Surrendering a Pet
Step 1: Consider your options
We want to help you find alternatives to surrendering your pet to the Wake County Animal Center. Please consider using the resources listed here to help resolve any of the following problem you may be having with your pet(s).
Behavior problems
If you are having behavior problems, consider enrolling in a local dog training class or consult a pet behaviorist. Also, consult free online resources such as the Wake County SPCA's
Pet Resources Library, the Richmond SPCA's
Pet Behavior Library and the ASPCA's
Virtual Pet Behaviorist.
Housing
You don't necessarily have to give up your pet if you are moving. Consult the
Wake County Pet-Friendly Housing Guide for a listing of more than 200 apartments that accept pets. You can also consult
People with Pets, which has a directory of apartments, homes and hotels in the United States that accept pets. Keep in mind that many landlords will allow well-behaved pets and responsible owners. Providing your pet's veterinary records, graduation certificates from obedience classes, and references from past landlords can help demonstrate that you are a responsible pet owner. In addition, Best Friends Animal Society has
Help Specialists dedicated to providing resources and advice on how to re-home foreclosure pets, even those with special needs. Other organizations, including the
Hope Now Alliance, offer free counseling for homeowners hoping to avoid foreclosure.
Economic Hardship: Vet Care
If you are unable to afford spay/neuter surgery, there are several
low-cost spay/neuter services in the area. Surgeries are as low as $20 per animal, for qualified individuals. Some of these clinics also provide low-cost vet care, including vaccinations, medications, deworming, exams, and other services. Your pet can receive a $5 rabies vaccination at an upcoming
rabies clinic.
The organizations listed here can also provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. Please keep in mind that each organization is independent and has their own set of rules and guidelines; therefore, you will have to investigate each one separately to determine if you qualify for assistance:
Breed Specific Assistance Programs:
Economic Hardship: Pet Food
If you are unable to afford pet food, consider using the
Pet Food Pantry service provided by the SPCA of Wake County. Pets must be spayed or neutered to qualify for assistance.
Economic Hardship: Fencing
It is illegal for Raleigh residents to tether their dogs for more than 3 hours a day, using a rope, chain or other line for restraining a dog. If you cannot bring your dog inside, and cannot afford fencing, consider contacting the
Coalition to Unchain Dogs.
Military Deployment
If you are about to deploy, contact national organizations like
Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet (GASP),
Pet Foster Care and the
NetPets Military Pets Foster Project , which have nation-wide networks of pet foster homes to support troops. Some boarding facilities also offer significant discounts to military pet owners needing long-term boarding. If you live in North Carolina, you can post a photo and bio of your pet on the
Pet Foster website. They promote pets needing foster homes in their weekly newsletter.
Domestic Violence
If you are a victim of domestic violence, contact
Interact of Wake County.
Feral Cats
Feral (wild) cats that are surrendered to the shelter are normally not adoptable. If you have feral cats living near you and would like to keep them around, contact a local
spay/neuter clinic for information about their spay/neuter services for feral cats.
Step 2: Try to find a home for your pet
If you must give up your pet and have no other option, consider keeping your pet until you can find a permanent home for the animal. A shelter environment can be very stressful to an animal.
Rehoming
Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date. Make a
poster and distribute it in your community. Ask friends and co-workers for help. Post on-line ad using local, free websites and local papers. Always ask for an adoption fee and evaluate adopters carefully. No matter your situation, it is your responsibility as the animal owner to screen prospective new owners.
Rescue groups
Although many
rescue groups are filled to capacity, you can contact them about rehoming your pet. Often, these groups will allow owners to post online information about their pets on a referral basis. You can also post information about your pet on the
NC Pet Foster network website.
Step 3: Bring your pet to the shelter
If you cannot resolve your problem and you cannot rehome your pet, please bring your pet to the Wake County Animal Center during normal business hours. Please bring your pet's vet records or some other proof of ownership. A change in the state law requires that the Center receive some form of proof of ownership in order to place the animal up for adoption immediately. Failure to collect proof of ownership will result in the Center's need to hold the animal for 72 hours prior to placing that animal up for adoption or transferring it to a rescue partner.
Proof of ownership would include items such as; vet records, rabies certificate and tag, microchip registration tracing back to the owner, adoption paperwork, registration papers and licensure papers.
Be prepared to provide information about your pet's medical conditions, history and temperament.
Understand that once surrendered to the Animal Center, the staff at the Animal Center will determine if they can offer the animal for adoption. This is determined by the health and temperament of the pet.
Animals can be reclaimed by the owner, but you must pay the applicable reclaim and boarding fees.
Wake County tries to find homes for all adoptable animals but many animals are euthanized due to lack of homes for all available dogs in the community. We invite you to view our monthly statistical reports documenting our intake and adoption numbers.
We understand the emotional toll surrendering a beloved pet to an animal shelter has on you, the owner, and your family. We hope that by offering these suggestions, we have provided you with some resources to help you make the best decision possible for your family and your pet.