Wake County Animal Center would get more employees, space under proposed budget

The overcrowding means the line between adopting these animals and having to euthanize for space reasons continues to be razor-thin.

County manager David Ellis just included several items in a proposed budget to help with this issue.

Wake County hasn't had to euthanize animals for the sake of space in eight years, but it's hard when the center was sitting over capacity for most of last year.

The budget proposal offers help in the short-term, and the long-term.

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"This morning, we started with only five open kennels on our adoption floor," said Jen Federico with the Wake County Animal Center.

The Wake County Animal Shelter is bursting at the seams. There are close to 90 dogs, and 12 cats.

For months the shelter has been in crisis mode, from stopping surrenders, to lowering adoption fees to zero to curb capacity.

They need more space and more help. The proposed budget for this year has funding for both.

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The county's 7-year plan for major building construction and renovations sets aside $45 Million across two years for the new shelter. More than $8 million is in this year's proposal. The bulk of it is slated for next year's budget.

Another suggestion from the county manager would help - bolstering the foster and volunteer program.

The proposed budget includes funding for seven more employees in the animal center. Three of them would be dedicated to expanding the foster program that would cut overcrowding in the building.

The other four would increase staff in hopes of cutting back on overtime and staff turnover.

The full Wake County budget will be voted on in June. It will take effect with the new fiscal year on July 1.