Welcome
The Jackson County Animal Shelter is run through the Environmental Health Section of the Jackson County Health Department. The Jackson County Animal Shelter is located 2 miles from the main entrance of Western Carolina University.
The main purpose of the animal shelter is animal control and protecting public health by enforcing state rabies laws. The shelter also does stray pick-ups, handles animal bites and provides adoption services. Animal Control does work animal cruelty & neglect cases. Animal control does not handle wildlife issues.
The Animal Shelter is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. We are closed on these days from noon until 2pm. If you need to report a animal bite after hours, please contact the Jackson County Dispatch at 828-586-1911 to have an animal control officer paged.
Behind The Scenes
Golodrina, Jackson County Animal Shelter, Sylva, NC - March 2013
Golodrina is an example of just how much goes on behind the scenes to save an animal from the shelter. This gal was brought in to Jackson County Animal Shelter and needed to end up in the right hands - the hands of experienced rescuers who could help her with her special behavioral needs...a German Shepherd rescue. On this day she was being pulled by a local rescue out of the county shelter to be placed into boarding until she could get a trip to New York where the breed specific rescue waits for her. But what I really want you to see here is just how much Golodrina adores the animal care officers who have been instrumental in saving her life and encouraging her to come around. Often we villify our animal control officers. Often, instead, they are heroes. It is clear, here, that Golodrina knows who cares about her. Her owner? Not so much. Animal Control? 100%.