November 18, 2014

Wake County Animal Shelter nearing carrying capacity

Mae Turney
Staff Writer


The Wake County Animal Shelter is reaching critical capacity, and recently, the shelter director Jennifer Federico announced that they may have to begin euthanizing animals if more aren’t adopted soon. Federico says there is currently enough room for five more animals, and the shelter is offering specials on the pets who have been there for more than 30 days.
The shelter’s main issue is that it they are required to accept any pets that are surrendered to them, no matter what reason brought the owner to make the decision. The shelter website has a list of alternatives to giving up your pet that are classified by nature of the issue. Some of these alternatives include, taking your animal to obedience classes, a behaviorist, or organizations that can place them in caring homes if you experience a sudden lifestyle change.

A sign reading, “If you are surrendering, the risk of it being euthanized is extremely high. We DO have to take your animals, but if you CAN take them home please DO,” was posted on the door of the Wake County Animal Shelter, to educate people on the seriousness of the situation, and encourage pet owners to try and work out the issues that brought them to surrender their pet to the shelter.

If you want to help, adopting a pet from the shelter is not very expensive. Including the cost of a neutering surgery, cats are $45, and dogs are $95; without neutering surgery cats are $15, and dogs are $45; there is also the cost of food, and a minimum of a yearly veterinarian visit. The shelter also encourages people to remember that animals need a stable loving home, and towards the end of the adoption process they will ask a series of questions to determine how a future pet owner will act towards their pet in a series of situations that could test their patience; when a person is named a suitable pet owner, they can then take home their new best friend.

The Wake County Animal Shelter hosts specials to bring animals to safe homes, and this month, it’s called, “Senior cats for senior laps.” This special makes it $10 for a person over the age of 60 to adopt a cat over three years old.

The shelter also holds events periodically to show the dogs who are in the greatest need of homes to possible pet owners.