Programs & Resources
We’re making a difference in the lives of Macon County’s people and pets.
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter
Be a part of the solution to end unwanted pets—spay or neuter your pet for just $55. Surgery is performed at Humane Alliance, an ASPCA clinic located in Asheville, NC. Pet transport from our shelter in Franklin takes animals safely to and from Asheville for the procedure.
Pet Transport
Since 2010, over 2,035 cats and dogs have received a second chance at life through our Pet Transport program. By partnering with no-kill shelters in areas of the country where adoptable pets are scarce, AARC helps pets get a second chance, while providing space for needy animals in our own community. Our new transport vehicle is specifically out-fitted to carry some 30 pets in climate-controlled comfort. A team of experienced drivers ensure that their trip is a safe one. Sound expensive? Each transport costs around $1000. But getting almost 30 pets adopted before they even arrive in their new city—priceless!
Community Service
Get your Community Service Hours at AARC! Whether you are a student, intern, or have been appointed by court, you can accumulate hours at our shelter. Our hours of operation are M, T, Th, F, and Saturday, from 11-4 pm. We will track your hours and provide you with a community service form. Duties are including, but not limited to, cleaning, laundry, dish washing, feeding and caring for animals, dog walking, and basic maintenance.
If you suspect animal abuse or neglect
You are an Animal’s Voice! Animals can’t speak for themselves. If you know an animal that has been abandoned, neglected or mistreated, contact Macon County Animal Services.
How to Recognize an Abandoned Dog
A dog who has been dumped or abandoned will seek human help. If you are approached by an unfamiliar dog on your own property, he may have been abandoned. Abandoned dogs appear anxious. They may bark at you or your own dogs but will hang around, sometimes for days. This behavior may seem threatening because it is uncharacteristic. For your safety, call MCAS and have an animal control officer pick up the dog. If he cannot be caught, they may ask to set a baited trap on your property.
How to Recognize Animal Cruelty
While an aggressive, timid or fearful animal may appear to be a cruelty victim, it is not possible to know if an animal is being abused based on their behavior alone. It is best to examine the animal and his surrounding environment to determine whether or not he or she needs help.
Physical Signs of Cruelty
- Tight collar that has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck
- Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated
- Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
- Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible
- Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
- Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes
- Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
- Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
- Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
- An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
- Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness
Environmental Signs of Cruelty
- Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary
- Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter
- Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
- Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements
Animal Cruelty Resources
What is animal cruelty?
Animal cruelty involves gratuitously inflicting harm, injuring, or killing an animal. The cruelty can be intentional, such as kicking, burning, stabbing, beating, or shooting; or it can involve neglect, such as depriving an animal of water, shelter, food, and necessary medical treatment. Animal fighting, in which animals are trained or forced to attack each other in violent confrontations at the risk of grave injury or death, is another form of animal cruelty.
Macon County Animal Services
https://maconnc.org/AnimalServices.html
ASPCAPRO.ORG
https://www.aspcapro.org/search?keywords=Reporting%20Animal%20Cruelty
The Humane Society of the United States
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animal-cruelty-and-neglect-faq
Animal Welfare Institute
https://awionline.org/content/frequently-asked-questions-about-reporting-animal-cruelty
Macon County Animal Services
1377 Lakeside Drive
Franklin, NC 28734
Phone: (828) 349-2106
Animal Control Officers can be reached after hours and on weekends by contacting Emergency Management at (828) 349-2061 or calling 911.
Please provide an accurate address, description of the animal(s), a detailed description of the situation and your nameand phone number. Documenting with photos or video can help in prosecuting the abuser. Be sure to ask the name of the animal control officer and what action is planned. Follow up and report any change observed in the animal’s treatment.
Appalachian Animal Rescue Center has no jurisdiction to investigate animal cruelty or neglect complaints.
Wildlife Resources
With nature all around us here in WNC, you may come across wildlife that appears to need help. If you are concerned that an animal is injured or orphaned, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If you do not know of one, Rabun Animal Hospital (706-746-5100) may be able to provide you with a contact.You may also call the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401. Across North Carolina, there are volunteers that are trained and licensed to rehabilitate wildlife until they can be released back into their native habitat. These dedicated volunteers use their time and resources to help injured and orphaned wildlife. Questions or concerns on wildlife please contact Sharon Archer 828-371-1293.
Wildlife Resources
With nature all around us here in WNC, you may come across wildlife that appears to need help. If you are concerned that an animal is injured or orphaned, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If you do not know of one, Rabun Animal Hospital (706-746-5100) may be able to provide you with a contact.You may also call the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401. Across North Carolina, there are volunteers that are trained and licensed to rehabilitate wildlife until they can be released back into their native habitat. These dedicated volunteers use their time and resources to help injured and orphaned wildlife.Questions or concerns on wildlife please contact Sharon Archer 828-371-1293
AARC Recycles!
AARC Recycles! Our compassion foranimals extendsto our hometown, and the environment. By recycling metal, plastic, and paper, AARC helps to conserve natural resources, save energy, create less pollution, and save landfill space, all of which puts money back into our local government. Join us in doing your part. Recycle and reuse whenever possible.
Additional Resources
ASPCA
A-Z Animals
