The Animal Control Program operates the Animal Shelter for Cleveland County. Its purpose is to protect the public's health through impoundment, adoption, return to owner, and humane euthanasia. Officers of the Animal Control program enforce local ordinances and state laws in order to prevent and control rabies. The Animal Control Program co-sponsors annual countywide rabies clinics with local veterinarians who provide rabies vaccinations at convenient locations for a reduced fee. Animal Control Officers:

Lost your pet? click here to view animals recently found within the county border or if you have found a pet, you can notify us by submitting a lost and found pet form. The shelter houses many different pets. To find out more about the animals available at the shelter, visit our impounded page.

Cleveland County has experienced a tremendous increase in confirmed cases of rabies. Since June 1998, one hundred and Eighty one (181) cases have been confirmed. Countywide awareness and preventive efforts have been ongoing. New rules for animal adoption have been implemented by the County Health Director.

The Animal Control Staff, the Humane Society and veterinarians have worked diligently together to stop the spread of rabies. Prevention is the key to successfully stopping rabies from invading the domestic animal population. rabies vaccination for domestic animals works!

Long term prevention strategies to educate future pet owners and the community are the ultimate solution.

New Shelter Hours:

Monday and Friday from 2p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tues, Wed, and Thurs. 12 pm – 4 pm
1609 Airport Road, Shelby NC 28150
704-481-9884

- Rabies case at Moriah Church Road
- Rabies case at Wards Gap Rd
- Rabies Clinic Burns 2009
- Rabies case at Ramseur Church Road
- Rabies case at Falls St, Lawndale
- Recall of Products Containing Peanut Butter: Salmonella Typhimurium

* State of the County Health Report 2008
* Cleveland County Health Department Annual Report 2007-2008