Wake animal center to close for repairs as leaders consider new shelter plans
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wake County animal center closes six weeks for repairs; public access halts.
- Animal control suspends pickups; dogs move to off-site boarding during repairs.
- Board to vote Jan. 20 on $57M shelter plan to double space and dog capacity.
Repairs and maintenance are forcing the Wake County Animal Center to temporarily close, even as Wake County leaders consider the design of a new $57 million animal shelter.
The Wake County Animal Center, at 820 Beacon Lake Drive, will close for about six weeks starting Friday through March 2.
Pet surrenders and stray intake will halt during the closure, but essential Animal Control work responding to bites, cruelty cases and dangerous animals will continue, said Meagan Frost, community outreach manager for the animal center.
“We know this temporary closure may be difficult for the community, and we truly understand the inconvenience it may cause,” said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson in a news release. “However, these repairs and maintenance are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals in our care.”
Staff will continue to work at the center, but volunteers and members of the public will not be at the center, Frost said.
The repairs will include those needed in response to a recent state investigation that fined Wake County $1,400 for safety violations that included failing to “maintain primary enclosures in good repair and in a manner to prevent injury to animals.”
The center is full, and many dogs and cats will be moved to off-site boarding facilities and returned before the center reopens.
Foster pets will be available for adoption through the center’s adoption gallery.
New Wake County animal shelter
On Monday, the Wake County commissioners reviewed potential designs for a new animal center. A final vote is expected Jan. 20.
The new center will more than double the shelter’s size to 54,600 square feet and double the number of dogs it can house. The plans call for adding room for 130 more dogs and 63 more cats.
The animal shelter has reached capacity numerous times in recent years, with the center repeatedly pleading for adoptions to avoid having to euthanize animals for space reasons.
Wake County plans to build its new shelter near the future Interstate 540 extension, near the intersection of Battle Bridge Road and Auburn Knightdale Road, on property often called the Randleigh Farm. Wake County and Raleigh jointly own 420-acre site in southeastern Wake County, with the county controlling the southern portion and Raleigh controlling the northern portion.
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 11:41 AM.
