounding organizations that have closed their intake or limit their surrenders all together. Many of our adjacent and peer counties such as Mecklenburg, Forsythe, Guilford, and Cabarrus have similar if not more restrictive intake procedures, but all, including Gaston, consider hardship exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to our own intakes to the shelter from the public as well as animals brought in by our Enforcement Specialist, we have experienced an increase of citizens from surrounding counties being dishonest about their Gaston County residency and trying to surrender to our facility because their home county would not assist them with intake of that animal.
Our organization works diligently to help educate our citizens to find other options or resources to help train, rehome and provide food for THEIR pets through documentation found on our website, social media platforms and literature available at the shelter and with Enforcement Specialist out in the field. We maintain a community food bank and pet housing assistance free of charge through our local partners and generous private donors as well as hosting an annual rabies clinic where Gaston County residents can have their cats and dogs rabies vaccinated at no cost.
The Enforcement Specialists are available through our 24/7 dispatch service through Gaston County Communications Center (704-866-3300) for assistance and advice in owner surrender situations. Exceptions are often made through coordination between supervision in the field and at the shelter in order to accomplish the best resolution for the animal, the shelter and the citizen’s particular circumstances.
We have an obligation to the animals already in our care, to the community we serve, and to the resources entrusted to us. Responsible shelter management means recognizing that our capacity has limits and managing those limits before they become a crisis… i.e. surrender appointments.
As the Warning sign reads in front of the animal shelter, ABANDONING A PET IS CRUEL AND ILLEGAL, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS, PLEASE CALL 704-866-3300.
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