-Write up courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

Notes from the West End Community Watch meeting held on March 19, 2019:

The speaker for March 19 was Frankie Nobles, chief of Animal Services for Vance County and Henderson. The name was changed to “Animal Services” from “Animal Shelter” because the new title better fits the current goals.

The new facility opened in 2016 and it is equipped to handle all types of animals. Livestock is housed outside. There is inside housing for 75 dogs and 80 cats. Currently, there are three Animal Service officers in addition to Nobles.

A visitation room is available for people who want to interact with animals before they adopt. The cost for adopting a dog is $150, which covers spaying/neutering, deworming, a flea treatment, vaccines, micro-chipping, a heartworm test and a wellness check. (Prospective adoptees will be told if the animal is not healthy.)

The adoption fee for a cat is $100. It includes spaying/neutering, deworming, a flea treatment, vaccines, micro-chipping, leukemia/aids test and a wellness check.  Rabies shots cost $5.

Veterans walk the dogs regularly. All types of volunteers are needed. Frankie Nobles welcomes visitors, questions, and volunteers at any time.

A FREE Spay/Neuter program is now available to ALL citizens of Henderson and Vance County because of a very generous grant given to Animal Services

The Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society picks up puppies and kittens from Animal Services every Friday. Those animals are transported to points north, where they are adopted. In northern states, the spay/neuter laws are very strict. As a result, there are not enough animals available for adoption. Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society also posts photos of animals daily and networks with surrounding areas.

On Saturday, March 30, Animal Services will hold a Clean-Up Day for Brodie Road in Henderson between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. All necessary supplies and equipment will be provided. Volunteers are needed.

On Saturday, April 13 from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m., Animal Services will hold a Veterans Dog Walk Day. Volunteers are needed. Plan to attend and walk a few dogs.

Plans are in the works to begin a Pet Responsibility Program in the public schools for 4th-grade students. The course will run for five weeks and will end with an essay contest.

Asked whether Henderson has a “Leash Law,” Nobles noted that there is not a leash law, but dogs must be “controlled” at all times. That means voice commands to dogs that obey are sufficient. Dogs may be in invisible fencing or tied out. Citizens can come before a committee to express concerns. It takes the citizens working together to make a change.