---
title: "Wake County Animal Shelter Numbers and Spay/Neuter Help"
description: "Where Wake County stands in the 2025 NC shelter report, low-cost spay/neuter help, its state legislators and its live rank on the NC petition."
url: https://ncpetproject.org/counties/wake/
---
# Wake County animal shelters and spay/neuter
Where Wake 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 Wake County](#sign)
## Sign for Wake County
Your signature counts for Wake 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 Wake climb.
Share this page with two friends in the county, then [email your state legislators](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Wake). It takes about three minutes.
## Share Wake's page
Every signer you bring in moves Wake up the board.
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## Wake County's shelter picture
**Wake County is not in the state's 2025 shelter report.** It does not appear in the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2025 CY Public Animal Shelter Report as posted (file replaced October 12, 2026), so there are no state figures to show here. The NC Department of Agriculture told NC Pet Project in October 2026 that Wake does not file this report because it does not take state spay/neuter reimbursement. Wake publishes its own monthly shelter reports instead.
[Why some counties are missing from the report](https://ncpetproject.org/nc-county-shelter-report/#thirty-six-counties-are-missing-from-the-file)
## Low-cost spay/neuter in Wake County
[Wake County on the coverage map](https://ncpetproject.org/nc-spay-neuter-coverage/#county-wake) · [Search by ZIP code](https://ncpetproject.org/get-help/)
- [Alley Cats and Angels of NC](http://www.alleycatsandangels.org) Assistance Alter an Alley Cat voucher/assistance program, not surgical
- [Five County Spay Neuter](http://www.fivecountyspayneuter.com) Clinic [(919) 269-4564](tel:+19192694564) Low-cost spay/neuter; rabies+distemper included
- [Friends of Animals Certificate Program](https://friendsofanimals.org/spay-neuter/) Assistance Sells certificates redeemable at participating vets. Only works where a participating vet is near you, so enter your zip on their Get a Certificate page first
- [Friends of Wake County Animal Center](http://www.friendsofwakeanimals.org) Assistance Paused Spay/neuter vouchers for Wake residents in financial need: Kitty Clip, $15 per cat (owned or feral), and Pit Stop, $40 for pit bulls and pit mixes, each covering surgery and two vaccines. You pay at one of five participating clinics and book the appointment yourself. Paused until 2027, with a Kitty Clip waitlist open. All volunteers, email only, no phone (Friends of Wake County Animal Center, October 2026)
- [Harmony Animal Rescue Clinic](https://harcnc.org/) Clinic [(919) 249-6601](tel:+19192496601) Not open to the public: sees only pets fostered by or recently adopted from 501(c)(3) rescue groups. The public can use it only with a TNR voucher from Friends of Wake County (Kitty Clip) or Operation Catnip (Harmony, October 2026)
- [NC State Spay/Neuter Program](https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/aws/fix) Assistance Income-based [(919) 707-3280](tel:+19197073280) Reimburses participating counties/municipalities for low-income spay/neuter; funded by $20 from each Animal Lovers I Care plate plus a state appropriation
- [Operation Catnip](http://www.ocraleigh.org) Clinic Free Monthly clinic for community cats, free with a donation requested, up to 100 cats a day; advance registration required. Voucher program $60 per voucher (up to the full $90 cost if you can give more). Both include surgery, ear tip, rabies and FVRCP vaccines, and a microchip on request (Operation Catnip, October 2026)
- [Paws for Life SNIF Program](https://www.pawsforlifenc.org/spay-neuter-snif) Assistance Paused Temporarily paused: not taking applications or issuing new vouchers (checked 10 October 2026); already-issued vouchers still valid
- [SAFE Care Clinic](https://www.safecareclinic.org/) Clinic [(919) 872-7730](tel:+19198727730) CATS ONLY; appointment only; SAFE Care Spay/Neuter Clinic
- [SNAP-NC (Spay Neuter Assistance Program of NC)](https://www.snap-nc.org/) Assistance Paused [(919) 783-7627](tel:+19197837627) Mobile low-cost spay/neuter for those needing financial assistance. NOTE: currently prioritizing shelters and rescues rather than the general public; call before relying on it
- [SPCA Wake Saving Lives Clinic](https://spcawake.org/saving-lives-spay-neuter-clinic/) Clinic From $60 [(919) 772-0211](tel:+19197720211) Cat male $90 / female $120 / feral $60; dog male $200-$240, female $230-$270 by weight; NO residency or income requirement; payment in advance
- [Wake County Animal Center Working Cats Program](https://wake.gov/departments-government/animal-services/community-cats-tnr/wake-county-working-cats) Assistance Free Free spay/neuter, ear tip, rabies and FVRCP shots and flea treatment for stray and feral cats; release not allowed in Raleigh city limits, Garner or Holly Springs; email WCACworkingcats@wake.gov
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 Wake County](#sign)
## Who represents Wake County
13 NC House members and 6 state senators have districts that include all or part of Wake County. You have one of each: [enter your address](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Wake) to find yours and send a ready-to-edit letter.
