Remove Lt. Michelle Starnes from Union County Animal Control North Carolina

Since 2005 the Union County Animal Control (UCAC) located in North Carolina, has been run by the Union County Sheriff Department under the command of Lt. Michelle Starnes. From 2005 - 2012 over 41,000 animals were euthanized in UCAC’s high kill shelter, most died by an inhumane gas chamber which the county still chooses to use. In only three years in under the command of Lt. Michelle Starnes, a lawsuit was filed in 2008 against this shelter for the inhumane use of its gas chamber used to euthanize animals from the very young (under 16 weeks) to the old, sick, injured and pregnant. State law has clearly prohibited the use of the gas chamber to kill animals under 16 weeks of age. Gassing is an extremely cruel method of death. When this method was used to kill human prisoners they were advised to take deep breaths to quicken them into unconsciousness to prevent unnecessary suffering. From start to finish, the process of gassing an animal takes about 25 minutes. One or more animals are placed in an airtight chamber and a high concentration of bottled monoxide gas is released. This death is in no way humane.

The North Carolina Coalition for Humane Euthanasia (NCCHE) teamed up with the Humane Society of Union County (HSUC) to file the lawsuit which showed evidence that Union County Animal Control had not followed the law requiring UCAC to hold animals for 72 hours before destroying them. This, then coupled with the fact that animal shelter employees routinely deny the public any access to see the hundreds of animals housed in the non-public portions of the shelter, means a lost pet ending up in this shelter, has very little chance of being found by the owner before it is euthanized. Both parties agreed to the dismissal of their suit, in agreement the county would comply with state law and the Department of Agriculture rules.

This shelter continues to discourage working relationships with both the public and rescue groups. No pictures, video or information can be shared of the animals inside UCAC. As such, networking to promote pet adoptions is diminished. Of the 147 kennel enclosures inside this shelter only 11 are open to public viewing. The very few volunteers and animal rescues that are allowed to save an animal in need, are forced to follow excessively strict rules and regulations, thereby restricting rescue efforts for the animals sitting in the shelter. These rules also make it nearly impossible to find adopters or foster homes. This is also the reason the shelters kill rates are so high.

Since the Sheriff Department has taken over UCAC and Lt. Michelle Starnes has been in charge, many animals have suffered greatly. Inflicted upon them has been the price of no working relationships with the public and rescues to the fateful price of death by gas chamber. People attempting to make a complaint or express concerns to Lt. Starnes about an animal are met with an exceptional rude and hostile attitude. This abusive behavior also results in volunteer turnovers further denying these animals the help they so desperately need. The Sheriff Department within itself is very good and does a great job at fighting crime, but it needs a huge change in their Animal Service Department.

In a day and age where public funding and non-profit organizations struggle to provide assistance to those at risk, the police force must have compassionate caring officers.   As quoted by Brian O’Neill in The News Tribune, “No other profession outside of law enforcement has such a direct connection to the truly unfortunate… As a result, police officers are in the best position to make a positive impact in their lives and in our community.”

Please sign and share this petition in hopes the county will make the change animals so desperately need.  The only way in which more proactive, positive changes can be made towards the treatment of Union County’s lost, abandoned and stray pets is to remove Lt. Michelle Starnes and have her replaced. Their lives depend on it.  Thank you.