The Richmond Co HS in Rockingham, NC failed its February inspection by the state for many reasons including filthy conditions, insufficient employees to care for pets, broken dog houses and structural problems. Here are some excerpts from the inspector’s report:
- Inspector was on sight at 12pm when the facility opens to the public. At that time very little cleaning and care taken had been completed, greatly reducing the possibility of a second cleaning to include waste removal and sanitation as required by the Animal Welfare Act.
- Puppies were laying on heavily soiled newspaper in their enclosures where workers had not yet cleaned today. Waste removal and sanitation should take place a minimum of twice daily.
- Open bags of dry food viewed.
- Medical treatment room: Open cans of food viewed on work surfaces that was dried up and appeared old; open cans of food in the refrigerator was old and molded. Refrigerator used for storing vaccines and medicines had old dried up spills of medicine in it where it has not been kept clean. A towel on the counter used for food/medicine prep for this room is heavily soiled with crumbs, dirt and mice droppings. Used syringes were viewed soaking in dirty bowls, and set out to dry on a drip pan lined with dirty towels. Boxes of new syringes were viewed today. Used syringes should be disposed of immediately after use or sanitized and stored in a means that keeps them clean & dry. Mice droppings were viewed on multiple surfaces in this room. Animals housed in this room have not been cared for or enclosures cleaned while I was present.
- Pest Control: Mice droppings was viewed throughout the facility today. It is important that the facility address the problem in a timely manner. Also, better cleaning practices to include sealing all food, removing all trash in a speedy manner and cleaning & storing all towels and blankets daily will greatly reduce the mice population.
On May 1, the county health department is scheduled to take over the pound but they will be keeping the HS on board to assist because you know, they’ve done such a stellar job so far:
“This will allow the county to operate the day to day shelter business, while it will let the Humane Society concentrate on Humane Society functions instead of trying to manage and operate the building by itself,” said [county manager Rick] Sago. “We are not faulting anyone for what happened down there. It’s a big building to maintain.”
The Richmond Co HS has been operating primarily as a pet killing facility – using taxpayers’ money to put the community’s dogs and cats into the dumpster after forcing them to live in disgusting conditions at the pound. Shouldn’t somebody be faulted? I don’t like the excuses being made by the county going in. It doesn’t bode well for a sharp turnaround at the pound, which is what is desperately needed. The county will be hiring a full time director. Apply if you dare. Moldy canned food will be provided.
They’re not “faulting anyone”??? WTF ever happened to accountability?
If I did my job in such a slipshod manner, you can bet your ass I’d be “faulted” (aka “fired”) pretty damn quickly.
Filthy syringes being reused. That’s just…butchery.
You can’t always tell much about a shelter based on their animal photos, but when those photos show animals being routinely mishandled or with untreated (and possibly necrotizing) injuries, you can put good money on that shelter being a hellhole.
Someone had better damn well be “faulted” for it. Faulted and fired and sent packing with scathingly negative references.
The County Manager is either incompetent or a coward for not setting things to rights immediately.
Most of the issues cited were the result of slipshod housekeeping and L A Z I N E S S. Don’t they have anybody looking for work in Richmond?
Thanks for posting this … Thank you for getting the Rest of The Story” I’ll be sharing this alot…
If they had the funds to hire the people necessary for these fur babies, Every thing would be spic & span… But they do not, they are working on very little, and these animals were cared for with what the HS had to work WITH. People in Richmond County do not want to volunteer unless they are getting something from it. Finances are not there, for people in Richmond County to contribute to the care of these animals, The County is very poor. Jobs are scarce. There are more families getting assistance from the State in this county right now than there have been in years and it is getting worse. I have been to the shelter many times and nothing was FILTHY, I have gone in the mornings and afternoon and I saw 2-3 people cleaning cages and kennels. To :Whomever wrote this article, are you just taking one persons views on this and if so were they only there ONCE in Feb.? Please get your fact straight and research before you look to FAULT anyone!
Pat, Is it your contention that the state inspector’s report is merely a matter of opinion and not to be taken on its face? Further, the pound itself has reported killing most all of its pets to the state of NC on its annual report. Is this also merely a matter of one person’s opinion? Cos these things seem like facts to me.
As to your litany of other excuses, they are just that. There are dozens of open admission shelters all over the US where the staff face all manner of challenges but still manage to save every healthy/treatable pet in their care. Richmond Co could do the same. No excuses.
What I am saying… is the person that WROTE this article seems somewhat biased, This facility passed the 2nd inspection with flying colors, no problems.
