Dog at Robeson County Animal Shelter in Robeson County, N.C., looks up at staff member. | Photo by Emma Hall
Story by Emma Hall
ANCHOR LEAD
250,000 dollars. That is how much the General Assembly has set aside for animal shelters in the state. One of these shelters has recently undergone some administrative changes and was in desperate need of the funds. Reporter Emma Hall visited the Robeson County Animal Shelter to bring us the story.
NAT: *dogs barking*
Major Tammy Deese, Robeson County Sheriff’s Department
“There’s so much needed at the shelter, we’ve struggled with that”
TRACK:
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Department took over the local animal shelter in July 2023.
Leiutenant Cobey Houser, Robeson County Sheriff’s Department
“Once we took over and we started doing some evaluation of the condition of the building… we found a lot of improvement needs to be done”
TRACK:
One of the areas most in need of improvement was flooring.
Major Tammy Deese, Robeson County Sheriff’s Department
“With every one of our inspections, our flooring has been non-compliant”
NAT: *dogs barking*
Major Tammy Deese, Robeson County Sheriff’s Department
“we knew it was one of the things that was most costly. And we needed funds to do that because our budget is exhausted at this point.”
TRACK:
For this shelter, the General Assembly’s Animal Shelter Support Fund came just in time. With the number of violations in shelters across the state, the Assembly allowed these funds that are usually reserved for natural disasters to be used for improvements,
Heather Overton, Assistant Director of Public Affairs at N.C. Department Agriculture and Consumer Services
“A change in the Appropriations Act allowed this pot of money to be used to help with facility improvements…”
NAT: *dogs barking*
Heather Overton, Assistant Director of Public Affairs at N.C. Department Agriculture and Consumer Services
“to help shelters either come into compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, or just to improve their facilities in general for the communities that they serve.”
Leiutenant Cobey Houser, Robeson County Sheriff’s Department
“it was a first come first serve type deal so as soon as it soon as it hit the internet I went ahead and let the major know we applied for it so that we could get some more financial help on improving the facility out here for the animals”
STANDUP:
Behind me is the Robinson County Animal Shelter. This shelter is set to receive $50,000 from the General Assembly’s Animal Shelter Support Fund.
TRACK:
Lieutenant Houser said the funds should come in the next few months.
NAT: *dogs barking*
Leiutenant Cobey Houser, Robeson County Sheriff’s Department
“when I spoke to them they’re looking at they told me somewhere between four to six months out before they actually hit.”
TRACK:
Overton said she hopes this isn’t a one-time fund from the General Assembly.
Heather Overton, Assistant Director of Public Affairs at N.C. Department Agriculture and Consumer Services
“We hope that is something that continues into the future where we have this funding available for local shelters.”
Leiutenant Cobey Houser, Robeson County Sheriff’s Department
“the state has been very good with working with us…every little bit helps.”
TRACK:
I’m Emma Hall, reporting.
ANCHOR TAG
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting applications for the Animal Shelter Support Fund until the entire amount is distributed to state shelters.
TRT 2:25
