Nash County to add staff after failed animal shelter inspection
NEWS COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON.
>> WELCOME BACK. THE NASH
COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER IS CLOSED
TODAY. THE FACILITY ANNOUNCING
A TEMPORARY CLOSURE A DAY AFTER
FAILING A STATE INSPECTION
INSPECTORS FOUND A DEAD KITTEN
SANITATION ISSUES AND OTHER
PROBLEMS. AND ONLY ONE PERSON
WAS WORKING AT THE TIME.
WRAL'S HEIDI KIRK JOINING US
NOW LIVE IN ROCKY MOUNT AT THE
ANIMAL SHELTER.
>> HEIDI, IT'S THE SECOND TIME
THE STATE HAS FOUND SIGNIFICANT
PROBLEMS AT THIS FACILITY.
>> WE'LL ACTUALLY THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY BACK HERE AT
THIS FACILITY IN JUNE AFTER
THEY FIRST INSPECTION. AND NOW
TAKE A LOOK. THE DOORS HERE
ARE CLOSED AND THEY SAY ON
THIS, NO DUE TO STAFFING
LIMITATIONS. THE PED
CONNECTIONS CENTER IS
TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR
ADOPTIONS AND SURRENDERS.
THEY'RE FACING FINES AND WE'RE
NOT SURE WHEN THESE DOORS ARE
GOING TO REOPEN.
THE PARKING LOT IS QUIET
OUTSIDE THE NASH COUNTY PET
CONNECTION CENTER. THE SIGN ON
THE DOOR WILL TELL YOU YOU
CAN'T ADOPT OR SURRENDER RIGHT
NOW DUE TO STAFFING
LIMITATIONS.
>> I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT
I BLAME THE COUNTY FOR THEY'RE
PROCRASTINATION AND HIRING
EMPLOYEES. SHELLEY MILBURN
FOUNDED A GROUP THAT SUPPORTS
THE SHELTER. SHE SAYS SHE'S
SEEN THE ISSUES FIRST HAND AND
AT THE ROOT OF THEM STAFFING
SHORTAGES ARE ALLOWED MY
VOLUNTEERS. THEY'RE AMAZING.
>> BUT LATELY THEY'VE BEEN
HAVING A STEP IN AND DO OTHER
THINGS OTHER THAN JUST TAKING
PICTURES AND GETTING INFO ON
ANIMALS. THEY'VE BEEN HAVING
TO CLEAN. IT WOULD HAVE HELPED
FEED WATER. IN A STATEMENT, THE
COUNTY SAYS IT'S ADDRESSING
THE CHALLENGES STARTING WITH
STAFFING SAYING, QUOTE, WE TAKE
THIS REPORT SERIOUSLY AND ARE
ACTIVELY WORKING TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS OUTLINED.
>> WE ASKED NASH COUNTY
OFFICIALS SPECIFICS ON HOW THEY
PLAN TO DO THAT. THEY SAY
THEY'RE WORKING TO HIRE.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'LL
BE PULLING FROM OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT SHELTER
STAFF AND PUTTING IN PLACE MORE
PROCEDURES FOR OVERSIGHT.
MILBURN SAYS THESE REPORTS ARE
A WAKE-UP CALL AND IT'S TIME
TO DO BETTER.
NOW WE ASKED NASH COUNTY A
THOROUGH ALMOST $600,000 BUDGET
FOR THIS FACILITY IS ENOUGH
TO MEET THOSE FINES AND ALSO
THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THEY
SAY OVERALL. YES, ALTHOUGH THEY
WILL HAVE TO AMEND IT A LITTLE
BIT FOR 2 PART TIME POSITIONS.