Special to IFN

Iredell County Animal Services will be undergoing maintenance to more than 50 dog kennels from July 30 through August 2.

Kennel floors will be refinished, resulting in reduced animal intake during this time and the days leading up. Between July 22 and August 2, Animal Services will only intake stray dogs that are sick, injured, or aggressive. All owner surrenders will be suspended during this time.

Animal Services staff offers the following guidance if you find a stray dog during this time:

♦ Check for ID tags and contact the owner if noted. Stay in the area in which you found the dog to search for the owner, making sure you are safe to do so.

♦ Should you find the owner, please ask for proof of ownership, whether it be pictures on their phone/social media or hard copy pictures, rabies certification (not the tag) which should at least contain the description of the dog to whom the vaccine was administered, or vet records.

♦ Should there be no tag and no owner in the area, please take to a vet office or you can bring the dog to the Animal Services shelter to be scanned for a microchip, remembering you will not be able to leave the dog during this time. Should an owner be found on a microchip, Animal Services will ask for your assistance in returning the dog to the owner.

♦ If you have exhausted all efforts and there is no owner found, please arrange to keep the dog for the required 72-hour stray-hold, while still reporting it as “found” to the shelter. Once the kennels are reopened and intake resumes, you will be contacted to bring the animal in at an appointed time and day.

Animal Services apologize for any inconvenience during this time. While stray and owner intakes are suspended between July 22-August 2, Animal Services will still be operational in all other facets including adoptions and Animal Control operations.

LEARN MORE

Iredell County Animal Services appreciates the public’s assistance during this time. Should you have questions, visit the shelter in person or you can email rescuepets@iredellcountync.gov.