### NC House
- [Rep. Cynthia Ball](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/711) Democrat · District 49
- [Rep. Maria Cervania](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/798) Democrat · District 41
- [Rep. Sarah Crawford](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/800) Democrat · District 66
- [Rep. Allison A. Dahle](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/740) Democrat · District 11
- [Rep. Phil Rubin](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/844) Democrat · District 40 · Appointed 1/29/25
- [Rep. Monika Johnson-Hostler](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/834) Democrat · District 33
- [Rep. Abe Jones](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/780) Democrat · District 38
- [Rep. Ya Liu](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/806) Democrat · District 21
- [Rep. Tim Longest](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/818) Democrat · District 34
- [Rep. Erin Paré](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/770) Republican · District 37
- [Rep. James Roberson](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/786) Democrat · District 39
- [Rep. Mike Schietzelt](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/840) Republican · District 35
- [Rep. Julie von Haefen](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/758) Democrat · District 36
### NC Senate
- [Sen. Gale Adcock](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/436) Democrat · District 16
- [Sen. Sydney Batch](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/434) Democrat · District 17
- [Sen. Dan Blue](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/268) Democrat · District 14
- [Sen. Jay J. Chaudhuri](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/395) Democrat · District 15
- [Sen. Haseeb Fatmi](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/1002) Democrat · District 18 · Appointed 5/21/26
- [Sen. Lisa Grafstein](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/439) Democrat · District 13
[Email your legislators](https://ncpetproject.org/email-your-legislators/?county=Wake)
## Wake County in the news
- WUNC · January 27, 2026
[Wake County approves designs for new animal center](https://www.wunc.org/term/news/2026-01-27/wake-county-new-animal-center)
Commissioners approved a $57 million, 54,000 square foot replacement shelter with 265 dog kennels and an on-site spay and neuter clinic.
- WUNC · January 14, 2026
[Wake County Animal Center set to temporarily close for repairs to address violations](https://www.wunc.org/term/news/2026-01-14/wake-county-animal-center-temporarily-close-repairs)
The center closed to intake and the public until about March 2 for repairs tied to the state violations, moving up to 80 dogs to private boarding.
- WRAL · November 20, 2025
[State fines Wake County Animal Center; report says conditions led to dog's euthanasia](https://www.wral.com/news/investigates/wake-animal-shelter-fine-violations-november-2025/)
The state fined the shelter $1,400 after a dog cut an artery on a broken water bowl; repair requests to county facilities staff had gone unanswered for months.
- ABC11 · March 4, 2025
[Wake County Animal Center begins reopening plan this week after dog illness outbreak triggers shutdown](https://abc11.com/15972325)
After a Strep zoo respiratory outbreak killed three dogs and closed the shelter for a month, it reopened for adoptions only while caring for 240 animals.
## Wake County champions
- **Jake St. Peter**
**Want to help Wake climb the board?** Join Jake as a Wake County champion.
[Become a Wake champion](https://ncpetproject.org/volunteer/?county=Wake&role=champion)
## Where to share it in Wake
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.
- [SPCA of Wake County](https://www.facebook.com/SPCAwake/) Pets and animals Linked from spcawake.org.
- [Wake County lost and found pets group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/3638406106481481/) Pets and animals Linked from Wake County's lost and found pets page. For lost and found posts; ask the admins before posting anything else.
- [r/raleigh](https://www.reddit.com/r/raleigh/) Local Read the subreddit's rules before posting.
- [r/CaryNC](https://www.reddit.com/r/CaryNC/) Local Read the subreddit's rules before posting.
## Wake County share kit
For shelters, rescues, clinics and anyone posting about Wake County. The images show Wake'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/wake-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/wake-wide.png?download=1)
**Put it on your website**Paste this into any page. It shows Wake'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. Sign the NC spay/neuter petition for Wake County and help it climb the county leaderboard. It takes 30 seconds: https://ncpetproject.org/counties/wake/ Copy text
## Neighboring counties
- [Chatham County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/chatham/)
- [Durham County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/durham/)
- [Franklin County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/franklin/)
- [Granville County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/granville/)
- [Harnett County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/harnett/)
- [Johnston County](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/johnston/)
[All 100 counties on the leaderboard](https://ncpetproject.org/counties/)
## Questions
### How is Wake 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 Wake County line. Which county should I pick?
Pick the county you live in. The form starts on Wake 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 Wake 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 Wake 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=Wake) 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
