New issues found months after troubled animal shelter gets new staff

MORGANTON, N.C. — Inspectors have found new issues months after a troubled Burke County animal shelter got a new staff.

Our partners at the Morganton News Herald report the building smelled because of dust, debris and poor ventilation.

Inspectors also found a risk of cross-contamination last week.

Animal services staff said they have already addressed the problems and because of that, they passed the inspection.

In July, our news affiliate WLOS found the shelter killed 70 percent of the animals it took in.

Public complaints prompted county leaders to make big changes at the shelter.

It hired the entire staff from the McDowell County shelter, which just set the record low euthanasia rate last year.

Officials said the employees from the McDowell County shelter independently applied for the positions at the Burke County shelter.

Animal Care Technician Lindsay Stump said she was looking forward to addressing the crisis at the Burke County shelter by bringing her knowledge from working in McDowell County.

"Their plans are to, hopefully, be a low-kill to no-kill shelter," Stump said. "So we're looking forward to bringing our knowledge from working in McDowell County to Burke County."

The new employees began working in Morganton on Aug. 5.

Cox Media Group