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.
