“It is unlawful to keep an animal that does not belong to you without reporting it within 24 hours to the animal authority, in this case the Humane Society,” said Candy Bacon, director of the Society. "Many people wait several days or longer before reporting that their dog or cat is missing. If your animal has been turned into the shelter by the public or Animal Control, waiting more than 72 hours places your animal's return to you in serious jeopardy.”
By North Carolina law, the animal shelter holds strayor abandoned animals 72 hours. After that time, they become the property of the Humane Society and are either euthanized, placed up for adoption or sent to a rescue. Owner-released animals immediately become the property of the animal shelter.
"The minute a stray comes in, we immediately begin to scan the lost and found log,” said Bacon. “We try to get the animal back to its rightful owner as soon as possible. If folks wait too long to report their lost animal, they run the risk of losing their animal permanently."
"If the public does not report thay have found someone's animal, we can't match the lost and found reports up either,” said Bacon.
The Humane Society would like to urge owners to collar and tag their dogs and cats. North Carolina law requires all animals four months of age or older to have a rabies vaccine and to wear a current tag. "I don't know how many times we have known that a dog or cat belongs to someone, but it did not have any identification" said Bacon. "It breaks our hearts to know that someone is really missing their family friend, but the dog or cat can't tell us who they belong to."
Hunters are urged to contact the shelter.
“This time of year we receive a lot of hunting dogs,” said Bacon. “Most of them are wearing collars but the tag information is out-of-date. Since we stay at maximum kennel capacity most of the time, many of these dogs may end up being euthanized or put up for adoption.”
Beware of Animal Cruelty Investigator Imposters
It has come to the attention of the Humane Society that two individuals are impersonating animal cruelty investigators in Richmond County, said Bacon. They have been described as an older gentleman traveling with a younger woman who attempted to investigate a local horse rescuer.
The Humane Society of Richmond County currently has only one investigator, Mark Pankey. He is sworn and appointed by Richmond County to act as an Animal Cruelty Investigator. Pankey carries required identification and usually works in concert with Richmond County Animal Control.
Pankey and Vivian White, Humane Society Kennel Technician II, recently completed an annual state required Animal Cruelty Investigator's training course. White will be joining Mark in investigating animal cruelty and neglect once she is authorized by Richmond County commissioners.
The public is asked to report any suspected illegal activity involving animals or purported investigators to the animal shelter at 895-0335, Richmond County Animal Control, 997-8320 or the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, 997-8283.
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