This photo was taken at the animal shelter Thursday. Policy at the facility states that the county Humane Society serves as the adoption coordinating agency. Blacksburg resident Missy Tino had an empty space in her home and heart for another dog. After a favorable experience in adopting her last dog from the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, she knew exactly where to get her next one.

But Tino said no dogs have been saved through adoption for the past eight days since the Cherokee County Humane Society has been a no-show at the shelter. According to the county's animal shelter policy and procedure manual, the Cherokee County Humane Society serves as the adoption coordinating agency for the county.

Tino said she was informed by shelter manager Connie Singletary that a Human Society representative isn't expected back at the shelter until the middle of next week.

"It's been eight days now," Tino said. "I said (to Singletary) that you are telling me that you can't even show the dogs to adopt and you will put the dogs down after five days."

Tino said she was told by Singletary there are several "very adoptable" dogs at the shelter looking for new owners.

"I'm just very upset at the Humane Society," Tino said. "They aren't doing what they agreed to do. They aren't making the effort to adopt the dogs."

Singletary said this is the first time since she became shelter manager last year that the Humane Society has been absent from the shelter for this extended length of time.

"I just tell the people (who come here to adopt an animal) to call the Humane Society," Singletary said. "(The Humane Society) hasn't been kicked out from the shelter."

Singletary said the Humane Society's absence hasn't resulted in the euthanasia of an animal that could have been adopted. Attempts to reach Humane Society Adoption Coordinator Tina Christmas were unsuccessful. Another local animal rights advocate, Judy Wyles, is out of the country and unavailable for comment.

Typically, once an animal is selected for adoption from the animal shelter, the Humane Society notifies Singletary. The animal is then transported to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered. The Humane Society then arranges for the animal to meet its new owner.

Assistant County Administrator Holland Belue said state laws requires that all animals be spayed or neutered before their release from the animal shelter. Belue said he has no idea why the Humane Society has stopped coming to the animal shelter.

"The Cherokee County Humane Society is welcome at the shelter during hours of operation," he said. "They have never been asked to leave."

Belue did add the county is still awaiting an amended draft to the policy manual from the Human Society that would allow puppies to be released into foster care without being spayed or neutered. Currently, the puppies face certain death since they aren't old or weigh enough to be sterilized and, thus, eligible to be adopted.