FAQs • Rowan County • CivicEngage

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Animal Services

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1. What are your hours?

View hours of operation for:

2. How do I adopt an animal from the shelter?: The Adoption Waiting List Form allows adopters interested in animals to be placed on a waiting list. Final adoption process must take place at the Animal Shelter. You must be 18 years old. Bring a legal ID with you. We cannot hold animals for you based on a phone call or email. We accept cash or card, no checks please. Most animals can be taken home the same day.

3. What does "last day" mean in the description of animals for adoption?: Because of the number of animals we see, we have to project our space availability and predict a date by which the animal needs to be adopted.

4. How do I check a pet's availability?: Check the Pet Availability Spreadsheet for the pet's available date and current status (adopted, redeemed, etc.). Please note there are separate tabs for Dogs and Cats at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

5. What do I do if I have an after-hours emergency?: For weekend and after-hours emergencies such as aggressive animals, bites, etc., please call 911. During regular operational hours, please contact Animal Enforcement.

6. How do I report a missing pet?

Register your lost pet online and you will be emailed automatically when an animal matching what you select is registered as found or shows up at our Shelter.

Learn more about what to do with lost and found animals.

7. What must I do if I have found a lost pet?: Learn more about lost and found tags, legal obligations to report a found animal, and more on our Lost and Found page.

8. What should I do if I have found an injured or potentially orphaned wild animal?: You will need to contact a Wildlife Rehabilitator from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Please note: it is illegal to keep any North Carolina wildlife without a permit and North Carolina law prohibits any native wildlife being kept as pets. This is why we have licensed wildlife rehabilitators. These are volunteers that have the resources to provide care for small mammals, birds, reptiles and some other species until the animal can be released back into their natural habitat.

9. What should I do if my neighbor's animals are on my property?: The Leash Law applies to all animals and requires that the owner maintain "restraint by a leash, harness, or similar effective or humane device that is capable of restraining an animal, or confinement indoors or within a cage, fence, or vehicle or similar secure enclosure." Please talk to your neighbor and try to resolve the issue. If you are unable to resolve the matter, you may contact our Animal Enforcement division to file a complaint.

10. I have a wild animal/reptile in my crawl space. Do you handle wildlife removal?: We are only able to remove wildlife if they are in your living space. Living space does not include your attic, chimney, crawl space, or exterior property. Contact our Animal Enforcement division for more information.

11. Do you loan traps?: No. Please contact Animal Enforcement for more information.

12. What should I do if I find young puppies or kittens that appear to be nursing age and there is no mother in sight?: Do not approach the animals but try to observe from a distance. If you do not see the mother return within 24 hours, please contact Animal Enforcement to retrieve the animals.

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Animal Services - Rabies Information

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1. What are signs of rabies?

Daytime activity in animals normally active at night
Staggering, weakness and paralysis
A change in the sound in the animal's voice
Inability to eat or drink
Drooling
Convulsions and frothing at the mouth If you notice any signs of rabies in an animal, stay away from it and call Animal Enforcement at 704-216-7768.

2. What is rabies?: Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus lives in the saliva and brain tissue of infected animals. Rabies is fatal once it reaches the brain. Rabies can only infect warm-blooded animals.

3. How is rabies spread?: Rabies is mostly spread through animal bites from infected animals, but can also be spread in other ways. For example, rabies can be spread by scratches from an infected animal or when infected saliva or brain tissue comes in contact with open wounds, broken skin, mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.).

4. What do I do if I am bitten by an animal?: Wash the wound thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Notify Animal Control immediately. Notify your physician or go to the nearest emergency room.

5. How do you find out if an animal that bit me is rabid?: If a dog or cat bit you and it is not showing any abnormal signs then it will go into quarantine for 10 days. If any abnormal signs are noted during the quarantine period, the animal would be destroyed and the brain tested for rabies. If a wild animal bites you, it has to be destroyed and the brain has to be tested for rabies.