GOLDSBORO, N.C. -- Charges have been dropped against the founder of a Wayne County animal shelter who was arrested for treating and taking care of animals displaced by Hurricane Florence. 

• Charges against Tammy Hedges, owner of Crazy's Claws-N-Paws Animal Rescue, have been dropped.
• She was charged with 12 counts of practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
• A petition in support of her got more than 3,500 signatures. 

Tammy Hedges, of "Crazy's Claws-N-Paws" animal rescue was arrested last Friday and charged with 12 counts of practicing veterinary medicine without a license. 

District Attorney Matthew Delbridge dismissed the charges Tuesday with the following statement: 

“The protection of animals and their well-being has always been an important concern, especially during +mes of natural disaster. A passion for and the love of animals is laudable but does not excuse unnecessarily putting their health at risk when other, safer resources are available. The removal of animals from a building that failed to meet suitable standards for license as an animal shelter and away from the control of this defendant who has previously been censured for the unauthorized prac+ce of veterinary medicine was a prudent decision made with the best interest of the animals in mind. This was especially true in light of her taking advantage of a dire situa+on to solicit money and opioid narco+cs from our generous and well inten+oned ci+zens. It is my desire that having ensured the safety of the animals in ques+on, a dismissal of these criminal charges will minimize further distrac+on from my core mission of protec+ng the public from violent crime and allow the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board to take whatever ac+on they may deem appropriate.“

Ms. Hedges had to surrender all animals that did not belong to her to Wayne County Animal Services. Some of those animals have been reunited with their owners. 

Owners were not charged for housing during the storm.