SAMPSON COUNTY
ANIMAL CONTROL
The Sampson County Animal Control Department was
established to regulate the stray animal population within the County, to
investigate animal-inflicted injuries and the potential abuse or neglect of
animals, to control the spread of rabies and to promote responsible pet
ownership. top
Hours of Operation
The Animal Control Department’s hours of
operation are between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. After
normal operating hours, and on holidays and weekends, an officer is on call
for emergencies. Emergencies are defined as those situations that are life
threatening to human or animal and/or cannot wait for normal working hours.
In case of a non-life threatening emergency, call (910) 592-1151 for emergency
animal-related assistance – not 911. top
Animal Shelter/Animal Depository
The Sampson County Animal Shelter is located at 168 Agriculture Place, Clinton NC. The
shelter is open to the public Monday – Friday, from 3:30 p.m. until
5:00 p.m., unless the officers are responding to an emergency call.
An Animal Depository, located at the back of the Animal
Shelter, facing County Complex Road, is available to the public 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week for the purpose of dropping off unwanted pets and docile
strays. The depository has three trap doors designated for dogs, puppies and
cats, and each door leads to an individual pen so that the animals are not
co-mingled. The drop pens are emptied at least once a day. top
Impoundment of Stray Animals
Citizens may report stray animals by calling Sampson
County Animal Control at (910) 592-8493 or Sampson County Administration at
(910) 592-6308. Calls are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, except
rare instances or in the event of an animal that has inflicted injury to a
person. top
Stray animals are impounded for three days, not
including holidays. Saturdays and Sundays count as holding days. If the
animal was wearing a pet tag, the owner will be notified. If you suspect your
pet has been impounded, you should call or visit the Animal Shelter. To
re-claim your pet you must show proof of vaccination and pay an $25.00
impoundment/reclamation fee. top
Animal Adoption Policy
Due to our region’s rabies epidemic, the Sampson
County Animal Control Department does not allow adoption of
unwanted/impounded animal unless the animal has come to the shelter with a
current vaccination and has documented proof of vaccination. top
Responsible Animal Ownership
Animals can be a wonderful addition to your life;
however, those persons who are deciding whether or not to have a pet should
ask themselves the following:
• Am I ready to make
a commitment to this pet for its entire life?
• Do I know and
understand the characteristics of the breed of animal I intend to own?
• Am I allowed to
have a pet where I live?
• Is my yard large
enough to accommodate the needs of the pet?
• Will other pets
get along with the new animal?
• Am I financially
prepared for the cost of maintain the new pet, including veterinarian fees,
food and pet supplies, and shelter?
• Can I set aside
time to play, groom and train my pet?
• How will I take
care of my pet during vacations?
• Do I have the
patience and discipline to tolerate and training a chewing, whining,
scratching, barking pet?
If you have made the decision to own a pet, you should
remember to do the following to ensure your pet remains healthy, happy and
safe to you and others:
Regular Veterinary Checkups: To ensure your pet is
healthy, it is recommended that it be seen by a veterinarian within two weeks
of purchase or adoption and that annual checkups and vaccinations be
scheduled.
Spaying and Neutering: Spaying/neutering is the
surgical removal of organs essential to animal reproduction. Every year,
hundreds of unwanted animals are euthanized unnecessarily.
Proper Animal Restraint: Responsible pet ownership
requires that animals be restrained within an enclosure or by leash. The
enclosure should be constructed and maintained to prevent the dog from
escaping and to deter unauthorized access. This will prevent pet from harming
or interfering with unfamiliar animals, people or property. It will also
prevent them from becoming lost or injured by vehicles or other animals.
Humane Treatment: North Carolina General Statute 14-360
makes it unlawful to wound, injure, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance,
cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill any useful beast, fowl, or animal.
(Cruelty in this statute is defined to include every act, omission, or
neglect where unjustifiable physical pain, suffering or death is caused or
permitted.) Violation is considered a Class I misdemeanor. Persons witnessing
or suspecting inhumane treatment of animals should report their suspicions to
the Animal Control Department. top
Animal Noise
Sampson County does have a Noise
Ordinance that requires that animals be harbored in such a manner that
the peace and quiet of the public is not unreasonably disturbed. If you are
bothered by the chronic howl or barking of a neighborhood dog, your first
course of action is to contact the owner to let him/her know of your concern.
