Dogs 8 and older cost $25 and cats $5 to adopt at the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh through November. Each goes home spayed or neutered and microchipped.

Older dogs and cats at the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh cost far less to adopt for the rest of November. A dog 8 or older is $25, and a cat 8 or older is $5.

The reduced fees mark Adopt a Senior Pet Month and run through Nov. 30, according to the county’s announcement.

“While puppies and kittens often capture the spotlight, older pets have plenty to offer,” Wake County Commissioner Susan Evans said in the release. “Many have established personalities that can help adopters find a companion who fits their lifestyle.”

How many animals need homes

When the county announced the offer on Oct. 30, the shelter held:

Animals At the shelter In foster care
Dogs 92 34
Puppies 2 none listed
Cats 34 35
Kittens 2 11
Other 1 bird 3 rabbits
Of which seniors 7 dogs, 1 cat 7 dogs

That makes 14 senior dogs and one senior cat eligible at the time. Numbers change daily as pets are adopted and new animals arrive, so the adoption gallery is the place to see who is there now.

What the fee covers

Every pet adopted from the center is spayed or neutered, microchipped and up to date on its vaccines before it goes home. The county said that saves new owners hundreds of dollars in first vet bills.

Staff and volunteers can help match a pet to a household, the county said. Older animals are generally past the destructive phases of youth, according to the release.

What it means for you

  • Price: $25 for a dog 8 or older; $5 for a cat 8 or older, through Monday, Nov. 30.
  • Hours: adoptions daily, noon to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
  • Where: 820 Beacon Lake Drive, Raleigh, near I-440 and New Bern Avenue.
  • Before you go: browse the adoption gallery to see which animals are available.