Shelter Information

     Everyone always ask the question how much is it to adopt an animal from the Wake County Animal Shelter and what do these fees cover? The question why don't they just give the animals away for free is usually raised too when referring to the shelter. I believe there are different pros and cons to having these fees when adopting the animals.

     At the shelter they have different fees when adopting anyone of the animals they have. These fees include the animals first series of shots (DA2PPV or FVRCP), a general dewormer, heartworm test for dogs, a FIV/FELU test for cats, microchip, rabies vaccine, and topical flea and tick treatment. If the animal you adopt is to young for the rabies vaccine then the owner can bring the animal back when old enough and get that animal the vaccine. Also all dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered before they are to be adopted. "If an animal is unable to be spayed or neutered due to its young age or a health condition, the animal may be temporarily fostered through the Foster-To-Adopt Program. The adoption fees are the same, but the adopter must place a $200 deposit on the animal and have the animal spayed or neutered when it is old enough or well enough for surgery. The surgery can be completed through the Wake County Animal Center's partnership with the Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Clinic or at the adopter's private veterinarian. Once the surgery is completed, the difference between the adoption fee and the deposit will be refunded to the adopter."-Wake County Animal Shelter. 

Here is a list of fees:

• Dog Adoption fee $45
• Dog Spay/Neuter fee $50
• Cat Adoption fee $15
• Cat Spay/Neuter $30

Exotic Animals and Little Critters Adoption fees: 

• Bird $20
• Ferret $45
• Guinea Pig $15
• Reptile $30
• Rodent $10
• Rabbit $20

I think the shelter has these fees to make sure the animals are healthy and do not spread diseases while in the care of the shelter. Also if someone is very serious about adopting one of the animals they will pay the fees to get an animal and make sure they are being responsible about adopting and the animal has all the things it needs have a healthy, happy life. The fees also help the shelter have all the supplies to keep the animals healthy and not have diseases. The only con to having these fees is that people may not want to pay the money to get an animal because they don't understand what good the fees do and will not take the time to understand; so many animals may not get adopted for that reason. I think everything the shelter does is amazing for these animals and I'm proud to be part of the good they are doing! I asked a visitor to the shelter they thought the pros and cons of not giving away the animals for free and they answered "Not giving the animals away for free helps keep up with the keep of the animals like their food, medical needs, ect. The cons to the fees are not as many people adopt animals because they can not afford them."-anonymous. Then I ask Ricky the volunteer coordinator at the shelter the same question and the answer I got is in the video below.