---
title: "Mecklenburg County Animal Shelter Numbers and Spay/Neuter Help"
description: "Mecklenburg County shelters took in 9,263 dogs and cats in 2025 and euthanized 13.9%. Find low-cost spay/neuter, your legislators and the petition."
url: https://ncpetproject.org/counties/mecklenburg/
---
# Mecklenburg County animal shelters and spay/neuter
Where Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg County](#sign)
## Sign for Mecklenburg County
Your signature counts for Mecklenburg on the county leaderboard.
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### Thank you. Now help Mecklenburg climb.
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## Mecklenburg County's shelter picture
What Mecklenburg County's reporting shelters told the state about dogs and cats in 2025. [Compare Mecklenburg with the other reporting counties](https://ncpetproject.org/nc-county-shelter-report/#the-full-county-table-all-65-reporting-counties).
9,263
Dogs and cats taken in
5,099
Adopted out
1,242
Returned to owners
1,289
Euthanized
13.9%
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 Mecklenburg County
[Mecklenburg County on the coverage map](https://ncpetproject.org/nc-spay-neuter-coverage/#county-mecklenburg) · [Search by ZIP code](https://ncpetproject.org/get-help/)
- [Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control](https://www.charlottenc.gov/Animal-Care-and-Control/services/Spay-Neuter) Clinic Free [(704) 336-7600](tel:+17043367600) FREE spay/neuter for Mecklenburg residents at or below 200% of the federal poverty level or on government benefits; apply online; long waits; low-cost option and TNR surgeries paused as of Oct 2026
- [Friends of Feral Felines](http://www.friendsofferalfelines.org/) Referral REFERRAL/subsidy only, online intake forms, no phone; Mecklenburg plus limited Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Union
- [Humane Society of Charlotte](https://humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/health-wellness/spay-neuter/) Clinic From $50 [(704) 333-4130](tel:+17043334130) Dog spay $150 / neuter $125 (+$25 50-75lb, +$50 75lb+); cat spay $85, neuter $75, TNVR $50; $50 deposit; 10% senior/military
- [Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolinas](https://www.spayneutercarolinas.com/) Clinic [(704) 542-9997](tel:+17045429997) Serves Matthews, Pineville, Union, Waxhaw, Indian Trail, Mint Hill; Mon-Fri 7:30-5
- [Stand For Animals](https://www.standforanimals.org/) Clinic [(704) 970-2711](tel:+17049702711) THREE clinics; Mecklenburg and Iredell; walk-ins Wed Charlotte, Tue Lake Norman; medical assistance fund
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 Mecklenburg County](#sign)
## Who represents Mecklenburg County
13 NC House members and 6 state senators have districts that include all or part of Mecklenburg County. You have one of each: [enter your address](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Mecklenburg) to find yours and send a ready-to-edit letter.
### NC House
- [Rep. Mary Belk](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/713) Democrat · District 88
- [Rep. Terry M. Brown Jr.](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/783) Democrat · District 92
- [Rep. Laura Budd](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/796) Democrat · District 103
- [Rep. Becky Carney](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/322) Democrat · District 102
- [Rep. Tricia Ann Cotham](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/817) Republican · District 105
- [Rep. Carla D. Cunningham](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/642) Unaffiliated · District 106
- [Rep. Aisha O. Dew](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/836) Democrat · District 107
- [Rep. Julia Greenfield](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/829) Democrat · District 100
- [Rep. Beth Helfrich](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/832) Democrat · District 98
- [Rep. Brandon Lofton](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/751) Democrat · District 104
- [Rep. Carolyn G. Logan](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/750) Democrat · District 101
- [Rep. Jordan Lopez](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/835) Democrat · District 112
- [Rep. Nasif Majeed](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/752) Unaffiliated · District 99
### NC Senate
- [Sen. Woodson Bradley](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/454) Democrat · District 42
- [Sen. Mujtaba A. Mohammed](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/417) Democrat · District 38
- [Sen. DeAndrea Salvador](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/431) Democrat · District 39
- [Sen. Vickie Sawyer](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/405) Republican · District 37
- [Sen. Caleb Theodros](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/451) Democrat · District 41
- [Sen. Joyce Waddell](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/393) Democrat · District 40
[Email your legislators](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Mecklenburg)
## Mecklenburg County in the news
- WFAE · July 15, 2026
[Charlotte animal shelter seeks adopters as overcrowding forces euthanasia](https://www.wfae.org/charlotte-area/2026-07-15/charlotte-animal-shelter-seeks-adopters-as-overcrowding-forces-euthanasia)
CMACC euthanized a dog after kennel renovations cut capacity by more than 30 spaces, and asked the public to adopt or foster.
