NORTH CAROLINA – The Tar Heel State is making the top of a deadly list.
- North Carolina comes in at number three with the highest number of cats and dogs killed at shelters
- Volunteers at the Wake County Animal Shelter say they are not surprised
- California and Texas took the first two spots of the list
North Carolina comes in at number three with the highest number of cats and dogs killed at shelters in the country, according to the Best Friend Animal Society.
Volunteers at the Wake County Animal Shelter say they are not surprised. The organization says in 2018, 246,000 cats and dogs were taken into shelters. Nearly 56,000 of those ended up euthanized.
“That’s the problem in North Carolina. We don’t have spay/neuter laws and some of our counties are really poor. You know, they are rural counties,” director Jennifer Frederico said.
To stop the high numbers, Best Friend Animal Society's new goal is to make sure every state qualifies as a "no kill" state by 2025.
Check to see where a “no kill” shelter is located near you
This means 90 percent of animals are saved. If you are not ready to adopt a pet, there is another way you can help.
"Fostering is huge because you are not only helping the pet you bring into your home, you are helping the pet that now gets its kennel at the shelter so you are essentially helping two."
California and Texas took the first two spots of the list.
