RALEIGH - The N.C. Board of Agriculture will conduct a public hearing on proposed rules governing euthanasia at animal shelters at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 18, in the Martin Building at the State Fairgrounds.

Veterinarians at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services spent more than a year developing the rules, which are designed to ensure that animals are euthanized as humanely as possible. The rules would set standards for equipment and training that shelters must meet if they euthanize animals.

The department will accept written comments on the rules until Aug. 31. The board will vote on the regulations in September.

For information about the rules or to submit written comments, go to www.ncagr.com/vet/aws/euthanasiarules.htm.

The Board of Agriculture is a policy-making body that adopts regulations for many of the programs administered by the NCDA&CS. Its 10 members are appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture serves as chairman of the board.