For our state (NC) and all others, there are Animal Welfare Laws and an Administrative Code that the state uses to ensure that animals in shelters and other facilities are maintained in a safe, healthy, sanitary manner. At least that is the INTENT, and for sure the state does find and shut down many facilities that blatantly mistreat and abuse animals, but they also hold a very low standard of enforcement when it comes to the facilities that pass inspections.

The standards of care should be common sense, but how can any agency catch violations or lazy shelter employees who are able to skirt these rules? After all, the code enforcers give notice of when they will be inspecting shelters... which gives shelters plenty of time to prepare and fix as many defects as they can before arrival.

Shelter staff are there as a job. Do you know anyone who cuts corners where you work? Do you think anyone cuts corners in a job that is undoubtedly stressful and takes an emotional toll?

With that in mind, in our state, here are some of the "rules" that are "enforced" and some reflection on the reality of life for shelter dogs:

1) Dogs which have an undercoat or are heavy shedders are rarely brushed or groomed regularly. This is because hair must be picked up. Code enforcers do not think that grooming is something that matters and they overlook any that is matted or clearly is in need of brushing. Inspectors do NOT look for matted hair or dogs that clearly need a thorough brushing.

2) Dog food bowls and water containers must be sanitized daily. This is never done, and there is NO way any code enforcer can prove it was not done, so this is ignored by shelter staff.

3) Water must be fresh, daily. Shelter staff do not empty water bowls and refill with fresh water. Again, no way any code enforcer can tell so this is always ignored by shelter staff.

4) Dogs must be provided "enrichment" but this ONLY applies to dogs that have been in a shelter 30 days or longer! Common accepted standards of care and most veterinarians recommend that dogs get between 30 minutes and 2 hours of physical activity daily. This can include activities like walking, running, playing games, swimming, and participating in dog sports. Dogs in shelters routinely do not get this daily activity and interaction. Working & Sporting Breeds: Breeds like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Siberian Huskies are designed for high levels of physical activity and often require more than two hours of exercise each day which is completely never met. Even after 30 days of captivity :(

5) Animal waste is supposed to be removed "with adequate frequency" yet it is also stated that shelter staff only have to check for waste twice a day. In a shelter full of dogs, what sane person believes they all go at the same time so staff only need to clean up cages twice a day? Shelter inspectors think this is acceptable. Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows better...

6) Animal waste is ALLOWED to remain in a cage with a dog, as long as the dog is able to lay down without touching it or can "step over it"!!!!!! We've personally observed dogs with feces on their coats for days (guess they didn't get the state memo!), or sitting in puddles of urine, wagging their tails and splashing urine around when we come by their kennels. This is what goes on in shelters "inspected" by state employees! Shelter inspectors think this is acceptable. Is this what a sane person does in their home?

7) To be technical, shelter staff don't like having to pick up hair because it is "debris" but lawn clippings are technically also "debris" yet no grass cuttings are ever required to be bagged and carried away so why the double standard of enforcement?

8) Chihuahuas and other small breeds can shiver on the cement floors and have difficulty getting warm, but are not given anything except maybe a plastic cot to lay on, even when laws require special provisions to any animal having difficulty maintaining core temperature. Shelter inspectors think small dogs shivering is acceptable.

9) Food shall be located to "minimize contamination by waste" yet this is in the same set of laws allowing feces to remain except the 2 times a day the shelter staff do a "walk-through" to remove any feces??? Shelter inspectors think this is acceptable.

10) Uneaten food is to be discarded within 24 hours, but staff leave the food if an animal does not eat any of it. Shelter inspectors think this is acceptable.

11) Wastewater from cleaning one side of a divided kennel is allowed to flow into the other clean side of a kennel, as long as it does not cross into a different dog's kennel. Shelter inspectors think this is acceptable.

State Inspectors and their Directors are only concerned with appearances, and bare-minimums and many shelter staff have no issue with the bare-minimum either. If you have issues with this, don't be afraid to demand more from your state employees.

Or better yet, write your local representatives and demand more bullet-proof laws that require shelter staff to clean waste immediately when seen and not be able to walk by and ignore it if not "clean up time". Go to your local county council meetings and ask them to adopt measures and standards of care that you have for your dog at home.

Shelter staff certainly do not treat dogs like they are important. It is just a job to them, and as long as they meet bare minimums, it is OK. Or is it? Only you can let them know.