Cat's Death Prompts Changes at Wake Animal Control

Last week, we reported that Jack the cat was put to sleep, apparently without animal control officers noticing the cat's tags, which included the owner's phone number.

Jack's owner, Mary Cimerele, met with animal control officials to get answers. Their meeting prompted policy changes.

7,000 animals come through the Wake County Animal Shelter each year. Rick Rowe, Wake County's environmental services director, says shelter employees may have missed seeing Jack's tags because they are reluctant to handle wild cats.

Rowe says that a new holding area will keep wild animals for a minimum of three days. Holly Springs police, which captured Jack, say they will now report all captured animals as "domestic," meaning the animals will be held for at least five days.

Lethal injection will now be the more common method of euthanization. Employees will be more likely to see collars or tags that were unreported.

Next week, Cimerele plans to tour the shelter to make sure the changes are completed.

"It's too late for Jack," she said. "This is all about keeping it from happening to somebody else."