Wake County Animal Center offers Sweetheart Adoption Special for foster dogs

The Wake County Animal Center launched a Sweetheart Adoption Special for pets in foster care as it undergoes temporary renovations, offering reduced fees from Feb. 7 through Feb. 15. The announcement, posted Feb. 6, 2026, aims to keep adoption opportunities available even though dogs on the adoption floor are not currently available while work is underway.

Under the promotion dogs in foster care carry a $25 adoption fee and cats over five months of age are $5. Regular adoption fees listed by the center are $95 for dogs, $45 for cats under five years old and $15 for cats over five years old. Every pet adopted from the center is spayed or neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccines, which the county notes helps adopters save on veterinary costs.

Wake County’s announcement said there are currently 56 dogs, 28 cats and seven kittens in foster care looking for homes. Interested residents can view foster animals by visiting the Wake County Animal Center gallery and selecting “In Foster” as the location, then contacting the foster family to begin the adoption process. The county shared the promotion on its social channels; a Facebook post accompanying the announcement included a link to more information and a list of available pets.

The campaign leans into Valentine’s Day themes. Wake County Animal Center promotional copy says, “Your purr-fect match is waiting, and love is just a leash away!” and “There’s a pet ready to steal your heart.” The release also notes adoptable pets have “dating profiles” that highlight personalities, favorite activities and what they’re looking for in an ideal human companion. Wake County Commissioner Vickie Adamson is quoted in the announcement: “Every adoption is a love story waiting to happen,” and she adds, “Love multiplies when you open your heart and home to a furry companion who’s ready to share unconditional love, endless hugs and joy-filled moments.”

The special offers immediate community benefits and public health protections. Lowered fees make adoption more accessible to households with limited means, while the included spay or neuter surgery, microchip and vaccinations reduce longer-term shelter intake, reunion barriers and preventable disease risk. Keeping animals placed in foster homes instead of relying on an in-person adoption floor also helps the center manage capacity and reduces stress on animals during a period of facility transition.

The promotion comes as Wake County moves forward with repair work and a newly approved animal center design, including an architectural rendering of a modern shelter entrance. Residents who want to adopt before Feb. 15 should review the “In Foster” listings and contact foster families promptly. As renovations continue, the Sweetheart Adoption Special provides a short window to bring a vetted, vaccinated companion into a home while the county builds toward a refreshed shelter for Wake County.