Eden shelter fails inspection

The Rockingham County Humane Society shelter on Boone Road failed an inspection by the N.C. Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare Division last week.

Dr. Lee Hunter, N.C. State Health Veterinarian, said an e-mail called attention to the Humane Society shelter. The anonymous complainant described animals housed in crates, some kept outside in the heat and a lack of barriers between cages to prevent cross-contamination.

Hunter said before the complaint was submitted his department was unaware of the shelter’s existence, and it had never been inspected.

The facility is a private shelter on Boone Road in Eden, operated by the local chapter of the Humane Society. It is an independent, nonprofit, no-kill facility unaffiliated with the county-funded shelter in Reidsville.

Shelter owner Sue Holland said in the 13 years she has been involved with animal rescue, the state has never conducted an investigation of the facility, she was never made aware the shelter needed an operating license or told there were state regulations.

“(The inspector) just showed up,” Holland said.

Ideally, Hunter said, the new shelter’s staff is responsible for reporting the shelter so regular state-required inspections can begin.

“That’s actually what should happen,” Hunter said. “Our people don’t really have a way of knowing when a new shelter opens.”

A report filed by shelter inspector Darrel Merritt said animals were housed in areas with exposed wood, which is difficult to sanitize. Outdoor dog pens shaded dogs from rain and sun with tarps, and one pen provided no shade. Merritt commented on a severe fly problem outside and inside the shelter, open bags of animal food on the floor, odor problems, poor ventilation and isolation rooms needing better ventilation and signage warning animals inside may be ill.

In his narrative included in the report, Merritt writes, “They didn’t know they had to have a (license.) They have been doing this 13 years.”

The report included instructions to provide better food storage, improve ventilation and cover exposed wood with waterproof shower board. The shelter has 30 days to make improvements then will be re-inspected to ensure the staff has complied.

Hunter said those changes should be acceptable.

“Shower board, if they put that up, should be fine, but it’s always best to build things right the first time,” Hunter said. “The only problem with that is, most people don’t know what they need just starting out.”

Holland said money for daily operations was scarce and improvements to the building will be beyond the Humane Society’s budget, but she has hope local animal lovers will help.

“We’re just hoping that the citizens of Rockingham County help us out,” Holland said. “They always have in the past.”

Staff writer Heather J. Smith can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 16.