No-kill shelter adopting out dogs to avoid closure

North Carolina's largest no-kill shelter is trying to find homes for 150 dogs in order to meet state code and avoid possible closure in September.

Posted 5:49 p.m. Jul 10, 2010 — Updated 5:49 p.m. Jul 10, 2010

RAEFORD, N.C. — North Carolina's largest no-kill shelter is trying to find homes for 150 dogs in order to meet state code and avoid possible closure in September.

State inspectors have given The Haven in Raeford until Sept. 1 to adopt out about 150 dogs, make improvements to meet code or be closed. Reducing the number of dogs by that amount would ensure that there are enough kennels to house all of the shelter's animals inside.

Shelter founder Linden Spear said that as of Friday night, The Haven needed to find homes for about 42 more dogs. The shelter on Fulford McMillan Road is open 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for adoptions.

If those adoptions are made, the shelter would have about 350 dogs and hundreds of cats. Those numbers should be low enough to satisfy state inspectors, Spear said.

The shelter has failed every state inspection for the past five years and, despite some improvements, still needs to add a septic system in a new building and install interior paneling in other buildings.

Spear estimated those projects will cost $40,000, but said that about half that amount has already been donated.

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