- WBTV (Axios Charlotte) · June 30, 2026
[With Charlotte shelter closing for weeks, pets need temporary homes](https://www.wbtv.com/2026/06/30/with-charlotte-shelter-closing-weeks-pets-need-temporary-homes/)
The Remount Road satellite shelter closed about five weeks for state-required kennel repairs, so 30 dogs and 2 cats needed fosters or adopters.
- WBTV · April 8, 2026
[Charlotte animal shelter at max capacity, pleads for adoptions and fosters 'before options run out'](https://www.wbtv.com/2026/04/08/charlotte-animal-shelter-max-capacity-pleads-adoptions-fosters-before-options-run-out/)
CMACC hit maximum capacity and appealed for adopters and fosters, saying new dogs fill any open kennel almost as soon as it clears.
- WSOC-TV · February 19, 2025
[Local animal organizations partner to offer free spay and neuter clinics](https://wsoctv.com/news/local/local-animal-organizations-partner-offer-free-spay-neuter-clinics/I2I32QA6Q5G3DH5PMIDSDHKWF4)
CMACC, the Humane Society of Charlotte and Stand for Animals offered grant-funded free surgeries for World Spay Day; the shelter said 81% of its 2024 strays were not fixed.
## Mecklenburg County champions
- **Nichole Blanton**
**Want to help Mecklenburg climb the board?** Join Nichole as a Mecklenburg County champion.
[Become a Mecklenburg champion](https://ncpetproject.org/volunteer/?county=Mecklenburg&role=champion)
## Where to share it in Mecklenburg
Every group has its own rules. Read them before posting, and share the county numbers, not just a link. Some groups, like r/Charlotte, don't allow petition or survey posts.
- [Lost and Found Pets-Charlotte](https://www.facebook.com/groups/164814303719718/) Pets and animals 32.5K members (Oct 2026) Reuniting lost pets is the group's only mission. Join, read the rules, and ask the admins before posting anything else.
- [Lost and Found Pets Mecklenburg County, NC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/LostandFoundPetsMecklenburgCounty/) Pets and animals 16.8K members (Oct 2026) Mostly lost and found posts. Read the rules before sharing anything else.
- [Charlotte, NC - Lost Dogs, Cats & Pets (PawBoost)](https://www.facebook.com/LostPetsCharlotteNC/) Pets and animals 16K followers (Oct 2026) A page, not a group: visitors can comment but not post.
- [Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control (official page)](https://www.facebook.com/animalsclt) Pets and animals 15K followers (Oct 2026) The county shelter's official page. Visitors can comment but not post.
- [Matthews NC Community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/matthews.nc.community/) Local 11.8K members (Oct 2026)
- [Mint Hill, NC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/townofminthillnc/) Local 2.7K members (Oct 2026)
- [r/Charlotte](https://www.reddit.com/r/Charlotte/) Local Share the county data; petitions aren't allowed there.
- [r/Huntersville](https://www.reddit.com/r/huntersville/) Local
## Mecklenburg County share kit
For shelters, rescues, clinics and anyone posting about Mecklenburg County. The images show Mecklenburg'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/mecklenburg-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/mecklenburg-wide.png?download=1)
**Put it on your website**Paste this into any page. It shows Mecklenburg'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. Mecklenburg County shelters took in 9,263 dogs and cats in 2025 and euthanized 13.9% of them. Sign the NC spay/neuter petition for Mecklenburg and help it climb the county leaderboard. It takes 30 seconds: https://ncpetproject.org/counties/mecklenburg/ Copy text
## Neighboring counties
- [Cabarrus County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/cabarrus/)
- [Gaston County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/gaston/)
- [Iredell County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/iredell/)
- [Lincoln County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/lincoln/)
- [Union County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/union/)
[All 100 counties on the leaderboard](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/)
## Questions
### How is Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg County line. Which county should I pick?
Pick the county you live in. The form starts on Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg 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=Mecklenburg) 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
