Admissions
Paws4ever understands that there are times when you may no longer be able to care for your pet – and we know that the decision to surrender your pet can be extremely difficult. With rehoming support and through our limited admission program, we can help you make the best decision for your pet.

Admissions and Rehoming Guide
Paws4ever’s Adoption Center is a limited-admission shelter that works closely with our local county shelters to rescue dogs and cats in need. Most of our animals are rescued from local county shelter partners, where the number of animals coming in outpaces the space available to house them, creating a high risk for euthanasia. We also take in a limited number of pets who are surrendered by owners in circumstances of need.
We commit to our animals for a lifetime, so we are generally able to accept animals adopted from Paws4ever back to our program as long as there are no major health or safety concerns. If your pet was adopted from Paws4ever and you are considering returning your pet, please contact our Adoption Center directly to discuss the reasons you are considering returning your pet at adopt@paws4ever.org or 919.241.8438. Ext. 103.
If you are considering rehoming or surrendering your pet, we have several options to support you:
Re-Home or Surrendering Your Pet
We know how difficult it is to even consider rehoming your pet and we are glad you reached out – we will be happy to support you, your family, and your pet. Contact us at care@paws4ever.org or call 919-241-8438 ext. 103 and we can talk with you about your options for rehoming or surrendering your pet.
Resources to Support Pet Owners
If you are experiencing behavior challenges with your pet, our certified, professional trainers offer a wide range of private training lessons and group classes to help you reach your training goals. Check out our Dog Training Program.
If you have additional questions or concerns about caring for your pet, reach out to our Animal Care staff for advice and resources. Email us at care@paws4ever.org
If you are renting a home or apartment, this guide can help you through the process of navigating your home search and working with landlords so that you can keep your pet. If you are being deployed in the military and need care for your pet while you’re away, check out Pets for Patriots, Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pets, and Dogs on Deployment.
If you are in need of assistance in affording to care for your pet, the following organizations provide wonderful resources and services to pet owners in our community:
Animal Resource Friends
Beyond Fences
Care Credit
Spay-Neuter Assistance Program of North Carolina (SNAP-NC)
Alamance County Rabies Clinics
Paws 4 A Cure
GoFundMe
Shakespeare Animal Fund
The Pet Fund
Brown Dog Foundation
VIP Pet Care
VetCo
What do I do if I’ve found an animal?
If you find an animal, you must notify county shelters in the area surrounding where the pet was found. There may be a worried family looking for them, and county shelters can help to reunite lost pets with their owners. There is a required 72-hour stray hold period before the animal can be adopted.
Please keep in mind that stray animals may have diseases that are harmful to you and your personal pets, and that scared animals may react by scratching or biting. County animal services staff have the training to handle and care for each pet properly – for your safety and the safety of the animal, please allow the county shelter staff to guide you through this process.
Reporting an animal to a county shelter does not mean that you can no longer help the pet that you found. In fact, there are many ways you can continue to serve as an advocate for this pet:
- Some counties will allow you to foster the pet while waiting for the pet’s owner to claim him/her.
- You might be able to take him/her to a veterinarian for an assessment and vaccinations.
- You can search for the pet’s owner by posting fliers around the area where the pet was found (and spreading out over several miles), alerting local vet offices and sharing on social media.
- If you don’t plan to adopt after the stray hold period is over, go ahead and begin searching for a potential adopter whether the pet is in your care or at the county shelter.
What are my local county shelters?
Burlington Animal Services
215 Stone Quarry Road Haw River, NC 27258 P: (336) 578-1386
Animal Protection Society of Caswell County
836 County Home Road Yanceyville, NC 27379 P: (336) 694-4921
Chatham County Animal Shelter
725 Renaissance Drive Pittsboro, NC 27312 P: (919) 542-7203
Animal Protection Society of Durham
2117 East Club Boulevard Durham, NC 27704 P: (919) 560-0640
Guilford County Animal Shelter
4525 West Wendover Avenue Greensboro, NC 27409 P: (336) 297-5020
Orange County Animal Service
1601 Eubanks Road Chapel Hill, NC P: (919) 942-PETS (7387)
Wake County Animal Center
820 Beacon Lake Drive Raleigh, NC 27610 P: (919) 212-PETS (7387)