A former sheriff took over day-to-day operation of the Franklin County Animal Shelter, the latest shakeup for an agency that has been subject of investigations about its use of euthanasia.
Jerry Jones, who served as sheriff of the county from 2002-06 and 2011-14, was named interim animal services manager effective Sept. 3.
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The shelter was fined fined $1,000 in August for violating state law and its own policies on euthanizing animals.
In announcing Jones' appointment, a county spokesman said the shelter would continue to cooperate with an on-going investigation by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that began after reports of dogs and cats mishandled by the shelter.
State investigators said an injured dog named Layla wasn't given any veterinary treatment and was then euthanized before the minimum holding period of 72 hours ended. A shelter technician said then-director Lynn Bowling told them to euthanize the dog at the end of the day on a Friday since it was Memorial Day weekend.
During the investigation, a Franklin County animal control officer also alleged that cats were mishandled by the shelter staff during the euthanasia process.
Animal rights advocates have been vocal about the need for improvements at the animal shelter in Louisburg, calling for changes to leadership and euthanasia practices.
"We deserve an animal shelter that reflects rather than undermines our values," one advocate said. "Homelessness should not mean a death sentence for animals."
The state's agriculture department reports that Franklin County took in 2,392 cats and dogs in 2023, euthanizing 29% of those animals. That rate is about the same as Vance and Durham counties but much higher than more urban Wake County.