Put an end to the animal population crisis in Onslow County NC by banning the sale of puppies/dogs roadside. It is no secret that NC ranks among the top 5 states in the country for the highest euthanasia rates and Onslow County contributes hundred and hundreds of animals to that number every single year. Yet every single year backyard breeders continue to recklessly contribute to the overpopulation and overcrowding at both the Onslow County Animal shelter as well as surrounding rescue organizations. With the lack of regulations and minimal enforcement of the extremely lax laws that are in place animals are abused and mistreated as they are bred over and over for profit with little to no regard for basic rights of a living creature. Every year hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on a failing animal control and shelter program because there are no laws in place to support a better way forward. With the current laws, basic food, water and shelter is required, however, that consists of a roof and walls of some sort and bowls… no insulation, no bowls actually filled and no accommodation for the current weather. There are no laws in place for tethering, so it is perfectly legal to leave a dog chained up. Time and time again, local citizens have asked for change and time and time again they have been ignored. Together, let’s be a voice louder than the handfuls here and there that have spoken up and been dismissed. Animal control can only enforce the laws that are in place and it’s abundantly clear that the laws are severely lacking. The shelter system is overloaded to the point that residents are told by dispatch to just let an animal go when they call about a stray. The waiting list for owner surrenders within onslow county is months long. This is a HUGE safety issue not only for the animal left to wander, but the residents that are going about their day to day lives. The onslow county commissioners seem to have forgotten that they are elected officials, voted in to enrich the lives of the residents and overall function of the county. They continue to turn a blind eye to the glaring issue and ignore the outcries if their constituents. Yes, this county was a rural farming area at one point, but like anything else, it has evolved. While we are not a booming metropolis, we are no longer a farming community that can successfully function on the old outdated livestock standards that have been set forth by the state of NC. Things need to change and our commissioners need to finally step up.