Swain Animal Services meeting filled with public shock, disapproval
Swain residents expressed their concerns about the 2025 animal services ordinance
Lily Levin photo
Swain County’s standing animal services ordinance dates back to late 2019, pending the establishment of an animal services center and adequate funding for its operation and staff.
As Swain’s first county-operated animal shelter prepared to open its doors — with staff to include Jerry Bryan, who has served for two years as the department’s director, and Pam Orr, who has worked as an officer for six months — the animal services committee began working on a new draft.
The updated 2025 ordinance has been a routine source of constituent comment to commissioners since its publication, so last Thursday, the committee responsible for writing it took a seat at the court of public opinion.
The prevailing sentiment among the 30 or so people at a Dec. 4 public hearing was nearly unanimous: the ordinance failed the test. While some argued that the 2019 version was far from perfect, they said six years later, the county had come up with something even less palatable. One public commenter didn’t hold back.
“This [ordinance] is a disgrace to the citizens of Swain County,” he said.
2025 changes
The 2025 ordinance was similar to its 2019 predecessor — though with a few notable exceptions. The newer version updated the penalty system for violating any measure: a $75 fine for the third offense, in place of 2019’s $50, and $200 instead of $100 for the fourth.
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This year, the regulation added a representative each to the animal services board from the offices of sheriff and health director, expanding the five-person committee to seven. The 2025 edition also included a false reporting clause, defined nuisance animals, added a fake service animal penalty and tweaked language and policy concerning dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs.
Among the things it scrapped was a detailed section outlining a rabies vaccine requirement for pets at the responsibility of the owner. The most recent ordinance listed its rabies mandate through a double negative — subtly removing compulsory vaccinations at the discretion of the Local Health Director.
“Should it be deemed necessary by the Local Health Director that pets be vaccinated in order to prevent the threatened epidemic or to control the existing epidemic, it shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current vaccinations against rabies for that pet,” it read.
But by and large, the ordinance angered the audience because of a change documented in a single sentence: “Animal Control Officers may carry a firearm.”
While the clause required said officer to “hold a valid NC concealed handgun permit or meet the standards in USHR 218 or relevant NC laws, and pass an annual firearms qualification conducted by the Swain County Sheriff’s Office,” that wasn’t cutting it for many a public commenter. Committee member Gina Wiggins offered an explanation after the first took issue with allowing animal services to be armed.
“[Injectable euthanasia is] a controlled substance, and it can’t leave the facility,” she said.
“If something happens to a dog on the side of a road and it needs to be taken care of, I mean, do you think a taser will take care of it?“ Wiggins asked, adding that when a bear or elk is hit in the national park, the protocol would be to end its suffering with a firearm.
“There’s a difference between an elk and a dog. A huge, thousand-pound difference,” the commenter responded.
And Beth Cline-Stroud, executive director of Paws animal shelter in Bryson City, said animal services is too trigger-happy — at least, that’s the opinion of many she’s interacted with.
“We’re getting a lot of people calling us and saying that animal control is shooting dogs. Well, if you don’t allow them to carry a gun, these people can’t accuse them of coming out there and shooting dogs,” she told the committee.
But according to Cline-Stroud, it’s not just talk. She’s heard stories of animals being shot, and she’s been called to the scene to rescue them. Paws, she said, has “picked up animals that the Sheriff’s department has said, ‘We need to shoot them unless you come.’”
In fact, staff at Paws are often forced to pick up the slack.
“I’ve been told we’ve had animal control for two years, okay? Two years. I’ve been working for years helping animals, and the last two years have been the hardest for Paws … We’ve had more calls. We’ve had more issues,” she said.
In the end, County Commissioner David Loftis confirmed Bryan’s actions with a question.
“Have you euthanized any animals since you’ve been employed by Swain County?” he asked.
“One, at the request of the owner,” Bryan responded.
“How did you discharge the animal?” inquired another member of the audience.
“With a firearm,” the animal services officer said.
“Did it run off in the river and die?” asked the county commissioner.
“It did,” Bryan responded.
“Whose firearm did you use to dispatch that time?” Loftis continued.
“One of the sheriff’s deputies,” said Bryan.
“What would the deputy’s name be that would do that, sir? What deputy would that be who would let you have his firearm?” Loftis asked.
“What difference does that make?” the ASO responded, a question that was met with cries of disapproval from the audience.
Concerns about ASO experience
Bryan is certified to vaccinate for rabies and certified to euthanize. But there’s a catch: both ASOs still haven’t acquired their DEA license. Thus, any injectable euthanasia is performed by the veterinarian. But animal services still calls the shots. According to Cline-Stroud, though it’s life or death, Bryan and Orr have made questionable decisions. She spoke of a woman who owned six dogs. Two had gotten into a fight on the woman’s private property. Following that incident, she said, “the vet called me because the animal control officer had told her she had to euthanize all six.”
That situation deeply concerned the Paws director, and she began doubting the relevant experience of the ASOs.
Bryan cited his previous career in imparting essential on-the-job knowledge.
“I have 26 years of investigative experience. I’m a retired law enforcement officer. One investigation is the same as another,” he said.
“I’m not arguing. There is a difference,” Cline-Stroud responded, before asking both officers if they’d had any animal handling or behavioral background before applying to the job.
Neither could say they had, though Orr mentioned that she’s been through training since becoming an employee of Swain County.
Swain county shelter
When the shelter opens, it’ll aim for the no-kill designation — meaning 94% of animals taken in are fostered, sent to a rescue or adopted off the floor. Still, Cline-Stroud expressed concerns about the process to ensuring the shelter animals are adoptable. “What are you going to do for enrichment?” she asked, adding that “if you really want to get these dogs and cats adopted, you’ve got to get them socialized, and you’ve got to give them permission.”
“There’s an exercise area behind the building. There is this fence all the way around,” Bryan said.
Cline-Stroud brought attention to the veterinarian. What happens to the county’s animals when she’s not available?
“She’s in the process now of purchasing a brick and mortar, and so she’ll have a mobile service in the brick and mortar,” Bryan said.
“In Swain County?” Cline-Stroud asked.
“No ma’am. In Macon,” Bryan said, adding that without a material clinic, the vet has been treating animals “in the field.”
Later, the conversation pivoted to the shelter’s plans to open its doors. Sept. 1 was the projected date and initial announcement. The ASOs haven’t issued a correction — and according the Paws director, that’s had disastrous consequences.
“We get calls every day about kittens over across the recycling center; your building is right across from there. Why are you not helping those kittens? There’s cats that’s been run over in that road, and we have gotten more calls about dead animals right in that section … Ever since it went out that that building was going to be open on Sept. 1,” Cline-Stroud said.
“When you see a dead animal, you’re supposed to call DOT. They’ll pick the animals up,” responded committee member Gina Wiggins.
“Yeah, but you’re right there,” Cline-Stroud said.