On the day the first inspection was done one manager was transporting to a Rescue site, the other manager had an emergency and was being seen by a Doctor, so of course the shelter was understaffed for the amount of animals that were there..Phones ringing, people coming in. Cleaning & Feeding were delayed for this day, it was getting done, but not as fast as normal, and food bends were left uncovered, to save time and get these task done. The cleaning up of one room was put on hold to get the animals taken care of.
How many times have YOU personally been to this facility? I have been there numerous times, witnessed things that have gone on and never saw neglect or abuse! THAT IS WHAT I AM SAYING ! ! !
I’ve never been to the facility. But I have reading comprehension skills and a moral compass. I know that dirty cages, dirty bowls, dirty laundry, dirty syringes and moldy food are bad. I also know that when a state inspector fails your pet killing facility and tells you he’ll be back in 10 days for a re-check, you have 10 days to get your act together for the re-inspection. Hardly impressive.
“Cleaning & Feeding were delayed for this day, it was getting done, but not as fast as normal, and food bends were left uncovered, to save time and get these task done. The cleaning up of one room was put on hold to get the animals taken care of.”
No.
The report indicates long-standing issues of sanitation. This is not a “one day that just happened to be inspection day” thing.
I find it extremely disturbing that you are defending and excusing this behavior.
Look at the screengrabs. People who handle animals like this are not good people. People who leave animals with untreated wounds are not good people. People who think that these photos are ok and dismiss it as “doing the best they can” are not good people.
your opinions are exactly that.. your opinions, what I KNOW from being in this facility numerous time is What I base my “defending this facility” on. This discussion can go on & on but until you have been there and seen, what these people do on a daily basis, I pay no mind to what you are trying to do!
What is it exactly are you trying to do? Bad mouth the people? the facility? the Humane Society? Richmond County residents?
You can go on and on and on.. But From my experience of being there, I KNOW what I KNOW ! END OF DISCUSSION WITH YOU !
Sorry, but those photos speak loudly about the staff handling of the animals. There are many shelters dealing with the same kinds of situations you describe, but they do what they need to do to treat all of the animals with kindness and compassion, to find them homes or get them to rescues or foster homes where the animals will have a chance. My heart breaks for those pups who are being grabbed like that and the poor dog with obviously untreated injuries.
If you think this kind of stuff is okay, then hold on to your opinion, but IT IS NOT OKAY! Bottom line is those three precious dogs are probably dead by now.
Bottom line is those three precious dogs are probably dead by now. Like I said End of discussion with someone assuming! ! Those 3 dogs are alive..2 rescued. you stick to your assumptions, I will stick with FACT and what I know!
FACT. The shelter is being run so badly, the county is taking over.
thank you for your input…
And you are saying… the Health Dept. being in charge is going to change all this???
Where did you come up with this one?
The same place you came up with all of yours !
Actually, what Shirley said was, ” It doesn’t bode well for a sharp turnaround at the pound, which is what is desperately needed.”
Please mikken, don’t start making references to things I actually said, that ruins the whole thing.
;)
Untreated wounds??? On who??? Every animal that comes in with a wound is treated!! As for your ‘screenshots’ of how the animals are being handled….they had just been taken off the animal control truck and trying to bite….there are MANY pics on their Facebook page of animals being held and comforted, outside pics of them playing…..furthermore….the ‘pet-killing’ you speak of was done prior to the director stepping down…euthanasia still occurs, but only when needed, such as traumatic injury or very sick…even pups who are thought to have Parvo receive treatment!!
Your blog is based on bias, and you have picked apart and honed in a few of things wrong and disregarded the majority of what is bring done right…As an animal advocate, I would think you would rather try to rally support for help than damn the facility, staff, and more importantly the animals….Enjoy your high horse and the wind through your hair on your crazy carousel ride….those of us who are truly in this to help the animals will be busy busting our butts rather than bashing those for trying to help….
If you ever come to Richmond County, please feel free to stop by…maybe we’ll treat you to a can of moldy dog food- seems that’s all you and your blog are worth!!!
I think instead of everyone fussing about the condition of the shelter, that have fur babies and love them and are not working should give some of there free time to volontere to help the staff and the animals. they are doing all they can with the staff they have. So put your money were your mouth is and do your part. These babies need homes and rescues not put to death…… If everyone would come to gether in the community this shelter could be a nice place for theses babies until they find a forever home….
What day are you volunteering or fostering ?