CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the second time in a week, Charlotte's animal shelter has put a plea out to the community for support as its kennels hit capacity.
Wednesday, CMPD Animal Care and Control staff reported at least 42 dogs had entered the shelter system in one day, maxing out capacity and forcing the shelter to ask the public to help house the county's homeless pets, via fostering or adoption. For perspective, in December, the latest month of data the shelter has released online, there was an average intake of 15 dogs a day.
The short-term solutions for capacity come amid an ongoing push by shelter advocates for a larger facility. The current site was built 30 years ago when Charlotte's population was roughly half of what it is now. Further exacerbating the capacity crunch are months-long accessibility compliance upgrades, which are temporarily pinching precious kennel space, but not expanding it in the long-term.
Animal Care and Control is down more than 40 kennels during this latest phase of construction, and the overall project could last a few more months, shelter officials said.
Those pushing for more resources for the Queen City's animals and animal owners have been attending city council meetings for months, sharing their wishes, which primarily include more kennel space and staff, and a separation of the police department and animal services, so each agency can focus on its respective priorities.
Council member Tiawana Brown, who represents District 3, which includes the shelter, told WCNC Charlotte on a recent visit to the shelter that she supports both of these requests.
"I'm 100% in support of the shelter," Brown said. "I'm on the budget committee. So, we're going to look at what they're talking about. We're going to stay in close contact and make sure I hear their needs and their cries and take it back to my team."
Brown's visit to the shelter comes on the heels of a January visit by legislators, including Sen. DeAndrea Salvador, Rep. Terry Brown, and Nick Halmrast, a representative from Sen. Thom Tillis's office. The group toured the shelter to learn about the need for expansion there, the various ways the shelter serves the animals and people in the Charlotte area, and what legislative changes could help the work animal shelters do for the community.
"I think that's something that's very critical," Sen. Terry Brown told WCNC Charlotte during that visit. "Because it's such a needed service in our community, but a service we don't think about and that's probably a testament to the folks who work here... They're keeping our community safe and making sure that we're not having to think about the things they do on a daily basis."
Late last year, city councilwoman Dimple Ajmera told WCNC Charlotte the city was generating estimates to expand the facility and would vote on the project this year.
To foster a CMPD shelter dog, complete this online application.
Contact Vanessa Ruffes at vruffes@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.