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Residents deliver petition seeking county-run animal services and professional director
Summary
A group representing more than 1,500 Moore County residents asked commissioners to remove animal services from the sheriff's office, create an independent county department and hire a professional director to reduce intake and euthanasia; supporters and opponents urged the board to study the proposal at a January work session.
Angela Northston Walt, founder and president of the Moore County Citizens Pet Responsibility Committee, told commissioners at their Dec. 1 meeting that her group has collected a petition asking the county to establish an independent animal-services department and hire a professional director to oversee a long-term plan to reduce intake and euthanasia.
"We are currently representing over 1,500 Moore County voters who have signed this petition," Angela Northston Walt said, presenting a packet of materials and asking the board to schedule a January work session to discuss the proposal.
In a follow-up presentation, Deborah Wilson, a founder of the Companion Animal Clinic Foundation and longtime local animal-welfare volunteer, urged commissioners to make animal services a county department with professional staff and adequate funding. Wilson traced the county's animal-control history, noted examples from other North Carolina counties, and said an independent agency could improve staffing, fundraising and coordination with local rescue groups.
Not all speakers supported the change. Sherry Locklear, who identified herself as a Moore County resident, said she preferred that animal services remain with the sheriff's office, arguing that law enforcement provides on-site services such as vaccinations and quick response to public-safety concerns. "I think that our money should stay within the county and let the sheriff maintain it," Locklear said.
County staff told the board they will consider the request and that commissioners' work sessions in January present an opportunity to meet with citizen leaders, professional staff and other stakeholders to explore options. No formal action to change the organizational structure was taken at the meeting; the petition and supporting materials were accepted for the record and the board agreed to consider a future work session.
What happens next: Petitioners asked the board to set a work session in January so staff and citizen leaders can present details on funding, responsibilities and transition steps. Commissioners asked staff to include the matter on upcoming work-session agendas.
