Good news: Adopters respond to Wake County animal shelter's urgent plea

Dogs were at risk of being euthanized when the shelter was full last week, but thanks to support and adoptions from the community, that risk has lessened.

Unlike other county animal shelters in the state, particularly those in rural areas, the Wake County Animal Center has not had to euthanize an animal for space since 2016.

According to a press release, four days after the shelter made an urgent plea for adoptions, 66 animals have found forever homes. Many of the dogs were "long-timers" who had been in the shelter for months.

One of the dogs was adopted by Wake County Commissioner Maria Cervania.

The shelter, located at 820 Beacon Lake Drive in Raleigh, still has animals available to adopt. The shelter's capacity is 75 dogs, and more are arriving each day.

Last week, Dr. Jennifer Federico, Wake County Animal Services Director, said 37 of the shelter's dogs had been waiting for adoption for more than two weeks.

“We desperately need our community to come and adopt these dogs,” pleaded Federico. “We haven’t had to euthanize our animals for space since 2016, and we are very worried. One animal euthanized for space is one animal too many!”

You can also talk to the shelter about foster or volunteer opportunities.

Operated by Wake County Animal Services, the Wake County Animal Center will not turn away any animal, including stray, abandoned and surrendered pets.

WRAL News spoke with Federico and Elaine Smith, director of the Cumberland County Animal Shelter, in 2019 to learn why so many dogs are killed in North Carolina's open-admission shelters each year.

In crisis: More than 10,000 dogs and cats were killed in NC animal shelters last year

Euthanasia hasn't been a problem lately in Wake County's shelter, but other counties, like Robeson and Cumberland, are often forced to utilize that last option.

In Robeson County, 4,085 animals were euthanized for space in 2019, according to county records. In Cumberland County, a total of 3,241 dogs and cats were euthanized in 2019.

Federico estimated that, in total, at least 10,000 animals are being euthanized for space each year in North Carolina shelters -- and the real number is likely much higher. Even with the help of rescues and foster parents, there often is not enough space for all the homeless animals the shelter takes in.

Urgent need for adoption: Euthanasia a sad reality at many NC animal shelters

According to Smith, the Cumberland County shelter takes in more animals than almost any other North Carolina shelter – around 11,000 animals each year. It can only hold 300 animals at a time.

How you can help local animal shelters during the coronavirus pandemic

"What people don’t understand is we literally have no choice," Smith said. "I don’t have a choice when I have 20 dogs coming in and I have no empty cages or kennels. I have to make space. If that means out of the 20, I can adopt out 10, fantastic. If I can get five to rescue, great. Maybe two go back to their owners. That still leaves me three dogs we might have to euthanize."

The decision to euthanize a dog or cat is heartbreaking for her staff, Smith said.

"People say, 'Just don't kill them,'" Smith said. "I would love that, but it's not an option for me. What we would end up doing is putting two or three animals in a kennel or putting crates in the hallways with an animal cramped in there – we’re not allowed to do that by law. Others say, 'Just turn them loose.' But we can’t just turn an animal loose to suffer a fate – it could starve to death or get hit by a car. So the only thing we can do that is at least painless for the animal is euthanasia."

Animal lovers can also help by spreading the word about adopting or rescuing animals or contacting their local shelter to see what can be done to help.

Pet owners can spay and neuter their animals and keep them in fences or on leashes while outdoors to help with the overpopulation of homeless dogs.