RALEIGH (AP) — Gov. Pat McCrory wants the public to adopt abandoned and maltreated dogs while he and his wife keep seeking legislation to set minimum conditions at large commercial dog breeding operations.
McCrory held a news conference Wednesday to advertise a dog adoption day Saturday at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh. Joining him outside the old Capitol building were a few dogs removed from a Pender County location last month.
The governor said some of the Pender County dogs will be among as many as 30 pets on the mansion property looking for new owners this weekend, along with those from Charlotte and Guilford County shelters.
He and first lady Ann McCrory promoted a bill this year that sets minimum care standards for some people who breed dogs to sell as pets. The measure passed the House but didn’t get heard in the Senate. The General Assembly reconvenes in May. The House bill, which would apply to some operations with at least 10 female dogs, sets specific standards to ensure that dogs have daily exercise, fresh food and water, shelter and veterinary care.
“I’m not going to give up on the bill,” the governor said. “This dog issue is not a Democratic or Republican issue — it’s an independent issue for every one of us.”
The McCrorys own one dog named Moe, whom the Republican governor said was a rescue animal. Moe lives at the couple’s Charlotte residence. Holding one of the Pender County dogs in his arms after the news conference, the governor said another pet could be in the cards for the McCrory family.
“I’m afraid we’ll have a new dog by Saturday,” the governor quipped.