BY MILES LAYTON

ELIZABETH CITY — Before we get to the heart of this tragic matter — let me tell you about Hippo, Marley, Dare Devil and care for other animals to illustrate what we’re dealing with here.

Some of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division‘s most troubling findings against SPCA of Northeastern North Carolina centered on the lack of timely and appropriate veterinary care — especially for animals with visible injuries or illnesses.

• $1,000 was assessed for failing to treat a cat named Hippo, who suffered a broken leg and did not receive veterinary attention for over nine weeks. Hippo underwent a leg amputation, but the procedure was not documented in the shelter record.
• An additional $500 was fined for not administering pain medication post-surgery to the same animal.
• Another $1,000 was issued for Marley, a dog with a non-weight-bearing front leg injury that went untreated for five weeks.
• $1,000 was assessed for failing to provide any veterinary care to “HBC 5/27/25,” a cat struck by a car, for three days after intake. The cat was euthanized by a veterinary clinic, but the shelter did not have any records for the animal.
• $500 was issued for Dare Devil, a blind kitten with injuries, who did not receive vet care for 11 days.
• $250 was fined for a group of kittens with upper respiratory infections who had received no medical treatment until ordered to do so by an inspector during the July 17 visit.

As seen in the viral headlines, the NCDA&CS fined SPCA of Northeastern North Carolina $14,750 following a comprehensive inspection that uncovered numerous violations of state animal welfare regulations. See my remarks at the end of this story.

The fine, one of the largest ever imposed on the Elizabeth City-based shelter, stems from an investigation conducted on July 17, 2025, revealing serious failures in recordkeeping, sanitation, veterinary care, and basic shelter conditions. See court documents at the end of this story.

The civil penalty was issued under North Carolina General Statute § 19A-40, which allows the state to assess financial penalties based on the severity and extent of harm caused by violations of the North Carolina Animal Welfare Act and accompanying administrative rules.

As of August 5, the SPCA of Northeastern NC had not released a public statement in response to the fine. Their website and social media platforms remain focused on adoption promotions and donation appeals but have not addressed the penalties or the corrective actions being taken.

The SPCA serves as a vital animal welfare hub for Elizabeth City and surrounding counties, handling stray intake, public surrenders, adoptions, and fostering. The revelations have shaken some in the community.

Others have expressed concern about transparency and accountability, calling on the shelter’s board of directors to hold leadership responsible and prioritize animal care over fundraising efforts.

According to state law, the shelter has the right to appeal the civil penalties and may submit a corrective action plan to address the violations. NCDA&CS will conduct follow-up inspections to verify compliance.

Until then, animal advocates, donors, and the public are watching closely to see how the SPCA responds. With $14,750 in fines levied and the welfare of hundreds of animals at stake, the coming weeks may determine whether the shelter can recover its reputation — and meet the standards the law demands.

Recordkeeping Failures

The inspection report cites multiple lapses in documentation — a cornerstone of shelter accountability. Among the most basic requirements for any licensed animal shelter is the ability to track the intake, medical care, and disposition of animals.

The state has more than 900 animal shelters. They are inspected on an annual basis.

The SPCA was fined:

• $100 for failing to maintain records on the disposition of animals.
• $400 for failing to document veterinary care for four animals.
• $100 for not creating intake records within 48 hours.
• $100 for not maintaining accurate records.
• $200 for failing to provide required documentation for animals identified as Taz, Chaz, and a cat listed as “HBC 5/27/25.”

“… (T)he shelter failed to maintain records of veterinary care including treatments, procedures and administration of medications,” the NCDA&CS stated in its findings.

Substandard Facility Conditions

The shelter was also cited for physical deficiencies in its facility — issues that impact the cleanliness, safety, and overall well-being of the animals.

• $100 was assessed for failing to provide a suitable method of drainage in the Dog Observation room, which prevented rapid elimination of standing water.
• $200 for not cleaning enclosures twice daily.
• $100 for failing to keep common areas clean and sanitary.
• $200 for failing to separate cats with communicable diseases from healthy animals.

The state’s inspection noted the spread of illness in shared spaces and found that cleaning protocols were either nonexistent or inadequately followed.

