The Humane Society of the United States strongly disapproves of the North Carolina Agricultural Commission’s budget proposal recently submitted to the state’s General Assembly that would do away with its Animal Welfare Section, leaving North Carolina’s animal shelters, boarding kennels, pet stores and rescue groups with no oversight.
Agricultural Commissioner Steve Troxler’s budget plan for Fiscal Year 2012, submitted to the Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources Subcommittee of the House of Representatives and the Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources Committee of the Senate, would eliminate the Animal Welfare Section, which certifies euthanasia technicians and conducts inspections of the shelters to assure compliance with the state animal welfare act. The inspectors also provide guidance to shelter staff on training and the resources available to them. Additionally, the Section responds to complaints from citizens regarding animal welfare issues.
“Before the Animal Welfare Section was put in place in 2005, we had shelters in North Carolina that were inhumanely euthanizing animals and there was no agency enforcing any regulations,” said Kim Alboum, North Carolina state director for The HSUS. “Our shelters are in crisis with pet overpopulation and budget cuts, and shutting this agency down would be a devastating blow not only to the animals but to the men and women who care for them.”
The HSUS urges the Committees of both chambers responsible for creating the final budget to reject the proposal to eliminate funding for the Animal Welfare Section during their deliberations.
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