HENDERSONVILLE — State animal officials have made some progress finding homes for animals they say were badly neglected at a shelter that was recently taken over by the state.

Forty-five dogs and 23 cats were adopted on Feb. 5, the first day that All Creatures Great and Small animal shelter was reopened.

The no-kill shelter was taken over after years of complaints and allegations that animals were neglected and denied medical attention by the previous operators.

The state is trying to find homes for another 109 dogs and cats by March 14, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Agriculture said.

The shelter was also the subject of an undercover investigation by the animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which documented abuses there.