Who does not like the idea of having a new cat or dog around the house? Well, maybe people who are allergic to them or had bad experiences with them, we will grant you that. But studies have shown that people with pets generally have happier lives, and what could make you happier when you move to a new area like the Triangle than playing with a cute new animal in your leisure time? On that note, we will explore the issue of pet adoption in the Triangle for this blog.
In Wake County, the SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center is the main base for finding an animal to take home. Located at 200 Petfinder Lane (directions are available on the Web site), it is open from noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Adoption fees are $115 for dogs and puppies, $95 for cats and kittens, and $50 for rabbits. The fees include a basic wellness exam, first vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, deworming and flea preventative measures. Adopters must be at least 18 years old, have a valid photo ID with current address and verification that pets are allowed where you live, and participate in an adoption counseling process (not all animals and owners are created alike, as we all know). Call 919-772-2326 for more information.
For Durham County, the Animal Protection Society leads the pack, with nearly 7,000 pets handled annually by the nonprofit organization that operates the Durham County Animal Shelter. Located at 2117 E. Club Blvd., the APS is open 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays (until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays) and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The APS has guidelines similar to those with the Wake SPCA, with its fees being $120 for dogs, $95 for cats and variable for other animals (the APS has pocket pets for sale as well, including rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and gerbils). However, all fees must be paid in cash, and there is a required $25 deposit (check or cash) to process an adoption application, which typically takes three to five business days to complete. Call 919-560-0640 during regular business hours for more information.
Orange County residents have a choice between two agencies. The APS of Orange County is located at 6311 Nicks Road in Mebane off Mebane Oaks Road and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m-5 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. Adoption fees are $160 for dogs and $100 for cats (cash, local checks and credit cards accepted) and cover the same elements as well as require the same deposit and application criteria as the Durham APS. Call 919-304-2300 for more information. The Orange County Animal Shelter is located at 1801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Chapel Hill and is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays (closed Wednesdays and open until 7:30 p.m. Thursdays), noon-4 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Here adoption fees are $113 for dogs, $104 for puppies, $91 for cats and $80 for kittens. It too has pocket pets for sale and has guidelines much like the APS. Call 919-967-7383 for more information.
Many breeders exist in the Triangle too, and an excellent resource to find them by location and/or breed is the American Kennel Club, but remember to make sure to know what exactly is covered by the fees you pay for the pets. Likewise, there are several pet adoption stores in each county as well, but there have been many criticisms leveled about the condition and treatment of such animals in the pet industry in general, and we are not familiar with all the stores in this area, so we will avoid going into this issue right now.
One final note: Durham County charges an animal license tax of $10 per animal per year ($75 for any animal not spayed or neutered) for animal control license costs, while Orange County taxes at least $5 annually for the same service (more if you live in Chapel Hill or Carrboro and if your pet is not sterilized).
Happy shopping for your new pet, and as Bob Barker always says, remember to spay or neuter them in case they have not already received those treatments.
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