“WE ARE FULL! If you are surrendering your pet, the risk of euthanasia is extremely high today. Please consider other options and only surrender your pet as a last resort, with the understanding that your pet may be euthanized today.”

That was the message that adorned the door at the Wake County Animal Shelter on July 9. 

Although summer is the season for a flood of puppies and kittens, Jennifer Federico, the center’s animal services director, said the main problem for the center’s overcapacity is owners coming to surrender their animals.

“In the last nine days, we received a total of 69 animals,” Federico said. “That’s 38 dogs, two puppies, 13 cats and 10 kittens. That’s crazy. It’s a lot when we already have about 90 animals on the floor.”

Before the influx of surrendered animals, the center was already caring for 70 cats and 90 dogs within its building. In foster care it has almost 200 animals of all ages that are waiting to be adopted.

“Of course we want people to come and adopt from us but if you want to surrender your pet we need to be your last resort,” Federico said.

According to Federico, the Wake County Animal Center is a reflection of its community. If pet owners spayed and neutered their animals, kept them contained and didn’t surrender them to the center, the problem of overcapacity simply wouldn’t exist.

“We’d be out of business,” Federico said. “But since that’s not happening the animals add up, and it’s frustrating.”

In Wake County, the animal center is the only place that takes all surrendered pets. That doesn’t just include cats and dogs but rabbits, guinea pigs, horses and even rats.

“It’s not just cats and dogs pouring in over here,” Federico said. “People should think about us when they’re considering the little critters too.”

Even if people aren’t in the position to adopt, Federico explained that there are all kinds of other ways for them to help out.

“Advocate, please. I can’t say it enough,” Federico said. “Come volunteer, be a foster parent. Better yet help a neighbor find their dog when it gets lost instead of bringing them here. Or help a friend relocate their animal so they don’t come here to surrender it. There are so many things people can do to help. Little things like that really add up.”