Lee County Animal Shelter “restores” communication with rescue groups

It Takes A Village Rescue NC announced Aug. 31 that the Lee County Animal Shelter has “restored” communication with rescue groups.

This announcement came after a previous press release eleven days ago on the shelter’s new restrictions. The county animal shelter had notified the public that they may submit public information requests about animals on their website, and rescue groups would receive weekly emailed updates on the animals.

Rescue groups contacted the county government, and the shelter restored communication with the rescue groups.

Other potential improvements are now being discussed, according to Lee County Commissioner Chairperson Samantha Martin.

“At the county level, we are working to make adjustments to better serve the animal shelter,” Martin wrote in an email to Sandhills News.

County-level discussions include:

Adding a social media officer

Adding housekeeping staff

Adding a part-time worker

It Takes A Village Rescue NC sent a PowerPoint on spaying and neutering animals prior to adoption to the Lee County Health Department for review, noting that the birth control measures align with the county’s mission to control overpopulation.

“I will be speaking further on it at the next department of health meeting in September. This will be a huge step for animal welfare in Lee County and align this shelter closer to what other shelters in our area are already doing,” Lori St. James wrote in an email to Sandhills News.

The next consolidated health department meeting is Sep. 16 at the Gordon Wicker Conference Room, 106 Hillcrest Drive in Sanford at 7 p.m.

Read Lee County restricts animal shelter inquiry process after calls of concern.

Aug. 31, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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