The Wake County Board of Commissioners has approved the schematic design for a new Wake County Animal Center, marking a major milestone in a long-planned project to replace the County’s aging animal shelter.
“This new animal center is something our community truly needs,” said Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson. “Our current facility has served us well for many years, but it can no longer keep up with the growing demand. This project will allow us to better care for animals and serve Wake County for decades to come.”
The planned new Animal Shelter will be a 54,600-square-foot facility designed to serve Wake County for the next 30 years. It will be built on the southern tract of Randleigh Farm in eastern Wake County, a property jointly purchased by Wake County and the City of Raleigh in 2005 from NC State University, which previously operated the site as a dairy farm.
The facility will be designed to increase capacity for dogs and cats by over 50%. Some dog kennels will include outdoor runs to help reduce stress, particularly for animals staying at the shelter for longer periods.
The site design also includes fenced outdoor yards for dog exercise and socialization, as well as a dedicated walking path to provide a safe and comfortable environment for volunteers and staff to walk the dogs.
Public services at the new Animal Center will include animal adoption, a public veterinary clinic offering targeted services, foster program offices, and animal surrender and redemption services. Each service will have a separate entrance to reduce stress on animals and help prevent the spread of disease. Secure operational areas will include animal intake from Animal Control, a covered vehicle sallyport, a 2,000-square-foot storage warehouse, mechanical yards and a standby generator.
Funding for the new Animal Center is included in the County’s Capital Improvement Program. Portions of the project were approved in the FY2025 and FY2026 budgets, with the remaining $17 million scheduled for inclusion in the FY2027 budget.
Wake County has operated its Animal Center at the current Beacon Lake Drive location in northeast Raleigh since 1998. While the facility has been expanded and updated multiple times to respond to population growth and evolving sheltering practices, the site’s limited size no longer allows for meaningful expansion. The new facility will address those constraints and better support modern animal care, sheltering and community services.
Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027.
