Letter to the Editor: Macon County Animal Service and Appalachian Animal Rescue Center are Separate Organizations

Dear Editor,

The Macon County Humane Society dba Appalachian Animal Rescue Center is a 501(c)3 no-kill animal shelter. Their mission is to maintain a shelter for stray and unwanted dogs and cats in Macon County, NC. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center, or AARC, is a closed intake facility with a maximum capacity of 50 dogs and 55 cats. AARC is not a county or state-owned facility; they are funded by donations, grants, and adoptions. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center cannot and will not trap, catch, or “pick up” animals; animals can only be surrendered at the shelter. AARC is there to help animals find their forever homes. AARC will not adopt any animals out unless they are spayed or neutered. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center is located at 851 Lake Emory Rd. Franklin, NC 28734; they can be reached at 828-524-4588 or by email at info@maconhumanesociety.org.

Macon County Animal Services is a county/state regulated, owned, and funded open intake facility. Macon County Animal Services, or MCAS, is there to protect the health and safety of all citizens, both humans and animals. MCAS handles cases of animal abuse, abandonment, trapping, and picking up animals; they also do accept owner surrenders. They try their best to find forever homes or reunite animals with their families. MCAS is a kill-shelter, but over the past few years, they have lowered their euthanasia to less than 10%. Macon County Animal Services is located at 1377 Lakeside Dr. Franklin, NC 28734; they can be reached at 828-349-2106 or by email at animalservics@maconnc.org.

Both facilities are there for the animals as an “in-between” home, however, they are separate. Appalachian Animal Rescue Center and Macon County Animal Services work together to find forever homes for animals, but they are separate.

If you have lost an animal, please contact both facilities. If you have found an animal, contact both facilities. If you need to surrender an animal, please contact both facilities. If you need to report an abandoned animal, please contact MCAS. If you need to report animal abuse, contact MCAS. If you need to trap an animal, please contact MCAS. If you need an animal “picked up,” contact MCAS.

Both places are working their hardest to find every animal in Macon County their forever home, but each facility has its own role to play. Please research all avenues of animal rescue and please spay/neuter your pets.