Pet Adoptions

Cats and little critters can be visited in person and dogs can be seen by appointment. Adoption gallery: pets.wake.gov

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Wake County Animal Center

Are you looking for a best friend? Trusty companion? Exercise partner? Lap warmer? Well, you're in the right place! Take a look at the wonderful dogs, cats and little critters we have available for adoption – your match may be just a few clicks away!

Adoption Gallery

The adoption gallery includes all animals available for adoption, as well as pets on a stray hold that may not be available for adoption.

View Animals!

Adoption Information

Steps to Adopting an Animal in FOSTER

  • View our available animals on our Adoption Gallery.
  • If you see an available animal you are interested in and its location is "In Foster", select gray Additional Info tab on their profile.  This will lead you to additional information and our Contact Form.
  • Select the Continue to Contact Form button. Complete the form with your contact information. Be sure to include your question or comment about the animal you are interested in.
  • This information will be sent to our staff and we will forward it on to the Foster and ask that they reach back out to you.
  • If after corresponding with the Foster and you both think it is a good fit, the Foster can arrange a meet and greet with you and the pet.
  • If all goes well, the Foster will notify our staff that you wish to proceed with the adoption. You will then need to contact the shelter at (919) 212-7387 to complete all of the necessary paperwork, payments and arrange a pickup time. 

Steps to Adopting an Animal from the SHELTER

  • Visit our shelter any day from 12pm to 6pm (may be closed for holidays or inclement weather) to see our available animals. NOTE: animals available IN FOSTER are not housed at the shelter. Please refer to Steps to Adopting an Animal in Foster
  • All animals seen in out gallery may not be available for adoption, as our gallery is also used to help owners look for lost pets. Some of those pets may not be available to the general public.
  • You must be 18 years old or older and have a valid government issued ID in order to adopt from our shelter.
  • You are required to interact with any animal you wish to adopt. This helps you determine if you think they will be a good fit for your home.
  • Once you have decided they are the one, head up to the front desk with their name and ID number and staff will explain the next steps for you.
  • Any animal that came into our shelter as a stray, must complete their mandatory Stray Hold period before we can finalize their adoption. 
  • If the pet you wish to adopt is currently on Stray Hold, you can place a deposit for adoption. If the owner does not reclaim prior to the completion of the Stray Hold period, we can move forward with the final adoption process.  Staff at the shelter are happy to explain the process if you have additional questions.
  • All animals adopted from our shelter must be spayed or neutered before being brought home.  Good news! We can do that here and it is included in the adoption fee!

Animal Center Guidelines

Please Note:

  • Animals are adopted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • All animals must be met, in person, prior to a deposit being placed on the animal.
  • No deposits for animals located in the shelter will be placed over the phone.
  • Please note that we cannot allow owned dogs to come to the Animal Center to do “meet and greets” with adoptable dogs. Thank you for your understanding!
You may be denied an adoption for the following reasons: 
  • Unpaid animal control citation(s)
  • Unsatisfied bounced check to the County
  • Surrendered a pet within the previous 6 months
  • Over our limit for the number of pets in your home
  • Reported to us by Animal Control Authorities
  • Indicated to staff you are planning elective cosmetic surgery on your adopted pet
  • Made comments to staff about harming your adopted pet