ANIMAL RESOURCE CENTER HOURS OF OPERATION

Open M-F from 11 AM - 6 PM (Intake & Adoptions)

Open weekends from 11 AM - 6 PM (Adoptions Only)

LOCATION

725 Renaissance Drive, west of Pittsboro off of US 64

** IMPORTANT NOTICE: Chatham Sheriff’s Animal Resource Center (ARC) has implemented a new, more structured approach to the intake of owned or homeless animals to avoid creating an overwhelming, and stressful environment for staff, pets, and members of the public. Appointments will be required for animal admission, which benefits animals, people, and shelter operations.

Overcrowding of shelters can lead to a few key problems within the shelter’s day-to-day operations:

• Compromised emergency response. Non-emergency intakes when unregulated often leave the shelter with no space for more animals in the event of an emergency.

• Lost opportunities to keep human-animal bond in-tact. Unregulated intake limits the opportunity for helpful suggestions to be made to keep families and their pets together, such as food-assistance or training recommendations.

• Fewer lost animals reunite with their families. Without speaking to the finder about alternative methods of locating an owner, such as posting them to social media or hanging flyers, most pets will not find their way back home.

• Increased rate of disease. Increased intake numbers lead to a longer length of stay, leading to the development and/or spread of diseases. Increased disease transmission results in higher medical expenses, increased staff workload, and can lead to death or euthanasia of animals.

• Overwhelming stress levels for animals. High intervals of noise causes stress to animals. Unscheduled intakes lead to more animals contributing to the noise levels and can result in exacerbated behaviors and weakened immune systems, contributing to a longer length of stay.

• Inability to provide excellent customer service. By scheduling an appointment rather than walking-in with an animal for drop-off, wait times are shortened and staff can be fully prepared for each client entering the building. This also allows for more cleanliness in heavily trafficked areas, which can minimize the spread of COVID-19.

• Inefficient staffing. Unpredictable workflow can cause high stress and turnover with shelter staff. By controlling intakes, staff turnover and burnout can be avoided.

This new “Managed Intake” approach is designed to reduce the overall population of animals being cared for in the shelter, assist staff with managing day-to-day maintenance and care, help pets find their way home faster, improve health and safety in the community, and reduce shelter-borne illnesses and behavioral decline associated with crowded animal shelter conditions. Furthermore, this approach allows the staff at the ARC to serve the community and its beloved pets.

Important Links

• Chatham County Sheriff's Office Animal Resources Facebook: Look here for important Chatham County Sheriff's Office Animal Resource Center (ARC) updates!

• 24PetConnect:  Use the search function on the left of the page to find animals that are available for adoption and stray animals at the Chatham Sheriff's Office Animal Resource Center

• CARE (Chatham Animal Rescue and Education, Inc): A local nonprofit animal rescue organization with additional pets for adoption and educational programs as well as community events.

• National Security Education Association Pet Safety Tips: https://www.security.org/resources/keeping-pets-safe/

• NC Wildlife Resources Commission: http://www.ncwildlife.org/

• NC Dept, of Agriculture and Consumer Services- http://www.agr.state.nc.us/vet/

• Animal Poison Control Center:  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/

• NCSU Wildlife Damage Control: -http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/wildlife/wdc/index.html