Source: NCDA&CS, 4/13/22

We Are Agriculture is a year-long series that will highlight the hard-work done by employees across the Department of Agriculture. Pat Scholar, Animal Health Technician with our Veterinary Division, is one of those employees. Stay tuned each Wednesday here on the blog or any of our social media accounts and join us in honoring those who continue to drive our state’s agriculture industry forward each day!

A love for animals provides a strong connection to the agriculture industry. Pat Sholar, an Animal Health Technician with our Veterinary Division, has always had a strong love for both animals and agriculture that led to her career today. “I was raised on a farm and always had a great love for animals, agriculture and the outdoors,” she said. “I am the true definition of a 'country girl.’”

In 1995, Pat started her career with the NCDA&CS and hasn’t looked back since. As an Animal Health Technician, she does a lot of work with our animal shelters, law enforcement and county managers to ensure all regulations are being followed and animals are getting the best care possible. “My primary job responsibility is to inspect public and private animal shelters, dog and cat boarding kennels and pet stores that sell or adopt dogs or cats and need to be licensed,” Pat said. “My territory is 11 counties in the southeastern part of the state.” Pat visits these facilities at least once a year, sometimes more, to ensure that they are not only treating animals in a fair and humane manner, but also that all rules and regulations are being properly followed.

For more of this story, click here.