Wake Shelter Cuts Senior Pet Adoption Fees in November

Dogs ages 8 and older are $25 and cats ages 8 and older are $5 during Adopt a Senior Pet Month at the Wake County Animal Center.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Pets — General

Bold vector editorial illustration of a cushioned dog bed with a folded blanket beside a ceramic food bowl under a window, in warm coral and sage tones. — The Wake County Animal Center is cutting senior pet adoption fees to $25 for dogs and $5 for cats ages 8 and older throughout November. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you consider adopting a senior pet from a shelter?

The Wake County Animal Center will offer reduced adoption fees for senior pets throughout November 2026 under its Adopt a Senior Pet Month promotion. Dogs ages 8 and older can be adopted for $25 and cats ages 8 and older for $5.

Why it matters

The promotional pricing aims to make it easier for older animals to find homes in Raleigh and across Wake County. Adopters also receive pets that are already spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, which can reduce initial veterinary costs.

Dogs ages 8 and older are offered at $25 and cats ages 8 and older at $5 during November. The shelter currently houses 92 dogs, two puppies, 34 cats, and two kittens, with seven senior dogs and one senior cat among them.

The players

Wake County Animal Center

The Wake County Animal Center is the county-operated shelter that runs the Adopt a Senior Pet Month promotion and houses adoptable animals at its Raleigh facility.

The details

The shelter at 820 Beacon Lake Drive is open for adoptions daily from noon to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Seven senior dogs and one senior cat are housed at the shelter, and seven senior dogs are also in foster care.

November 2026: Reduced senior pet adoption fees apply throughout Adopt a Senior Pet Month.
Daily, noon to 6 p.m.: The shelter is open for adoptions seven days a week.

Season Trajectory

The November promotion extends the shelter's annual Adopt a Senior Pet Month campaign, which targets older animals that are typically harder to place. Lower adoption fees for pets ages 8 and older follow the same approach the center uses to move its longest-housed animals.

Residents looking to adopt an older dog or cat can pay $25 or $5 respectively during November, with the pet already spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. The shelter at 820 Beacon Lake Drive is open daily from noon to 6 p.m.

The takeaway

Adopting a senior pet during November can cost far less than usual, and those animals arrive already vaccinated and altered. Checking the shelter's daily hours before visiting can save a trip.