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LILLINGTON, N.C. (WNCN) — Harnett County is placing its Animal Services Manager on administrative leave.
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The county said it’s conducting an internal review of matters related to its animal shelter.
It said, in part, “Effective Monday, June 8, 2026, the Animal Services Manager, Lawrence Smith III., has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the completion and outcome of the internal review being conducted by Human Resources and the Legal Department.”
It went on to say General Services manages Animal Services, and Barry Blevins, General Services Director, is taking over Animal Shelter responsibilities for now.
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Late last month, the state fined the animal shelter nearly $20,000.
A state inspector said they found issues in April related to paperwork documenting the euthanasia of more than forty animals.
The county has stopped all euthanasia procedures until employees can be retrained. Wake County is assisting with the retraining process.
Harnett County said it’s committed to fixing these issues.
CBS 17’s Mary Smith is an Investigative Reporter focused on Digging Deeper and Getting Answers. If you have a story that needs investigating, send an email to [email protected].
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