Wake County Opens Two Pet-Friendly Emergency Shelters Amid Winter Storm

Two pet-friendly emergency shelters opened in Wake County on January 25 to provide a refuge for residents and their animals as Winter Storm Fern swept through the area. Southeast Raleigh High School, 2600 Rock Quarry Road, and Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road in Wake Forest, served as the designated sites for residents seeking warmth and safety.

Wake County officials set up the shelters to accommodate families who might otherwise be forced to leave pets behind. The county asked anyone who decided to stay at the shelters to bring prescription medications and special-need items such as eyeglasses, contact lens solution, and hearing aid batteries. Guests were also advised to bring extra clothing, cash, and supplies for infants and young children, including formula, diapers, and bottles.

The shelters were explicitly stocked to support pet owners. Pet-care items requested included medications, crates, leashes, pet food, and cat litter and pans. By allowing animals inside, the county aimed to reduce the pressure on households torn between protecting family members and protecting pets during the storm.

Opening the shelters addressed immediate safety concerns for neighborhoods across Raleigh and Wake Forest where hazardous roads, freezing temperatures, and power disruptions have complicated travel and home heating. For residents in apartment complexes and older homes without reliable heat, the shelters offered a place to charge medical devices and store refrigerated medications while conditions remained unsafe.

Southeast Raleigh High School and Heritage High School provided central, accessible locations within two different parts of the county, lowering travel distances for many households. The choice of school sites also anticipated space for cots, family groups, and pet containment needs.

Local significance extended beyond immediate shelter. Keeping pets with their owners reduces strain on animal control and shelters and helps maintain continuity for elderly residents and families with young children who depend on companion animals for emotional support. For caregivers and people with disabilities, the provision for special-need items aimed to prevent gaps in essential care.

Residents planning to use the shelters were encouraged to prepare a basic kit with the listed items to ease intake and ensure shelters could focus resources where they were most needed. Wake County maintained the shelters while dangerous conditions persisted, and officials advised residents to monitor county emergency channels for updates on reopening, closure, or additional support locations.

As Winter Storm Fern moves through the region, the shelters offered immediate relief for people and pets alike and underscored the county’s effort to keep vulnerable households together and safe.