Inspection records reveal more details about boarding kennel’s violations
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Not enough staff members, empty water bowls, lack of overall cleaning and 83 dog cages not in compliance are some of the reasons a boarding kennel and daycare facility did not pass inspection and ultimately failed to get their license renewed.
On July 3, The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services mailed The Dog Club of Wilmington a letter of non-compliance and license expiration.
The letter noted two inspections on June 26 and June 28 that were “disapproved” due to the number and severity of areas of non-compliance with the NC Animal Welfare Act.
The letter directed the kennel to cease and desist operating as a boarding kennel immediately until they submit a renewal application for a license, pay the fee and pass a facility compliance inspection.
The Dog Club of Wilmington did not pass its facility compliance inspection that took place on July 11.
During that July 11 visit, the inspector noticed a baby was crying loudly. The child was being kept in an office in a play pen alone while its mother was attending to dogs at the facility. The inspector asked the facility owner why the baby was there unattended and was told that the mother really needs to work and did not have a sitter.
The inspector also noted that while she was there for 3.5 hours, the infant was crying loudly all morning. The inspector wrote that this is a safety issue for the child because in some cases, a crying child can agitate a dog. The inspector noted there were two aggressive German Shepards being kept in a room where they could hear the baby crying.
The inspector viewed this as a safety issue for the baby, if a dog got loose and got into the office with the unattended child.
The inspector wrote that this facility is significantly non compliant with the Animal Welfare Act.
The inspection found the following:
Records: The inspector noted again, as on the past two inspections, that all day care owners are not signing the signature log. There were 28 dogs in day care with 22 dogs signed in.
Records were also not available upon request. The inspector requested 16 records of dogs currently in house. It took an hour for the owner and staff member to gather them. The inspector noted very poor organization.
Indoor facilities: Two adult German Shepards are being boarded in a “room” not authorized to house dogs inside. The dogs had access to two electrical outlets, there were chewed areas on the dry wall, door, and door frame. The room was not authorized or approved for use as a boarding room.
A staff member told the inspector that room was the only place in the building they could contain these two dogs. The owner and staff member were told by the inspector they should not take in dogs they cannot contain.
The inspector also found scratches on a wood office door that indicated were being kept in the office, another room not authorized to house dogs.
Outdoor facilities: The inspector noted again from both the June 26 and 28 disapproved inspections that the outdoor exercise yard areas have not been corrected. The large dog yard has a large area that is still bare dirt and the small dog yard also had bare areas. The inspector noted there were also no signs of a dogs being housed outside overnight, unlike a previous inspection.
Primary enclosures: The inspector again noted the two German Shepards being kept in the room. One of the dog crates had a broken wire, which could be a danger to the dog. Primary enclosures also did not provide space to allow the dogs to walk, turn about freely, easily sit, stand, or lie in a natural positions.
The inspector wrote that she measured dogs and cages with the owner and proved to the owner that in all areas, except the small dog room, the cages need to be replaced due to inadequate size.
Out of 96 cages, only 13 small dog cages were in compliance.
Also, one one employee was supervising 17 dogs when the inspector arrived. The inspector told an employee to put up the seven dogs or send them home immediately. The seven dogs were placed in cages that were not size compliant.
On the past two disapproved inspections, it was noted there were more than 45 dogs with only one to two people supervising. The ratio is one person per 10 dogs supervising at all times.
Watering: One dog in the keep separate room had an empty water container. The inspector noted there was not enough staff available to have taken care of this overnight dog. On the June 26 inspection, caged dogs were also without water.
Sanitation: Several areas were not in compliance. Old feces was found in the exercise yard. The room the two German Shepards were kept in smelled like urine. Evidence indicated a lack of cleaning indoors, including the cages, floors and walls.
There is evidence seen by the lack of employees that the cages are not cleaned twice a dayand by the grime noted on them.
There is evidence seen by the lack of employees that the cages are not sanitized every seven days.
Employees: The inspector noted again, as on the past 2 disapproved inspections, there is an insufficient amount of employees at this facility to adequately care for the dogs and properly clean the cages and facility.
The inspector also noted a lack of knowledge in the staff members in properly caring for the dogs and the facility.
On July 12, The Dog Club of Wilmington received a letter denying its license renewal.
The letter cites the failed inspections June 26, June 28, and July 11. The letter states that if the owner continues to operate an unlicensed kennel five days after receiving the letter, a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation could be imposed.
Dyana Scholz received 19 counts of operating a pet shop, kennel or auction without a license.
