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Available Pets
The Orange County Animal Shelter has many wonderful pets for adoption and some that are available through one of our foster programs.
Due to COVID-19, the Animal Services facility is closed to the public with the exception of curbside and virtual appointments made in advance. If you are interested in a pet that is currently listed as available for adoption OR available for foster, please call 919-942-7387, option 3, to speak with a staff member at our adoption desk. If the staff is unable to answer right away, please leave a message with your full name, contact number, and information for the pet you are interested in (including the pet’s name and ID number). Every effort will be made to respond to messages the same day, but it is possible that you may not receive a callback until the next business day due to the high volume of calls we often receive. If you have already left a clear message for our staff, please do not leave multiple messages as checking extra messages makes it more difficult for our staff to respond in a timely manner.
We do encourage everyone to meet with a pet that they are interested in adopting. These "Meet & Greet" sessions last for approximately 15 minutes. Meet & Greets are currently only available by appointment and are being held virtually (via Zoom or FaceTime) to help keep everyone safe during COVID-19. These virtual meetings have been very successful and are a great way to ask questions and observe a pet’s behavior and personality in real time! Please call the adoption desk at 919-942-7387, option 3, if you would like to schedule an appointment.
Some animals can be taken home the same day they are adopted, but those adoptions must occur before a certain time of day and are dependent upon several factors. If you are interested in taking a pet home on the same day you adopt, please consult with the adoption desk to find out if that pet is able to go home right away.
See more information on adoption and adoption fees on this page.
Orange County has mandated the use of face coverings in many situations. We are asking that everyone wear a mask when conducting any in-person interaction at our facility unless they meet exceptions outlined here.
Check out our available pets at these links:
Introducing Pets
Check out this page for our recommendations on introducing a new pet to other pets in your home.
Can’t adopt? Sponsor a pet’s adoption fee! It’s easy, just call 919-942-PETS (7387) and press option 3 for the adoption desk!
Social Media
Visit us on Facebook to find more photos or videos of adoptable animals, as well as events and other fun news! You can also check us out on Instagram!
Foster Kittens
If you are interested in fostering kittens too small for the adoption floor or moms and nursing kittens, go to our Kitten Foster Program page and fill out our inquiry form.
Interested in fostering a dog?
All of our foster dogs are part of our Medical Foster Care Program. In most cases, they need to complete treatment for heartworms before they can be adopted. As a foster parent, you would coordinate with our veterinary care staff for any treatment needed. If you are interested in fostering a dog, please call our main number at 919-942-7387.
CHECK OUR NEWS & EVENTS CAROUSEL TO SEE IF WE ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING ANY ADOPTION SPECIALS!
Are you considering the costs of owning a pet?
Check out this article about money tips for caring pet owners.
Selecting a Pet For Your Family
Kittens do best in pairs! Here's why:
Are you adopting a rabbit?
Properly caring for rabbits can be hard work! Please go to House Rabbit Society for care tips and much more information.
Check out some of our video projects for more information about Animal Services!
All Animals (this link takes you to listings for all of our shelter animals, including those those not available for adoption)