Durham CountyFriday, November 6
Durham's animal shelter says photos a former employee posted are old and don't show it today
The 5AM Durham team
If you've seen the Facebook post about the Durham County animal shelter, here's the response. A former employee shared photos of unsanitary conditions, moldy pet food and dead dogs piled into an incinerator, and the post has been shared more than 100 times since Wednesday afternoon. The Animal Protection Society of Durham says the photos are old and the person hasn't worked there in more than four months.
“These pictures don't represent what APS and the Durham shelter is today.”
WRAL News searched the public state inspection reports and found every result from 2018 to January 2025 marked "approved." The September 2025 inspection was "contingently/conditionally approved due to the inadequacies." The July 2026 report says "Staff has corrected issues noted in previous inspections but there are still some that need repair." WRAL's video Thursday showed clean kennels.
The post spread fast, and the 2025 inspection flagged problems
- More than 100
- Facebook shares of the post since Wednesday afternoon
- 9
- areas needing improvement in the September 2025 inspection
- 3
- areas not in compliance in that inspection
- Tours: APS is hosting community tours in the coming weeks
- Fundraiser: Home for the Holidays, Washington Duke Inn, Saturday
- Inspections: public on the state agriculture department's website
The shelter's inspections and leadership have changed since 2025
- Jan. 2025Every public state inspection from 2018 to January 2025 was marked approved.
- Sept. 2025Inspection is marked contingently approved, citing nine areas to improve and three out of compliance.
- March 2026APS board puts interim leadership in place.
- July 2026Inspection says staff corrected earlier issues, but some still need repair.
- Nov. 7The shelter's Home for the Holidays fundraiser is scheduled at the Washington Duke Inn.