Help PAWS save those puppies!!!

PAWS along with MJ's Sanctuary in MD have been trying desperately to save dogs in Robeson County, North Carolina who are being abused and brutally killed by staff of the shelter. There have been witnesses who have seen bleach poured on sick dogs as well as tiny puppies while their mother frantically tried to save them.   Witnesses have also seen shelter staff paying strangers off the street $20 per dog for every dog they bring into the shelter.  Though gas chambers and heart-sticking are legal forms of euthanasia in North Carolina, there have been reports that this Robeson County shelter is not abiding by the regulations of heart-sticking.


When pets are considered “unadoptable,” they can be killed through heart-sticking, which is when a poison-filled syringe is stabbed through the chest of a dog and if it hits the heart, the syringe pulsates.  When the syringe pulsates, “blue juice,” technically known as sodium pentobarbital, is injected. According to regulations, these dogs are supposed to be heavily sedated during the heart-sticking procedure and these procedures are supposed to be performed by trained personnel.


Here is a video from 1997 showing this gruesome procedure being performed on conscious, non-sedated dogs and by untrained people, resulting in excruciating pain and abuse for these abandoned dogs.  After this video was made public, a law suit was filed against Robeson County and many changes took place.  However, recent eye witness accounts suggests that these practices are still in place.  


WARNING!!!  This video is very difficult to watch and is unsuitable for underage viewers.





For over a decade, Robeson County has been caught in a battle with animal protection groups nationwide due to the inhumane treatment of it's animals.  According to the North Carolina Coalition for Humane Euthanasia’s website, “More than 250,000 homeless animals are killed in North Carolina shelters each year. According to shelter records and information from employees and volunteers, the majority of animals in many shelters are not feral, sick, or injured."


While many NC shelters still use gassing as their primary form of Euthanasia, Robeson County does not use this method.  Their predominate form of euthanasia is heart-sticking.  


It is PAWS’ mission to save these dogs from these horrific conditions in Robeson County, North Carolina. Please help PAWS save these animals by donating Pennies for Puppies, or by opening your home to an abused dog that desperately needs your help.   Click here to learn more about Pennies for Puppies.