LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C.,None — The gas chamber at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter was disassembled Thursday morning.
Earlier this month, county commissioners unanimously voted to close the chamber.
The shelter has failed several state inspections, including failing to verify how animals were put to death and who performed the procedures.
The shelter will use lethal injection in the future. Several area shelters, including Mecklenburg and Catawba County shelters, have chosen to use lethal injection instead of gas chambers. Last fall, Gaston County began limiting use of the gas chamber and now uses lethal injection 98 percent of the time.
This month, Cabarrus County commissioners are expected to vote on whether they can build a no-kill shelter.