On December 8, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) formally issued a Notice of Violation, Civil Penalty Assessment, and Notice of Warning to Duplin County Animal Services Animal Shelter following a state investigation prompted by a complaint. The inspection took place on November 17, 2025, and resulted in multiple documented violations of North Carolina Animal Welfare laws and regulations. ✅ Confirmed Violations Documented by the State Include: ❌Failure to properly document euthanasia procedures for 7 animals ❌Incorrect euthanasia method records for 6 animals ❌Broken electrical outlet in a dog kennel left unrepaired ❌Improper storage of cat bedding ❌Missing functional thermometers in multiple cat care areas ❌Failure to supervise two dogs in an unsecured exercise area ❌Failure to provide doghouses for dogs previously housed outdoors ❌Failure to provide continuous access to water in multiple kitten enclosures In one enclosure, the water bowl was completely dry One kitten was found deceased, and the second displayed significant thirst once water was provided The report does not list a cause of death ❌Unsanitary litter box conditions ❌Failure to properly sanitize water bowls daily ❌Failure to document daily enrichment and social interaction for long-term animals All findings above are directly documented in the State’s official inspection and enforcement records. 💰 Civil Penalty Issued: $1,700 The State assessed monetary penalties for select violations involving: Euthanasia documentation failures Animal supervision Water access violations Sanitation ⚠️ Formal Warning Issued Additional violations were issued formal State warnings, which means: Any future violations could result in penalties up to $5,000 per violation Shelter registration status could also be impacted 📝 Why This Matters These violations are now officially confirmed by the State of North Carolina Multiple basic care standards were documented as not being met Water access violations were confirmed in more than one enclosure A kitten was found deceased during a documented water-access violation These findings validate long-standing community concerns through formal state enforcement action ✅ What You Can Do If you’ve already signed — thank you for standing up for accountability. If not — your signature still matters. 📌 You may sign anonymously 📌 Every signature helps push for oversight, transparency, and reform