CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control issued an urgent plea for the public's help Monday, saying its shelter is at maximum capacity due to a significant influx of dogs.
As a result, the shelter says it's facing the "heartbreaking necessity" of making euthanasia decisions for animals that have no place to go. A shelter official said ACC has taken in 121 dogs over the last week, that is more than half of the total capacity of 203.
Animal Care & Control is asking anyone who's able to help through fostering, adoption and staycations, where the animals get a short break from the shelter by staying at someone's home.
"Every act of kindness can make a life-saving difference," Animal Care & Control posted on Facebook. "Together, we can ensure that every animal receives the are and attention they deserve."
Animal Care & Control asks anyone interested in helping to visit its primary location at 8315 Byrum Drive or the satellite shelter at 2700 Toomey Avenue. The satellite location closes at 5 p.m. while the primary shelter is open until 7 p.m.
Shelter capacity (or lack thereof) has been a primary focus for animal rights advocates for years. Animal Care & Control regained full shelter capacity in May, but shelter volunteers have voiced concerns about shelter capacity to city leaders. While the city's proposed budget included a $600,000 increase for ACC, volunteers say it's not enough to fix what they really need.
"We simply don’t have the amount of kennels that a city our size should have," Kelsey Joseph, a board member of the nonprofit Friends of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Services, told WCNC Charlotte. "Animals are euthanized daily there because of it."
It has been roughly 30 years since the shelter's capacity was set. Data shows that, at the time, Charlotte's population was half the size.
The shelter’s director, Dr. Joshua Fisher, told WCNC Charlotte that designs have been created to expand the existing shelter. The city estimates the project would cost around $200 million.
Due to the cost, Fisher said the shelter is looking into the option of creating a second shelter. Once the concept designs are completed, officials will compare the two options. Fisher hopes to have a rough idea of the desired path forward by this fall.
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