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Local veterinarian urges Moore County to hire shelter-medicine specialist and update animal-response plans
Summary
Dr. Janice Baker told commissioners the county shelter lacks a current animal response plan and specialist leadership, cited a 2012 plan as outdated, called for a volunteer program and more outreach, and warned of high euthanasia rates above the 10% goal.
During the public comment period on Nov. 6, Dr. Janice Baker, a veterinarian who said she served on the Moore County Board of Health and worked in shelter and epidemiology fields, urged the county to consult or hire a veterinary shelter-medicine specialist to strengthen animal services.
Baker said Moore County's animal response and community resources documents are outdated (the most recent posted plan is from 2012), there is little inter-agency collaboration around sheltering and disaster planning for animals, no active county animal response team, and no volunteer program integrated with the county shelter. She said those gaps contribute to what she described as "one of the highest euthanasia rates in the state," exceeding the goal of 10% or less.
Baker recommended the county develop a written strategy, improve outreach (adoption promotion and community events), create volunteer structures that coordinate with rescue groups, and make disaster planning for animals (including agricultural supply protection and avian influenza planning) part of county emergency planning.
The board did not take immediate action on these recommendations during the meeting; Baker's remarks were entered as public comment for staff consideration.
Next steps: item remains a public-comment input for staff/board follow-up; commissioners did not announce immediate policy action in response.
