This NC animal shelter might euthanize to make space. Here’s how to save these pets
Wake County Animal Center is full and may need to begin euthanizing animals to create space.
The center hasn’t euthanized animals for space in eight years, but unless animals — dogs in particular — are adopted, fostered, reclaimed by owners or transferred to rescues, the center will have to euthanize, according to a Wake County Animal Center press release from Aug. 9.
“What the problem really has been consistently is supply and demand. We have more dogs coming in than we have dogs leaving,” Jennifer Federico, the director of the Wake County Animal Center, told The News & Observer.
This is a “last resort” option for the center, whose staff have created an “at-risk list” of animals that would be euthanized if no space is created. Right now, about 15 dogs are on the list, Federico said. Many of the animals have been at the center for more than 90 days, with some having been there nearly 175 days.
“It’s only if we reach the point where there’s like no more rooms at the inn, we have to make room somehow, and euthanasia’s that way,” Federico said.
Wake County Animal Center’s call for help is the second in recent months. In late June, the center issued a news release announcing that it had taken in 141 animals over a span of three days and needed “immediate intervention” through adoptions. Otherwise, the center said in the release, the staff would have to begin euthanizing for space.
The center has been at or over capacity for the past two years, The N&O reported in January.
How to help save Wake County animals from euthanasia
Wake County Animal Center is participating in Clear the Shelters, waiving all adoption fees. (Typically, it can cost up to $95 to adopt a dog from the Wake County Animal Center.) The event runs Aug. 9 to Sept. 8.
Pets adopted from the center are spayed or neutered, microchipped and up-to-date on annual vaccines.
The animal center’s online pet adoption gallery shows all animals available for adoption, or anyone interested in taking a pet home can visit the center at 820 Beacon Lake Drive. It’s open for adoptions 12-6 p.m. daily.
“If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, volunteer. You can’t volunteer, donate. Share, share our story,” Federico said.
Which animals are available for adoption?
There are 342 animals at the center and 237 in foster care.
Of the animals available for adoption, there are:
- 12 cats
- 88 dogs
- 14 kittens
- Two puppies
- Two birds
- Two rabbits
Animals in foster care that may be adopted include:
- Eight cats
- 40 dogs
- 28 kittens
- One puppy
Durham + Chapel Hill groups lower pet adoption fees
Clear the Shelters is a nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign now in its 10th year.
Many rescues and related groups in the Triangle are participating in the event. Check which organizations are participating by typing in your ZIP code in this searchable map.
There are a couple of Triangle organizations that are reducing fees for pet adoptions:
- Through Sept. 10, the cost of adopting a dog from the Animal Protection Society of Durham is $75.
- Orange County Animal Services is offering reduced adoption fees for both dogs and cats. Until Sept. 10, most dogs can be adopted for $25, and most cats can be adopted for $50.
This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 12:22 PM.
