Bowl’s sharp edge led to dog’s death. Report faults Wake animal shelter.
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- State fines Wake County Animal Center $1,400 after safety violations found.
- Sharp metal bowls causing fatal leg laceration weren’t replaced, report says.
- State cites clogged vents, aging facilities and strained staffing statewide.
A Wake County animal shelter was fined $1,400 after a state investigation found multiple safety violations, including one that caused a dog to be put down.
In a report published last week, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wrote that the Wake County Animal Center had failed to “maintain primary enclosures in good repair and in a manner to prevent injury to animals,” among other violations.
WRAL first reported on the fine last week.
In a statement, Patricia Norris, director of the department’s Animal Welfare Section, said that despite the violations, Wake County’s shelter has “long been a tremendous resource for shelters across the state, providing free training opportunities and additional support whenever assistance is needed.”
“While the recent violations indicate that the shelter was not in full compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, they also reflect the issues facing shelters statewide, including aging facilities and strained staffing resources,” she continued. “The shelter has remained cooperative and responsive in addressing the issues identified in the civil penalty.”
Among the issues identified in the report were water receptacles with exposed “sharp metal edges.”
“A dog named Chopo cut his leg on one of these sharp edges,” the report said. “The injury lacerated an artery in the dog’s leg and Chopo was subsequently euthanized. Despite this incident, the shelter failed to replace the damaged bowls.”
The report also noted that the shelter’s air vents were “covered in large mats of debris, dust and biological matter to the extent that the air flow in the facility was significantly reduced.”
The report notes that the shelter had contacted the Wake County General Services Administration requesting cleaning and maintenance of the air vents, as well as repairs for several other issues.
In a statement to the News & Observer, the General Services Administration said it is working with the shelter to address the issues.
“Repairs for each of the structural violations are in progress, and updated policies are being implemented to address procedural violations,” a spokesperson said. “The County remains committed to complying with state regulations and ensuring that animals at the Wake County Animal Center receive good care.”
In the last three months, the Department of Agriculture has issued warnings or fines to eight different animal shelters, kennels and grooming sites across the state.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM with the headline "Bowl’s sharp edge led to dog’s death. Report faults Wake animal shelter.."
