Wake County launches Fall Community Pet Days to support pet wellness

For the third year in a row, the Wake County Animal Center is organizing its Fall Community Pet Days, a series of events designed to help pet owners keep their furry friends healthy and out of the shelter. From Oct. 13 to Nov. 24, Community Pet Days will visit four different locations across the county, offering free and low-cost wellness services to pet owners.

Community Pet Days Schedule:

All events are scheduled from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. unless otherwise stated.

Sunday, Oct.13 – Southern Regional Center in Fuquay-Varina
Sunday, Oct. 27 – Dorcas Ministries in Cary
Sunday, Nov. 10 – Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest
Sunday, Nov. 24 – Eastern Regional Center in Zebulon

Community Pet Days Services:

Low-cost vaccinations:

Rabies vaccination: A vaccine that protects against the rabies virus. Both 1-year and 3-year vaccines are offered. Cost: $5.
DHPP: A combination vaccine that protects against five dog diseases—distemper, canine hepatitis, canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza and parvovirus. Free.
FVRCP: A combination vaccine that protects against three cat diseases—feline herpesvirus 1 , feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia. Free.

Microchipping services:

Microchip: A small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder (about the size of a grain of rice), implanted under the skin and used to identify pets. The microchip is read by a scanner and shows an identification number that corresponds to the owner’s contact information. Free.

Important Information for Participants:

BRING CASH: The events accept cash only. Exact change is appreciated.
PET DOGS AND CATS ONLY: The events are open to owned dogs and cats. Please do not bring other types of pets, community cats, feral cats or pets owned by rescue organizations.
WAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY: Due to limited supplies, the events are open only to residents of Wake County.
Vaccinations and microchips will be available while supplies last.

Since launching in September 2022, Community Pet Days have helped thousands of families and pets. This spring alone, the Wake County Animal Center served 999 dogs and 276 cats, providing 1,000 rabies vaccines, 1,169 combination vaccines and 652 microchips.

Community Pet Days are offered due to a collaboration between local veterinarian Dr. April Ward with Heal House Call Veterinarians, Wake County Animal Center, Friends of Wake County Animal Center, Dorcas Ministries, Wake County Health and Human Services and Wake County Regional Centers.

Clear the Shelter results

The Wake County Animal Center participated in the 2024 Clear the Shelters event, waiving all adoption fees to help find loving homes for our dogs and cats. Running from August 9 to September 8, the month-long initiative was a tremendous success. We saw a fantastic turnout with 552 adoptions. Additionally, 87 lost pets were joyfully reunited with their families, 182 animals were transferred into foster care, and 162 were sent to 501(c)(3) rescue partners. In total, 973 animals have already left the building or are awaiting their spay/neuter surgeries before going home with their loving families. A heartfelt THANK YOU to our adopters, fosters, rescue partners, volunteers, staff, and the local community for your incredible support! For transparency, we took in 738 animals during this period and currently have 508 animals in our care in our building and foster homes. While not all are available for adoption, they are all receiving exceptional care from our dedicated team. If you're considering adding a new furry friend to your family, visit us today and find your perfect match. Your new best friend is waiting!

September Holidays

September is National Preparedness Month, a good time to ensure you have an emergency kit for yourself, your family and your pets. For cats, have a properly sized crate for each one and get them used to it to reduce stress during an evacuation. Also, make sure all cats are microchipped to help with reunification if they go missing. For dogs, crate training can ease their stress during evacuation, as crating may be required. Horse owners should ensure their horses can load quickly onto a trailer. If you don’t have a trailer, plan ahead with someone who can transport your horse. Learn more.

World Rabies Day, observed on September 28, raises awareness about the importance of rabies prevention and control. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects both animals and humans, but it is entirely preventable through vaccination and responsible pet ownership. On this day, pet owners are reminded to keep their pets up to date on rabies vaccinations, as this not only protects pets but also reduces the risk of transmission to people. In many parts of the world, stray animals and wildlife are major carriers of rabies, making community efforts to vaccinate and manage animal populations essential. By working together, we can move closer to the goal of eradicating rabies worldwide.