CHARLOTTE, NC (News Release) — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control (ACC) has been undergoing critically needed renovations on its dog kennels since last September. ACC is happy to report that all the lost dog kennels have completed the renovation process. Currently 19 adoption puppy kennels are under renovation and are moving through the process quickly. The goal is to have them completed around April 12th.
Next section of kennel renovations: Dog Adoption – 47 kennels:
The next and final phase of the kennel renovation project are the dog adoption kennels. The deadline to have these kennels empty for the demo to begin is Friday, April 12 by close of business. The dog kennel renovation is projected to be fully completed by end of April.
Dog Kennels Completed
18 Indoor Dog Kennels, which are 2 rooms of 9 kennels in each and are called Dog in Care 1 and Dog in Care 2. These rooms are for isolating dogs with respiratory medical issues. Each room has a new state-of-the-art ventilation system, which helps with disease spread in a shelter environment.
82 Indoor/Outdoor Lost Dog Kennels, these kennels have been updated with new stainless-steel doors and cage sides and tops, and new transition doors. The also have new epoxy flooring. Each door has a built-in food tray system for easy and safe access for feeding and they still have the auto-refill water bowls in each kennel run.
Relief kennels in use:
Additionally, the shelter has felt some relief thanks to the opening of the ACC Satellite Shelter at 2700 Toomey Avenue, (The old Humane Society of Charlotte shelter) on Saturday, October 21, 2023. The City of Charlotte worked diligently for several months over the summer renovating this space allowing ACC to gain twenty-eight (28) dog kennels and eleven (11) cat kennels. This space is being used mostly for smaller dogs (under 45 pounds) and kittens. The square footage of the cat kennels allows the shelter to house 3 kittens per cage if needed. The satellite location is open seven (7) days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This location is by appointment only.
Appointments can be made here.
Goal: moving dogs through the shelter as quickly as possible will be the key to success:
During the next renovation phase, CMPD ACC will be down forty-seven (47) spaces for dogs. This means that it is critical to continue to move dogs through the shelter system as quickly as possible. Many lost dogs will continue to enter the shelter daily, so it is vital to ensure there are more dogs leaving the shelter in positive outcome situations such as Adoption, going into long-term Foster, being transferred to a rescue group, or being reunited with their owner. The key to success is: dogs moving out of the shelter faster than they are coming in.
HERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Adopt: If you have been thinking about adding a dog to your family, there is no better time than now to help save a life while finding the best, loyal, and faithful companion.
Foster: If you can’t adopt but have room for a foster, long-term fostering for Rest and relaxation (R&R) is urgently needed.
Sponsor: Team up with a local doggy daycare or boarding facility to sponsor a stay for an ACC foster dog. Email: friendsofcmas@gmail.com
Donate: to Friends of CMAS Pet Boarding Fund https://www.friendsofcmas.org/donate
How can the public help keep dogs from entering the animal shelter and taking up the high-value kennel space:
Chip: Make sure your dog has a microchip and the registration is up to date with your current phone number and address. Update in the ACC local database for Free.
ID: Make sure your dog wears a collar with an ID tag with your current phone number and address. Visit the animal adoption center during normal business hours and request a free ID tag.
24-48 Hour Foster Hold on to a lost dog at your home while you look for his/her owner. File a found dog report on the ACC website to fulfill the legal obligation and then use the ACC tips to help you search for its owner.
FAQ’s:
Q: How long will this construction take?
A: Construction completion dates are very fluid, so it is hard to provide exact dates. The City of Charlotte and the contractors on the renovation projects are working very diligently and conscientiously to take as few kennels at a time as possible, knowing that this has a huge impact on lifesaving efforts.
Q: Has the Satellite Shelter helped?
A: Any extra kennel space is of course very helpful, but more kennels come with a need for additional staff and a larger operational budget to cover more food, medical and cleaning supplies, and the basic cost of electricity, water, janitorial, trash removal cost and more. Donations are very helpful to offset this extra cost.
Q: What helps the most in a situation like this?
A: Aside from the things mentioned about adopting and fostering:
- Ensure that your pets are spayed and neutered and not reproducing so that unplanned litters end up in the shelter. This includes community cats that live in the community. Make sure they become part of a TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Return).
- Adopt a pet from a shelter vs purchasing from a breeder.
- If you find a lost pet, consider fostering them, while you look for his/her owner.
- Knowledge is power! There are always so many inaccuracies floating around about municipal shelters, help educate by sharing correct information. If you ever have questions reach out to the Communications team or Shelter Management.
- Shelters being transparent about euthanasia and euthanasia reasons. As an advocate, never assume or make guesses or try to inflate shelter statistics to “scare or pressure people into adopting” Always share accurate numbers either from the shelter website or from the Communications team or Shelter Management.
- Be a pet detective! Help reunite lost and found pets with their owners.
- Volunteer at your local shelter!
Questions:
Please contact ACC Communications & Outreach Manager – Melissa Knicely at melissa.knicely@cmpd.org.
