About Us

The SPCA of Wake County operates two separate animal shelters and each facility serves a different purpose. Click here for hours and directions to each facility>

The SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center, built in 2003, is located at 200 Petfinder Lane in Raleigh and provides pet adoption, public education, and pet supplies through its on-site retail store. The Adoption Center location does not accept incoming animals.

The SPCA Admission Center, built in 1971, at 327 Highway 70 East in Garner, accepts incoming animals from the public by appointment only. We also transfer as many animals as possible from the Wake County Animal Center, as well as other animal sheltering organizations around the area. Limiting intake allows the SPCA to effectively manage its shelter capacity and prevent the euthanasia of homeless animals for reasons such as space or time.

The SPCA opened The Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Clinic adjacent to the SPCA Pet Adoption Center in 2009. The clinic provides sterilization surgery for all SPCA animals prior to adoption, as well as pets owned by the public. Because the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act prevents us from providing services to owned animals, the physical clinic space is leased to a veterinarian who operates the clinic independently, but in collaboration with, the SPCA.

Admission Services

SPCA Wake is a limited-admission organization. In 2023, the SPCA of Wake County took in a total of 3,572 homeless pets.

SPCA Wake will never euthanize a pet due to lack of space and is committed to saving every animal taken in. SPCA Wake only euthanizes pets who are too ill or too behaviorally unsound to be rehabilitated and adopted. Matching loving families with shelter pets is the heart of what SPCA Wake does daily.

We focus our animal intake efforts on the animals most at-risk of euthanasia at open-admission animal shelters where the sheer volume of incoming animals creates the most risk for euthanasia. We have a strong animal transfer relationship with the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) and other animal welfare organizations in and around Wake County. Although most of our animal admissions are focused on partnering with and transferring from open-admission animal shelters, we work to divert as many animals as possible from entering area shelters through intake of unowned litters of kittens and puppies.

Volunteers

We are fortunate to work with incredible volunteers who provide essential support to the daily operation of the SPCA, including animal care, behavior enrichment, medical care, adoptions, administrative support and special events. In 2023, volunteers provided over 15,500 hours of service -- the equivalent of 7 full-time employees.

Foster Program

The SPCA’s volunteer Foster Program is a vital part of our effort to save animal lives. These volunteers provide specialized care in their homes for animals who are not yet candidates for adoption because of illness or age. A robust foster care program allows SPCA Wake to respond quickly to emergency pet intake needs, whether from partner shelters or disaster relief efforts. Approximately 1/3 of all incoming animals are cared for in a volunteer foster home for a brief time.

Spay/Neuter Services

All animals are spayed or neutered prior to adoption from the SPCA of Wake County. This is an essential part of our mission to address pet overpopulation and reduce the number of animals being euthanized in our community.

The Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Clinic enables SPCA Wake to transfer thousands of unsterilized animals from surrounding rural shelters who have few spay/neuter resources. Those pets are adopted through the SPCA, freeing shelter partners to use limited resources for remaining animals. Dozens of area animal rescue groups also effectively utilize this low-cost spay/neuter option and take animals back into their care for adoption. The low-cost price point enables thousands of families to access this vital service.

Spay/Neuter Voucher Program

In partnership with local veterinary clinics, the SPCA sells redeemable vouchers for discounted spay/neuter services at participating area veterinarians. Over 1,300 vouchers are sold each year.

Behavior Services

The SPCA of Wake County strives to create and support a lifelong bond between pets and their people. We believe in positive, reward-based training that strengthens the human/animal bond and builds trust We provide a library of pet behavior articles as well as a list of force-free trainers to help pet owners solve pet behavior problems.

AniMeals Program

Another service we provide to help keep pets in their homes is the AniMeals program, which provides free pet food to low-income, homebound senior citizen pet owners. This delivery service is provided exclusively by SPCA volunteers.

Humane Education

Educating children and adults about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying and neutering their pets is an important aspect of creating a more humane community. The SPCA of Wake County provides a variety of on-site and off-site educational opportunities for people of all ages. The Humane Education program strives to engage the community with messages of personal responsibility while introducing participants to the services of an animal shelter in the community and ways to get involved.

Pet Loss Support

Pets are often beloved family members, and the death of a pet can be a traumatic, life-changing experience for many. The SPCA offers a Pet Loss Support Group for individuals or families grieving the loss of a pet, regardless of when that loss occurred. The Pet Loss Support Group encourages and supports open communication about the loss of one’s pet and honors the grieving process as uniquely individual.