Bringing Animals To The Shelter

Orange County Animal Services is committed to ensuring positive outcomes for our people and pets whenever possible. Because of this, we schedule owner surrenders by appointment, prioritizing emergencies and vulnerable animals. This allows us to ensure that we have adequate space and resources to help animals in need, as well as to dedicate more time to each individual person and pet. The scheduling process also decreases wait times and reduces stress for both people and pets. Please note that we only take in owner surrenders from Orange County residents.

Our hope is that we can find a way to support our community and keep more pets in their homes. Please review the information below. If your needs are not addressed, or if you need to schedule an appointment to surrender your pet, please email us at petsupport@orangecountync.gov or call 919-942-7387. 

Resources

Whenever possible, we would like to help you keep your pet. We know that keeping pets with their families is the best outcome for pets and their families. We have several resources available to help keep families together. Please see below. If you do not find a resource that meets your needs, please contact us at petsupport@orangecountync.gov or 919-942-7387. 

  • Pet Training and Behavior: If your pet is having behavior issues, please see our Pet Training and Behavior page for assistance.
  • Pet Food Assistance: If you are an Orange County resident and are having trouble feeding your pet, please visit our Pet Food Assistance page to see if we can help. 
  • Veterinary Assistance: If your pet has a medical concern that needs attention, we (or others) may be able to help! Please check out our Veterinary Care Assistance Program. 
  • Housing Assistance: One of the greatest challenges in pet ownership is often housing. If you are experiencing a loss of housing, we are here to help. Please visit our Housing Assistance page for possible solutions.


Rehoming

If you feel that you must rehome your pet, we ask that you try rehoming on your own before turning to the shelter. This is ideal because it is less stressful on your pet, and it allows you to choose exactly the kind of home you would like for him/her. 

To find a new home for your pet, please try these steps:


Have you lost or found a pet? File an official report here.