---
title: "Craven County Animal Shelter Numbers and Spay/Neuter Help"
description: "Craven County shelters took in 4,524 dogs and cats in 2025 and euthanized 17.2%. Find low-cost spay/neuter, your legislators and the petition."
url: https://ncpetproject.org/counties/craven/
---
# Craven County animal shelters and spay/neuter
Where Craven County stands on the petition, what its shelters reported for 2025, who represents it in the NC General Assembly and where to find low-cost spay/neuter.
By signatures
#
Per 10,000 residents
#
Signatures
[See the full leaderboard](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/#county-leaderboard)
[Sign for Craven County](#sign)
## Sign for Craven County
Your signature counts for Craven on the county leaderboard.
Form fields: Full name; Email; ZIP code; County (optional); Leave this empty. Submit it on the web page.
### Thank you. Now help Craven climb.
Share this page with two friends in the county, then [email your state legislators](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Craven). It takes about three minutes.
## Share Craven's page
Every signer you bring in moves Craven up the board.
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## Craven County's shelter picture
What Craven County's reporting shelters told the state about dogs and cats in 2025. [Compare Craven with the other reporting counties](https://ncpetproject.org/nc-county-shelter-report/#the-full-county-table-all-65-reporting-counties).
4,524
Dogs and cats taken in
1,052
Adopted out
284
Returned to owners
776
Euthanized
17.2%
Euthanized, share of intake (statewide 26.0%)
Source: [NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2025 CY Public Animal Shelter Report](https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/aws/Fix/reports) (file replaced October 12, 2026). Dogs and cats, all reporting shelters combined.
## Low-cost spay/neuter in Craven County
[Craven County on the coverage map](https://ncpetproject.org/nc-spay-neuter-coverage/#county-craven) · [Search by ZIP code](https://ncpetproject.org/get-help/)
- [Craven/Pamlico TNR Project (HelpingCats.org)](https://craventnrproject.org/) Assistance Free [(252) 670-1378](tel:+12526701378) Trap-neuter-return for community and feral cats in Craven and Pamlico counties. Register online, then text (not call) the number. Suggested donation $40 male, $60 female; surgery does not depend on paying (site, October 2026).
We have not found an ongoing low-cost spay/neuter program for dogs in Craven County. On July 27, 2026, a one-day “Fix-a-Pit Day” at Verdigris Pet Hospital in New Bern, sponsored by Because of Bubbles Rescue, NJ Aid for Animals and Animals Havelock Association, spayed or neutered 20 pit bulls and pit-type dogs for $20 each, with a rabies shot, microchip and flea treatment included. Every appointment filled within a couple of hours. Steady funding could make that kind of help year-round. From Because of Bubbles Rescue's public post and the event flyer, July 27, 2026. Learn more: [NJ Aid for Animals](https://njafa.org/) · [Verdigris Pet Hospital](https://verdigrispets.com/)
Checked October 2026. Call before you go.
## What the petition asks for
In 2025, North Carolina's reporting public shelters euthanized 39,202 dogs and cats, 26.0% of the animals they took in ([NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services](https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/aws/Fix/reports)). The state spay/neuter program paid $250,954 against $659,626 in eligible county requests. The petition calls on the North Carolina General Assembly to:
1. Create a dedicated, self-sustaining spay/neuter fund, similar to Maryland's pet food registration fee, which pet food companies pay for each dog and cat food product registered in the state.
2. Increase the state appropriation to the Spay/Neuter Account so it can meet county demand.
3. Enforce shelter reporting under G.S. 19A-65 so every county files a complete report on time.
4. Strengthen breeder oversight. Today North Carolina licenses only dealers who sell to pet shops, other dealers or research facilities. Breeders who sell directly to the public currently need no license at all.
[Sign for Craven County](#sign)
## Who represents Craven County
2 NC House members and 1 state senator have districts that include all or part of Craven County. You have one of each: [enter your address](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Craven) to find yours and send a ready-to-edit letter.
### NC House
- [Rep. Celeste C. Cairns](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/797) Republican · District 13
- [Rep. Steve Tyson](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/774) Republican · District 3
### NC Senate
- [Sen. Bob Brinson](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/448) Republican · District 3
[Email your legislators](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Craven)
## Craven County in the news
- WCTI12 · September 25, 2026
[Craven-Pamlico Animal Services offers free cat and dog adoptions Friday, Saturday](https://wcti12.com/news/local/craven-pamlico-animal-services-offers-free-cat-and-dog-adoptions-friday-saturday)
An ASPCA-sponsored event waived adoption fees for two days, with vaccines and spay or neuter included for each adopted pet.
- WCTI12 · August 12, 2026
[Craven County officials urge residents to stop abandoning dogs as shelters near capacity](https://wcti12.com/news/local/craven-county-officials-urge-residents-to-stop-abandoning-dogs-as-shelters-near-capacity)
Animal Protective Services got three abandoned dog reports in one morning while both county shelters were at capacity; dumping an animal can bring a fine of up to $1,000.
- WCTI12 · March 6, 2026
[Craven-Pamlico Animal Shelter halts surrenders after taking in 150+ animals last week](https://wcti12.com/news/local/craven-pamlico-animal-shelter-halts-surrenders-after-taking-in-150-animals-last-week)
With every kennel full after more than 150 animals arrived in a week, the shelter paused owner surrenders and started a waiting list.
- WITN · March 17, 2025
[Craven County animal welfare challenges](https://www.witn.com/2025/03/18/craven-county-animal-welfare-challenges)
Animal cruelty charges in the county doubled over 2024's pace, and the shelter took in 73 animals in three days, 41 of them from one hoarding case.
- Public Radio East · November 4, 2024
[Changes to surrender process, hours at ENC animal shelter](https://www.publicradioeast.org/2024-11-04/changes-to-surrender-process-hours-at-enc-animal-shelter)
Craven-Pamlico Animal Services moved owner surrenders to appointments only and changed its open days; strays can still be brought in during business hours.
## Craven County champions
- **Amanda Lee**
**Want to help Craven climb the board?** Join Amanda as a Craven County champion.
[Become a Craven champion](https://ncpetproject.org/volunteer/?county=Craven&role=champion)
## Where to share it in Craven
Every group has its own rules. Read them before posting, and share the county numbers, not just a link. Some groups do not allow petition or survey posts.
- [Colonial Capital Humane Society](https://www.facebook.com/groups/colonialcapitalhumanesociety/) Pets and animals 31.3K members (Oct 2026) The New Bern humane society's group. Self-promotion and off-topic links aren't allowed, so ask the admins before sharing.
- [Craven-Pamlico Animal Services (official page)](https://www.facebook.com/CravenCountyAnimalServices) Pets and animals 11K followers (Oct 2026) The county shelter's official page, serving Craven and Pamlico. Visitors can comment but not post.
- [Friends of Craven Pamlico Animal Service Center](https://www.facebook.com/groups/CPASCpaws/) Pets and animals 6.9K members (Oct 2026)
- [Friends of Havelock Animal Control](https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofhavelockAC/) Pets and animals 5.1K members (Oct 2026) Shares animals needing adoption or rescue from the Havelock city shelter.
- [Craven/Carteret Lost/Found Pets](https://www.facebook.com/groups/948396751873348/) Pets and animals 3.9K members (Oct 2026) Strictly lost and found. Self-promotion isn't allowed, so ask the admins before posting anything else.
- [New Bern Local](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1121549191596423/) Local 43.1K members (Oct 2026)
- [New Bern, North Carolina](https://www.facebook.com/groups/newbernnc/) Local 29.6K members (Oct 2026)
- [r/NewBern](https://www.reddit.com/r/NewBern/) Local
## Craven County share kit
For shelters, rescues, clinics and anyone posting about Craven County. The images show Craven's place on the board right now, so download fresh ones before each post. The website version updates by itself.
**Facebook and Instagram post**Square image, 1080 by 1080. [Download image](https://ncpetproject.org/share/card.php/craven-square.png?download=1)
**Link preview and website**Wide image, 1200 by 630. It is also what shows when this page's link is shared. [Download image](https://ncpetproject.org/share/card.php/craven-wide.png?download=1)
**Put it on your website**Paste this into any page. It shows Craven's live place on the board with a sign button, updated every time the page loads. Sites that block scripts show the live image instead.
Copy code
**Post text**Ready to paste with either image. Edit it to sound like you. Craven County shelters took in 4,524 dogs and cats in 2025 and euthanized 17.2% of them. Sign the NC spay/neuter petition for Craven and help it climb the county leaderboard. It takes 30 seconds: https://ncpetproject.org/counties/craven/ Copy text
## Neighboring counties
- [Beaufort County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/beaufort/)
- [Carteret County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/carteret/)
- [Jones County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/jones/)
- [Lenoir County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/lenoir/)
- [Pamlico County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/pamlico/)
- [Pitt County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/pitt/)
[All 100 counties on the leaderboard](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/)
## Questions
### How is Craven County's rank worked out?
Every signature counts for the county the signer chooses on the form, or the county of their ZIP code if they leave it blank. The board ranks counties two ways: by total signatures, and by signatures per 10,000 residents (US Census estimates, 2024), so a small county can lead too. Ties on one measure are broken by the other. The numbers on this page come from the same live count as the [leaderboard](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/#county-leaderboard).
### I live near the Craven County line. Which county should I pick?
Pick the county you live in. The form starts on Craven County, and if your ZIP code belongs to another county it offers to switch, so your signature counts where you live.
### Where do the shelter numbers come from?
From the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2025 Public Animal Shelter Report (the version the state posted on October 12, 2026, which its page still labels "As of 7.27.26"), which counties file under G.S. 19A-65. They cover dogs and cats only, with every reporting shelter in the county added together. The [county shelter report](https://ncpetproject.org/nc-county-shelter-report/) explains the data and its gaps.
### Do the Craven County legislators listed here all represent me?
No. The list is every NC House member and state senator whose district includes all or part of Craven County, from the NC General Assembly's county representation list. You have one of each. [Enter your address](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Craven) to find yours and send them a ready-to-edit letter.
---
NC Pet Project works to end pet overpopulation in North Carolina through better laws and low-cost spay/neuter access. Low-cost help by ZIP code: https://ncpetproject.org/get-help/ . Contact: info@ncpetproject.org