Try to work out a solution in a neighborly manner. If the problem persists,
contact the Sampson County Sheriff’s Department for assistance. top
Animal-Inflicted Injuries
Each year hundreds of animal-inflicted injuries are
reported to Sampson County Animal Control. Dogs and cats cause most of these,
and the majority of the victims are children. Many of these injuries could be
avoided if pet owners will take the responsibility for appropriately training
and containing their animals.
Animal-inflicted injuries should be reported
immediately to Animal Control. Seek medical assistance through your personal
physician, the Sampson County Health Department or hospital emergency care.
If possible the animal should be immediately confined. If not, report to
Animal Control the breed, size, color distinct markings and location of the
animal. An Animal Control Officer will investigate the report. By law, the
biting animal must be quarantined and/or sent to the State Laboratory for
rabies virus testing. Impoundment may be at the Animal Shelter or at an
approved veterinary office at the owner’s expense. top
Rabies Epidemic
Sampson County experienced 9 cases of rabies in 2001.
Because of the prevalence of this deadly disease, citizens are advised to
learn to recognize rabid animal behavior and to protect themselves and their
pet by having their animal vaccinated.
Rabies is a virus that attacks the spinal cord and
brain in warm-blooded animals. Wildlife most commonly infected are raccoons,
foxes, skunks and bats. Domestic animals such as dogs, cats and ferrets are
also susceptible. Animals with rabies can survive up to six months in an
infected state and can endanger other animals and humans. During the
infectious stage, the rabies virus is present in the animal’s saliva
and can be transmitted through any open wound in the skin or in the membranes
of the eyes, nose or mouth. Once clinical or overt symptoms appear, the
animal will die within a week. A pet, when bitten by a rabid animal, may
develop symptoms within two to 24 weeks, but typically within 3 to 8 weeks.
The pet will initially show abrupt changes in behavior – increased
anxiety, depression, irritability or even greater displays of affection.
Clinical symptoms typically include convulsions, muscular incoordination,
extreme irritability, frenzied behavior and foaming at the mouth. Less
typically, the animal becomes depressed and will hide. Finally, the animal
develops paralysis of the jaw, then general paralysis and death. top
To prevent exposure to rabies:
• Prevent contact
with wild or stray animals by keeping trash in closed trashcans and sealing
off openings into your home that might provide entry for wildlife, including
openings under decks, chimneys or pet doors. Do not feed wildlife or stray
animals.
• Prevent contact
between stray and domesticated animals. When possible feed pets indoors or
within confined area. Walk pets on a leash. Be wary of domestic and wild
animals displaying unusual or suspect behavior, and report animals acting
strangely to Animal Control.
• Do not keep wild
animals as pets. Even certain animals born in captivity can be rabies carriers.
• Warn children not
to approach wildlife of any kind and to be wary of domesticated animals they
do not know.
• HAVE YOUR PET
VACCINATED. If your pet comes in contact with an animal exhibiting the
symptoms of rabies, report it to Animal Control. Vaccinations are not a
one-time shot. The vaccine must be administered every one or three years,
depending upon the vaccine used and the age of the animal. Vaccinations must
be given by a licensed veterinarian. Sampson County offers RABIES VACCINATION
CLINICS during April and May each year.
• If bitten or
scratched by an animal exhibiting the above symptoms, wash the affected area
immediately and thoroughly with soap and water. Apply antiseptic and seek
medical attention. Report the incident to Animal Control, and make a
reasonable attempt to confine the animal, but only if you can do so safely.
If this is not possible, try to watch the animal until an officer arrives so
the animal can be captured and tested. top
Beaver Management
The beaver population in Sampson County often causes
nuisances such as flooding and the subsequent destruction of bottomland
timber and agricultural crops as well as the blockage of culverts and
drainage ditches and the subsequent damage to roadways and private lands. In
an effort to control the beaver population and mitigate potential damage, the
county provides beaver management assistance with professionally trained
trappers. For more information, contact LeAnn Honeycutt at 910/592-6308. top
Other Sites of Interest
State of North Carolina Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources: www.state.nc.us/DHR/docs/rabies
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Chief Animal Control Officer:
Tim Bass
samanco@sampsonnc.com
Physical Address:
168 Agriculture Place
Clinton, North Carolina 28328
Mailing Address:
168 Agriculture Place
Clinton, North Carolina 28328
Telephone: (910) 592-8493
Facsimile: (910) 592-1273
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