🐾 Petition to End the 10-Day Mandatory Euthanasia Rule in Bertie County Animal Shelter (Windsor, NC)

To: Bertie County Commissioners, Local Officials, and Community Leaders

We, the undersigned residents, advocates, and citizens, are calling for the immediate review and reform of the current 10-day maximum stay rule enforced by the Bertie County Animal Shelter in Windsor, North Carolina.

 
The Problem
Under current local policy, dogs that enter the shelter—whether as strays or owner surrenders—are given no more than 10 days to be adopted, transferred, or rescued. Once that timeframe expires, they face euthanasia regardless of available space, health status, temperament, or adoptability.

This means:

• Healthy, friendly, family-ready dogs are being euthanized unnecessarily
• Animals are not given a fair opportunity to find homes
• Volunteers and rescue organizations are not afforded enough time to assist
• Lives are being lost due to policy—not necessity
• When shelter space is still available, euthanizing dogs solely because of an arbitrary time limit is both inhumane and avoidable.

 
Why This Matters

Communities across North Carolina and the nation are shifting toward progressive, humane sheltering practices—including extended hold times, foster programs, and strong rescue partnerships. These approaches:

• Increase adoption rates
• Reduce unnecessary euthanasia
• Strengthen community trust
• Save taxpayer resources in the long run
• Bertie County has the opportunity to align with these compassionate standards.

 
📍 Proven Humane Models in North Carolina
This isn’t theoretical—other North Carolina counties are already doing better without strict time-limit euthanasia policies:

 
📊 Orange County, NC (Chapel Hill Area)

Achieved a 91–92% live release rate in recent years [orangecountync.gov]
Maintains “no-kill” level outcomes (90%+ save rate benchmark)
Uses: Strong foster networks
Rescue partnerships
Spay/neuter programs to reduce intake
✅ Key takeaway: High save rates are possible without euthanizing for time limits—even in open-admission shelters.

 
🏙️ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control

Built success through: Over 600 volunteers and 500 foster families
“Daycation” and foster programs that give dogs more time outside kennels
Community engagement and transparency
✅ Key takeaway: Giving animals more time and community exposure drastically increases survival.

 
🏡 Wake County & SPCA of Wake County (Raleigh Area)

SPCA of Wake County explicitly states it does NOT euthanize animals due to length of stay or space [nokillnetwork.org]
Rehomes thousands of animals annually through adoption programs [nokillnetwork.org]
✅ Key takeaway: Humane policies already exist in NC where time limits are not used as a reason for euthanasia.

 
🐾 Asheville / Buncombe County

Asheville Humane Society and partner organizations operate with a life-saving, no-kill philosophy
Focus on: Foster care
Behavior support
Community assistance to prevent surrender
[nokillnetwork.org]

✅ Key takeaway: Long-term care and community support systems allow shelters to save more animals instead of rushing outcomes.

 
What Successful NC Shelters Do Differently

Across the state, higher-performing shelters:

• Do not euthanize based on arbitrary time limits
• Allow animals to stay longer when space permits
• Actively engage rescue partners
• Invest in foster and volunteer programs
• Focus on adoption and prevention—not deadlines

Our Call to Action

We respectfully urge Bertie County leadership to:

✅ Eliminate or revise the 10-day maximum stay rule
✅ Allow dogs to remain longer when space is available
✅ Provide volunteers and rescues adequate time to secure placement
✅ Implement policies prioritizing life-saving outcomes over arbitrary deadlines
✅ Increase transparency around shelter intake and euthanasia decisions

 
A Better Way Forward

Bertie County does not need to reinvent the wheel—the blueprint already exists right here in North Carolina.

By adopting proven, humane practices used in counties like Orange, Wake, Mecklenburg, and Buncombe, Bertie County can:

Save more lives
Build stronger community partnerships
Reflect the compassion of its residents
Every dog deserves a fair chance. A loving home. A future.

 
STAND UP FOR THEM BY SIGNING!

By signing this petition, you are standing up for animals who cannot speak for themselves and helping bring meaningful change to our community.

👉 Sign and share to help save lives in Bertie County. Do even more by emailing commissioners@bertie.nc.gov