Wake County Animal Shelter at capacity
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Wake County Animal Shelter is at capacity and asking for help.
The shelter has taken in over 300 hundred animals since the start of July, and fewer than 80 have been adopted in that time, according to animal service director Jennifer Federico.
She says pet surrenders are a big part of that problem.
The Allen family is from Rolesville, N.C. They're moving out of state and they surrendered their dog, Baby Girl, to the Wake County Animal Shelter on Friday.
"Didn't want to get rid of her but we do, we have to," Larry Allen Jr. said.
His wife says it's a very difficult thing for her family to do.
"Just raising her since she was a puppy, and all of a sudden it's like getting rid of one of your own children. It's not something easy to do, so we did it while the kids were sleeping," Christina Allen said.
Warning signs were posted around the Wake County Animal Shelter that read "surrender your pet as a last resort, with the understanding that your pet may be euthanized today."
Federico says they've seen 63 animal surrenders in the past nine days, even though the shelter was closed over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Surrendered pets are the most at risk for euthanasia, according to Federico.
"They're at risk for euthanasia, and that's what's we're always fighting to avoid. We can't do it alone here. We need our community to help," Federico said.
She says the shelter needs to see less surrenders and much more adoptions. Baby Girl's family is hoping for the same.
"I just really want her to find a better home. That's why we have her here, and hopefully somebody with a family can understand and pick up where we left off," Christina Allen said.
The Wake County Animal Shelter is open every day from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. for adoptions.
Employees at the shelter said that if anyone is thinking of adopting a pet, now would be the perfect time.
To learn more about adopting a pet, click here.
