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Animal Adoption Center Fees


Dog & Cat Adoption Fees

We are pleased to announce a change in our adoption fees as of July 1, 2009. We now have a reduced adoption fee for our senior pets and those that came to the Animal Center already spayed or neutered.

Dog Adoption

$ 70

Senior Dog Adoption

$ 50

Cat Adoption

$ 50

Senior Cat Adoption

$ 30

Spay/Neuter Fee

$ 50

If you are adopting an animal that is already spayed or neutered, you do not have to pay the spay/neuter fee of $50, thereby reducing the overall cost of your adoption.

The adoption fees include the pet's first series of shots (DA2PPV or FVRCP), a general dewormer, a heartworm test for dogs, a FIV/FELU test for cats, a topical flea and tick treatment, a microchip and a rabies vaccine. If the animal is under the age of four months at the time of adoption, it will be considered too young to receive its rabies vaccination. The adopter can return with the pet once it reaches four months of age to receive its rabies inoculation.

All dogs and cats are required to be spayed or neutered before adoption. If an animal is unable to be spayed or neutered due to its young age or a health condition, the animal may be temporarily fostered through our Foster-To-Adopt Program. The adoption fees are the same, but the adopter must place a $200 deposit on the animal and have the animal spayed or neutered when it is old enough or well enough for surgery. The surgery can be completed through the Wake County Animal Center's partnership with the Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Clinic or at the adopter's private veterinarian. Once the surgery is completed, the difference between the adoption fee and the deposit will be refunded to the adopter. Read more about our Foster-To-Adopt Program here.

cat and reflection

Related Links:

Shelter Location & Hours

Animal Adoption Galleries 


Little Critter & Exotic Animals Adoption Fees

The adoption fees for other small animals vary according to their species. This includes rats, mice, hamsters, ferrets, birds, reptiles and guinea pigs.

Bird $ 20
Ferret $ 45
Guinea Pig $ 15
Reptile $ 30
Rodent $ 10
Rabbit $ 60*

*The rabbit adoption fee is $10 plus an additional $50 for spay/neuter fees.


Animal Reclaim Fees

When an owner picks up, or reclaims , his or her animal from the Wake County Animal Center, reclaim and boarding fees are charged. When an animal stays at the Center for its 10-day bite quarantine period, the owner is responsible for paying the daily boarding rate.

1st Reclaim $ 50
2nd Reclaim $ 75
3rd Reclaim $ 150
Dog Boarding Fees $ 8/day
Cat Boarding Fees $ 6/day


Animal Control Fines

Fines are imposed when the Wake County Animal Control Ordinance is violated. An animal found at large is in violation of the Ordinance and may be picked up by an animal control officer. For those found running at large and therefore in violation of Wake County Animal Control Ordinance Section 2-3-7, a citation will be issued and fines charged.

1st offense – Running at Large $ 100
2nd offense – Running at Large $ 150
3rd and subsequent offenses – Running at Large
$ 200
All Other Violations ( unless specified in Section 2-3-21 ) $ 100