Pets

'I've wanted one ever since': Animal shelters across central NC host events for Clear the Shelters culmination

The annual Clear the Shelters month - a national pet adoption drive - culminated Saturday. Every available cat was adopted from the Wake County Animal Center, but the shelter is nearly full again for the second time in August.

Posted 2023-08-22T14:16:04+00:00 - Updated 2023-08-27T13:48:10+00:00

Over 80 cats and dogs adopted during Clear the Shelters event at Wake Co. Animal Center

WRAL staff

The annual Clear the Shelters campaign culminated Saturday around various animal shelters around North Carolina.

On Saturday, people adopted 57 cats and 30 dogs at the Wake County Animal Center. Every cat the shelter had got adopted Saturday.

The shelter waived adoption fees all month for the Clear The Shelters campaign.

While the center had several animals adopted in August after saying they needed to euthanize animals after reaching capacity, the shelter is almost at capacity again.

According to Megan Thomas with the Wake County Animal Center, around 40% of the animals at the shelter were surrendered by their owners and not by choice.

“These are people who don’t want to give up their pets; they’re crying in the lobby,” Thomas said. “They have heartbreaking stories.”

On Saturday, Kayla McNeill and other Wake County residents came to the shelter to help make space in shelters. McNeill remembers being an owner who had to surrender her pet.

“I’ve had dogs when we were younger, and then we moved and we couldn't keep the dog,” McNeill said. “I’ve wanted one ever since.”

Some people adopting looked at the animals and related to that pain.

“I spent the first six years of my life in the foster care system, so I know the foster care eyes,” said Joshua Cordova-Byker, who is looking to adopt a dog. “When he looked at me, I knew that pain.”

The Wake County Animal Center said they may extend waiving the adoption fees Sunday because there are still number of dogs available.

Consider taking time on that day to adopt a new pet or donate to help pets find their fur-ever homes.

Paws4Ever, Wake SPCA host events

Paws4Ever was one of the seven shelters participating in the Clear the Shelters event along with the Wake County Animal Center.

They waived all adoption fees on Saturday and will waive adoption fees on Sunday.

In addition to waiving adoption fees, Paws4Ever offers a free on-site training class for your new pet.

"If anyone is a little bit concerned, you know if the dogs are trained and resources afterwards were there for you, for whatever you need," said Whitney Zoghby, Executive Director of Paws4Ever. "Whether it's training, or care questions, or support or pet food, we've got you covered.

At the SPCA of Wake County, adoption fees were half off at the shelter, and there are plenty of young puppies and kittens, as well as animals that are young at heart still available for adoption.

In Sanford, dozens of people participated in the 15th annual Run for Their Lives races.

The race held 5k, 10k and 15k races at Kiwanis Park.

The race is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption