Anson Co. Puppy Case: Where Are The Public Records?

ANSON CO., N.C. – The test results are in and Shayla the Anson County Shelter puppy did not have rabies, confirms the Anson Co. attorney Scott Forbes. The four-month-old animal was euthanized Tuesday and her remains were sent to a lab for rabies testing.

When WCCB was at the shelter Wednesday, it was closed. Public outrage has been growing. Critics say the puppy was mishandled by a shelter worker, mis-identified as having bitten the shelter worker, and then put down in an abuse of power.

As WCCB reported Tuesday night, Forbes admitted to WCCB that the shelter worker did violate a documentation policy.

Cell phone video of animal rescuer Gretchen McCollum turning Shayla back over to the county; she now wonders whether she legally had to. McCollum says, “I don’t think I did. They should have had a seizure (warrant). Or, like, a warrant or a seizure order to get because she had already had a verbal release to rescue.”

We emailed the Anson County Sheriff on Wednesday and asked for the public records his deputies documented the day they reclaimed the puppy. We have also requested copies of the shelter’s public records for Shayla, including the bite report. So far, we have received nothing.

Also, a Change.org petition to have county manager Megan Garner fired has more than 25,000 signatures so far.