Access to Water and Sanitation

One of the most significant penalties issued was $6,000 for failure to provide continuous access to fresh, potable water in 30 enclosures — a violation of 02 NCAC 52J .0206(a), that mandates that animals must have constant access to fresh, potable (drinkable) water, with an exception for situations requiring specific veterinary care where water access may be temporarily restricted. 

According to the inspection report, animals were left without water for prolonged periods, a basic welfare failure that directly jeopardizes the health of the shelter’s residents.

“The shelter failed to properly clean the enclosures a minimum of two times per day,” the report said of the 30 enclosures’ cleanliness. ” … Many dogs were housed in feces-covered kennels. Feces soiled the entire floor of many kennels, preventing the dogs from being able to walk or lie down without coming into contact with waste. …

“Most of the cats were housed in unclean cages. The cages held litterboxes soiled with feces, and the floors of the cages were covered in used litter.”

Veterinary Neglect and Pain Management

“The medical record for this cat shows that the shelter staff related that Hippo meowed excessively while at the shelter,” inspectors stated in regards to the cat named Hippo. “Excessive vocalization is an indication of pain in cats.”

The document also shows that numerous kittens were showing visible signs of Upper Respiratory Infection, “yet the shelter had not provided veterinary care for any of these kittens.”

It was also noted that the shelter failed to separate sick animals from the healthy ones.

Failure to Provide Vaccinations

In one of the most sweeping violations documented, the SPCA was fined $2,500 for failing to vaccinate 25 animals — 13 dogs and 12 cats — against rabies, despite the fact that all had been in the facility for more than 15 days and were over four months old.

North Carolina law requires rabies vaccinations for all shelter animals meeting these criteria, both to protect the animals themselves and the general public from potential exposure.

Socialization and Enrichment Failures

State rules also mandate that animals held in shelters for extended periods must receive documented social interaction and enrichment to maintain their mental health. The inspection found that 107 long-term care animals had no record of such activity, prompting a $500 fine under 02 NCAC 52J .0209(7)(a).

State Warning: Future Violations May Bring Harsher Penalties

The NCDA&CS warned the SPCA that any continued or future violations would be considered a willful disregard of the Animal Welfare Act and could result in:

• Suspension or revocation of the shelter’s registration
• Civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation

The agency emphasized that the July 17 inspection findings were serious enough to justify heightened scrutiny moving forward.

Reporter’s Notebook:

Most every newspaper I’ve worked, I’ve written stories about animal shelters. I’ve won state press association awards for my coverage of these matters — and it is always tragic — malnutrition, lack of care, bad bookeeping, negligence.

Worst shelter — Fairmont, W.Va. — I can still recall the smell, poorly ventilated. Cleaned… whenever. Terrible bookeeping that made folks wonder where the money all went, but it was never enough money no matter who was handling the account books.

One place in Pennsylvania — coverage led to the state just shutting the shelter down. Animals were sent near and far.

Some counties in rural Ohio and West Virginia — they can’t afford a shelter so the dogs run wild, not in a good way. One place, a woman was mauled and later died after being attacked by a wild dog.

That said, one shelter in Ohio — run like clockwork. Dogs walked several times a day, clean. Managed by a former longtime police officer. Strong volunteer and donor base.

Hiring new shelter managers to fix conditions — that’s a news story.

Addressing parvo outbreaks — that’s a news story.

Building a new multi-million dollar shelter — that’s a news story.

Posting pages in the newspaper featuring adoptable pets — I made that a common practice at every newspaper I managed. Some local media outlets don’t do that anymore, some make the shelter pay for the ad, which can create a burden to an agency trying to serve the common good.

On that note, Tri-County Animal Shelter — my email address is mileslayton1969@gmail.com — please link up with me and we’ll start running a Pets Page to feature local animals.

I’m an animal lover — our “rescue” dogs always come from the shelter.

After years of covering the “shelter beat” I can say, I don’t know what the answer is to prevent these kinds of things from happening — they are always tragic.

Support Tri-County Animal Shelter. Volunteer. Donate. Get involved.

Court Document