Cumberland County animal shelter filled to the brim, will waive adoption fees one week in August

From Aug. 22 through Aug. 27, the animal shelter is waiving the shelter's initial adoption fee.

"We want all these animals to find good, loving homes," Smith said. "This is a great way to make it more affordable so people go ahead take those funds and put them toward other things like toys and vet bills."

Rural animal shelters like those in Cumberland County have long struggled with having enough space and resources to house animals.

"When we are at capacity like this, it creates a more stressful environment," Smith said. "We need to reduce that population through positive means to prevent illness.”

Smith said on Thursday that the shelter has 118 cats available for adoption and 131 dogs.

The shelter, which is located at 4704 Corporation Drive in Fayetteville, is open Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Three years ago, Cumberland County Animal Services had the highest intake numbers in the state. But since then, the shelter has implemented programs to prevent feral cats from being brought into the shelter for euthanasia and assists owners with finding new homes for their pets rather than surrendering them to the shelter, Smith said.

In 2021, the shelter took in 6,402 animals — 3,372 dogs and 2,694 cats.

FAQ: Clear the Shelters

Before Smith was director, she said that the shelter did not really do any promotional events. If the animal shelter got too full, the animals had to be euthanized.

"[That's] something we really don't like to do," she said.

She said that there is a misconception that dogs adopted without a fee are more likely to be used for crime or dog fighting rings. Smith said that is unlikely because the dogs at the shelter are spayed, neutered and microchipped.

"What have found the same quality of adopters, whether its free or full-priced," she said.

Keep in mind if you see a pet you like online, that by the time you arrive at the shelter, that pet may have already been adopted. Most county shelters are first-come, first-serve, Smith said. They want to give animals loving homes as soon as possible, and won't wait around for someone who reserved a pet, Smith said.

WRAL is part of a nationwide push to promote animal adoptions this month. Clear the Shelters, NBC’s annual pet adoption campaign, continues all month long.

Each day WRAL highlights a participating shelter in our area.

Cumberland County Animal Services first participated in Clear the Shelters four years ago. Smith said during the first day, the shelter had more than 900 people come to the shelter looking for pets.