Dog flu outbreak forces Wake County Animal Center to extend shelter closure again
Due to the ongoing dog flu outbreak, the Wake County Animal Center has decided to extend its closure until at least the end of November.
The center first paused services on Oct. 6 to help control the canine influenza virus (CIV) outbreak and safeguard the 156 dogs in the shelter.
To provide the best possible care, the center is reaching out to rescue organizations within the Triangle and outside North Carolina. The center is asking for help from outside agencies to relocate dogs.
"We have dogs in our care that have not been exposed, those that have recovered and asymptomatic dogs," said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson. "We need additional help from rescue organizations to make a difference in the lives of these dogs and offer them a chance for a fresh start."
As of Monday, the center had 144 dogs and three puppies in the building. Five dogs are sick.
Since the Oct. 6 closure, 13 dogs and one puppy were reunited with their owners. Fifteen dogs and one puppy have been adopted. There were four deaths due to the flu.
"We've received so many calls from the public asking how to help, and it means the world to us," said Dr. Jennifer Federico, the director of the Wake County Animal Center. "If you want to help, join us in stopping the spread of the virus. We will get through this. It is just going to take time.”
In September, the center announced itwas nearing capacity on the adoption floor. Since then, animal shelters in Wake County have been overflowing with dogs, forcing animal rescue organizations to fill the void.
As of Monday, the center has:
- 144 dogs and three puppies in the building
- Five sick dogs in the building
- No additional deaths or euthanasia due to CIV
Since the Oct. 6 closure:
- 13 dogs and one puppy were reunited with their owners
- 15 dogs and one puppy have been adopted
- 15 dogs and one puppy have left with transfer partners
- Four deaths due to CIV
We want to thank the following partners who allowed us to transfer pets to them for care and future adoption:
- Neshama Animal Rescue – six dogs
- Charley’s K9 Rescue – two dogs
- Arcadia Animal Rescue – two dogs
- Carolina Great Pyrenees Rescue – one dog
- Doxie by Proxy Inc. – one dog
- Jesse’s Place – one dog
- SPCA of Wake County – one dog
- Rescue Ur Forever Friend – one dog
- Perfectly Imperfect Pups – one puppy
How to help & keep your pets safe
Take the following safety precautions to keep your pets safe and help mitigate the spread of CIV:
- Make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations. Speak with your veterinarian if you are unsure what they need.
- Even if your dog shows no symptoms, please refrain from taking them to dog parks, doggie daycare or any public places where unknown dogs gather.
- If you must board your dog, ensure that the facility is taking all precautions to prevent disease spread, which includes requiring vaccinations to board at the facility.
- Asymptomatic animals can still transmit the virus, if infected, and we urge all pet owners to take precautions to protect their furry friends and minimize community spread.
"In addition to ensuring your pets are safe, you can help us by taking in strays, trying to find their owners, helping neighbors rehome their pets if needed and stepping up to offer services that we normally provide and just can’t because of the dog flu at the center," Federico said.
What services are affected?
Due to the closure, the following services are affected:
Adoptions: Adoptions of pets housed at the Animal Center are temporarily paused.
Surrenders: Owners are not able to surrender any animals during this closure.
Animal Control: All five Animal Control agencies across the county (Wake County, Raleigh, Cary, Garner and Holly Springs) continue to respond to emergency animal calls; however, they are not picking up strays or owner surrenders in the field.
Bite animals: The Animal Center often holds pets on quarantine following bite incidents; however, at this time, those animals should be quarantined in veterinary offices or private homes.
Services that are being offered:
Adoption of foster pets: All our foster pets are now available for adoption and showcased on our adoption website, ready to join their forever families. We have 36 cats, 13 dogs, two guinea pigs and 68 kittens available for adoption.
Lost pets: If you believe your pet is currently at the Animal Center, please call at 919-212-PETS (7387) for instructions on providing proof of ownership and the process to reclaim your pet. Please note that lost pet walk-throughs inside the building are not offered during the quarantine period. If you need additional guidance on finding your lost pet, please check out our Lost & Found Pets page of our website.
Owner-requested euthanasia: If you need to euthanize your pet due to health or behavioral issues, you can call and request an appointment for euthanasia. Owners are asked to provide veterinary notes detailing the animal's medical condition or specific behavioral issues. Euthanasia requested by owners is carried out immediately upon surrender to the Animal Center. Staff reserves the right to refuse this service if the animal does not appear to be in need of euthanasia. Owners will then be referred to a private veterinarian for assistance.
Phone support for rehoming: If you need to rehome your pet and adopted it from a local organization, we recommend reaching out to them for assistance in finding a new home for your pet or returning it to their programs. We strongly encourage pet owners to work on rehoming their pet by using these tips.
Phone support for stray pets: If you've found a stray pet and are looking to locate its owner, we provide phone support and guidance on how to reunite the pet with its owner.
