Humane Society of Wilkes

The Humane Society of Wilkes is a volunteer organization. We are dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals, the relief of suffering among animals, and the education of the public regarding humane treatment of animals. We support these goals through our member dues, tax-deductible donations, and fund-raising projects such as our annual Best Friends Calendar and booths at the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival. With these funds we have been able to: place billboards around the county encouraging spaying and neutering of pets, provide Kind News subscriptions to all kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms in Wilkes County, and work closely with Wilkes County Animal Control to place pets from their shelter into appropriate homes. We also help to pay for spaying and neutering of pets for residents of Wilkes County (click here for spay/neuter financial assistance). By helping to pay for pet sterilization we are helping to reduce the problem of pet over-population.

How can I help and/or get involved with the Humane Society of Wilkes?

You can become a member; contact membership@humanesocietyofwilkes.org. You can contact our fund-raising committee to help with fund raising projects; contact fundraising@humanesocietyofwilkes.org. You can contact our adoption committee to provide a foster home for a pet, or help with monthly adoption fairs; contact adoption@humanesocietyofwilkes.org. We receive no public funding, so monetary contributions are always greatly appreciated and are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Contributions may be mailed to Humane Society of Wilkes, P. O. Box 306, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

Do you have a shelter?

The Humane Society of Wilkes does not have an animal shelter. Our volunteers work closely with the personnel at the Wilkes County Animal Shelter to help get pets adopted. Having a shelter is a long-term goal of our society but we do not currently have sufficient manpower or funds to provide a shelter. The Wilkes County animal shelter is located at 408 Call St. in Wilkesboro, NC. Their telephone number is 336-903-7688 and their hours are 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday – Friday, and 10:30 AM to noon on Saturday.

What are the alternatives to taking a pet to the shelter?

The alternatives are to try to find a home for the pet by using some of the following methods. Try placing an ad in the local newspapers, or posting a notice on a bulletin board at work. You might also place an ad on the radio. Call local veterinary offices and ask them to post a notice on their bulletin boards. And let your friends and neighbors know that you are trying to place the pet; word of mouth is often very effective.

How do I adopt an animal?

Puppies, kittens, dogs and cats are available for adoption from the Wilkes County Animal Shelter, 408 Call Street, Wilkesboro, NC. Their telephone number is 336-903-7688, and their hours are 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Friday, and 10:30 AM to noon on Saturday. The cost of adoption is $55.00 for a cat, $ $75.00 for a dog under 50 pounds and $ 85.00 for dogs 50 pounds and over. This fee includes initial vaccines and worming, a rabies vaccine, and spaying or neutering.

What if I’m not sure my new pet will work out?

Please understand that when you adopt a pet, you are adopting a lifelong companion and making a lifelong commitment to care for that pet. Consider very carefully whether you will be able to provide for the pet’s needs physically, emotionally and financially. Wait to adopt a pet until you are sure that you can do so.

What is "Microchipping"?

Microchipping is a way of identifying pets and determining ownership if the pet should become lost. The microchip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, is injected under the pet’s skin in the shoulder area. It remains there, and the information contained in the microchip can be read with a special reader. This information can be used to help to find the owner of the pet.

When should I get my pet vaccinated?

Both puppies and kittens should start their initial series of vaccines at around six weeks of age. Puppies are vaccinated for distemper, adenovirus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Kittens are vaccinated for panleukopenia (feline distemper), rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and chlamydia. After the initial series, adult dogs and cats receive vaccine boosters each year. All dogs and cats four months old and older are required by North Carolina law to have a rabies vaccine. The first rabies vaccine is good for one year; subsequent rabies vaccines are good for three years. There are other vaccines, such as feline leukemia and kennel cough vaccine, which may be recommended in some cases. Your veterinarian will discuss vaccines with you and recommend a vaccine schedule.

When should I have my pet spayed or neutered?

It is recommended that all dogs and cats be spayed or neutered at about six months of age. If you adopt a pet from the Wilkes County animal shelter the adoption fee covers the cost of spaying or neutering. Click on Available Pets for more information. The Humane Society of Wilkes also funds a spay and neuter voucher program that assists pet owners with the cost of neutering pets that did not come from the shelter. Click Spay/Neuter for more information.

What’s wrong with letting my pet have at least one litter before spaying?

Many people believe that an animal must have a litter of puppies or kittens in order to mature properly. This belief is completely untrue. There is no benefit, either physical or psychological, from your pet having a litter. Until there are more homes available than puppies and kittens being born, many wonderful puppies and kittens will have to be euthanized every day. Many people also believe that there are no purebred animals in shelters and that all purebred pets will find homes. This is also totally untrue. Please go to our Spay/Neuter page for more information on this topic.

What does pet over-population mean?

Pet over-population occurs when there are more animals than homes available for them. Responsible pet ownership includes spaying and neutering to help control pet over-population. Please go to our Spay/Neuter page for more information on this topic.

How do I report animal abuse or neglect?

Please call Wilkes County animal control at 336-903-7688 to report animal neglect and/or abuse.

What should I do if I find a sick or injured animal?

Be very careful with sick or injured animals and do not touch them if at all possible. Animal bites can be very serious and require extensive medical treatment. With unknown animals there is also a risk of being exposed to rabies. If the animal has on a collar with tags, and you can safely read the tags, try to contact the owner. If there are no tags, or if they cannot be read for any reason, you should contact animal control at 336-903-7688. If it is after regular hours, call the sheriff’s department and they can reach the animal control officer on duty.

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