Animal lover's horror led outcry against Hoke shelter
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Jamie Harris says she is no whistleblower, but an animal lover who was horrified by what she saw at "The Haven," a no-kill animal shelter in Raeford.
"I think North Carolina really needs to step up their game when it comes to animal protection laws," Harris said. "And I feel the state should use this as an example."
The state's largest no-kill shelter was shut down this week, its owners, Linden and Stephen Spear are charged with animal cruelty. They are barred from the property until an investigation is completed.
Harris says seeing ASPCA volunteers treat and examine animals at the shelter brought tears of relief to her eyes.
"I know I woke up today and had almost 200 messages from people that had turned in their animals to The Haven, but had no idea this was going on"
Investigators say the shelter operated for 20 years, the last ten without a state license.
Thursday, volunteers started moving many of the 600 dogs, cats, horses, birds and livestock to a temporary emergency shelter.
