What Is Animal Services?
Simply put, it is a way to help people and animals live together in harmony. This is in line with our Mission:
The mission of the Cumberland County Animal Services Department is to protect our citizens by active enforcement of state and local laws, provide for the humane sheltering and outcome of stray and unwanted animals, and promote responsible pet ownership. The primary objective of Animal Services employees is to provide excellent service to the citizens, while dedicating themselves to improving the welfare of animals and humans.
Animal Services strives to protect:
- Pets and wild animals from the many dangers they face.
- People and property from the dangers and nuisance of unconfined domestic animals.
Why there is a need for Animal Services:
The reason is people. Animal problems begin with pet owners who:
- Do not spay/neuter their pets
- Let their pets roam free
- Fail to observe laws and ordinances
In order to protect our community and our local pet population, Animal Services needs the help of its citizens. By taking the time to view this website, a better understanding will be gained of what this department does and does not do.
Cumberland County Animal Services Department operates a shelter and adoption program to protect and find homes for unwanted animals; enforces ordinances, such as leash laws, laws governing vaccinations and humane treatment; and also educates the public, to make citizens aware of animal problems and ways to help solve them!
Animal Services is prepared to handle many situations:
- Complaint investigation - look into complaints of nuisance or threatening domestic animals. If necessary, proper legal action may be taken (including citations, fines and impoundment).
- Cruelty investigation - enforce laws governing the humane treatment of animals. If necessary, may remove animals from unsafe or unhealthy conditions and begin legal action against negligent owners.
- Animal quarantine - animals that bite are located and captured to fulfill state quarantine requirements.
- Animal rescue - use knowledge and equipment to help find and rescue lost or trapped animals.
The personnel at Animal Services wear many hats and strive to perform each and every aspect of their job as professionally and thoroughly as possible.
They will:
- Love and care for the animals brought into the shelter.
- Do their best to find homes for as many of the animals as possible.
- As a last resort, humanely euthanize animals that cannot be placed.
When calls or requests are received, they are prioritized by considering public safety, animal safety and available personnel resources. Listed below are the department's highest priorities:
- Aggressive Animals / Animal Bites
- Animal Cruelty and Neglect
- Assist Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
- Severely Injured or Sick Animals
- Animals on School Property
- Wildlife Inside Personal Residence or Business
What can citizens do to help?
Support the efforts of this department and be a responsible pet owner.
- Have all your pets spayed or neutered.
- Do not let pets run free. Keep dogs on a leash.
- Report all cases of animal abuse or inhumane treatment.
- Have pets vaccinated for rabies and licensed according to North Carolina laws.
- Obey all laws and ordinances that affect pet owner and pet. View the Cumberland County Animal Services Ordinance.
Can also help by: