Gaston County animal shelters and spay/neuter
Where Gaston 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.
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Gaston County's shelter picture
What Gaston County's reporting shelters told the state about dogs and cats in 2025. Compare Gaston with the other reporting counties.
- 2,312
- Dogs and cats taken in
- 1,716
- Adopted out
- 236
- Returned to owners
- 231
- Euthanized
- 10.0%
- Euthanized, share of intake (statewide 26.0%)
Source: NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2025 CY Public Animal Shelter Report (file replaced October 12, 2026). Dogs and cats, all reporting shelters combined.
Low-cost spay/neuter in Gaston County
Gaston County on the coverage map · Search by ZIP code
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). 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:
- 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.
- Increase the state appropriation to the Spay/Neuter Account so it can meet county demand.
- Enforce shelter reporting under G.S. 19A-65 so every county files a complete report on time.
- 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.
Who represents Gaston County
3 NC House members and 2 state senators have districts that include all or part of Gaston County. You have one of each: enter your address to find yours and send a ready-to-edit letter.
NC Senate
Gaston County in the news
- Gaston County pet pantry is completely empty: Here's how to help
The donation-funded pet food pantry run by Animal Care and Enforcement ran out on Aug. 28, with cat food the biggest need.
- 1-day-old puppies abandoned during ‘pouring rain’ in Gaston County, officials say
Seven newborn puppies were left in a box outside a Cherryville vet; one died and Animal Care and Enforcement sought a rescue for the six survivors.
- Gaston County animal shelter to offer reduced rates
With the shelter at capacity and short on staff, a BISSELL-sponsored promotion cut adoption fees to $25 from Dec. 1 to 17.
- Gaston County shelter reaches capacity for dogs
The county shelter said it was completely full for dogs after picking up 22 dogs in two days ahead of the holidays.
Gaston County champions
Help Gaston climb the board: become its county champion. Champions share the page, bring in signers and keep their county's numbers moving.
Become Gaston's championWhere to share it in Gaston
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.
- Gaston County Government Countywide government page linked from the Animal Care and Enforcement site; shelter news shares here.
Gaston County share kit
For shelters, rescues, clinics and anyone posting about Gaston County. The images show Gaston's place on the board right now, so download fresh ones before each post. The website version updates by itself.
Questions
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.
Pick the county you live in. The form starts on Gaston County, and if your ZIP code belongs to another county it offers to switch, so your signature counts where you live.
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 explains the data and its gaps.
No. The list is every NC House member and state senator whose district includes all or part of Gaston County, from the NC General Assembly's county representation list. You have one of each. Enter your address to find yours and send them a ready-to-edit letter.