The State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a $1,400 fine to the Wake County Animal Center on Wednesday, citing multiple violations found at the facility.
Those violations largely center around physical conditions and maintenance. The state's report notes that, according to the shelter, its staff previously asked the county to fix the issues, yet it did not.
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According to the report posted on the state's website, the state launched an investigation after receiving a complaint on Oct. 15. In a site visit, an inspector noted multiple violations.
One of the violations pertains to "sharp edges" being exposed in dog enclosures.
"These exposed sharp edges posed a risk of injury to the animals," the report states.
The report continued, "The shelter provided [Animal Welfare Section] with an email sent to [Wake County General Services Administration] requesting repair of these cables. GSA responded on Oct. 14, 2025, that they were not able to 'take on' this item in its entirety."
Similarly, the state's report noted "damaged water receptacles" and again states that, according to the shelter, it had sought a remedy for the issue. "Numerous metal water receptacles were noted to be damaged and exposing sharp metal edges," the report states. "On Feb. 7, 2025, a dog named Chopo cut his leg on one of these sharp edges. The injury lacerated an artery in the dog’s leg and Chopo was subsequently euthanized. Despite this incident, the shelter failed to replace the damaged bowls. The shelter relayed to AWS that they contacted GSA and requested a welder to repair the bowls, but those repairs did not happen."
The state's report also found that "most of the air vents for the HVAC system were covered in large mats of debris, dust and biological matter to the extent that the air flow in the facility was significantly reduced.
The shelter provided emails dated April 2, 2025, and Aug. 2, 2025, that they sent to Wake County General Services Administration (“GSA”) requesting cleaning and maintenance of the air vents in the shelter."
The shelter was also found to be in violation for not providing timely veterinary care to a cat with a BB lodged in its spinal area.
WRAL Investigates wrote to Wake County to ask for its perspective on that account, and if GSA will now make the repairs noted in the state's report, and when that would happen. A spokesperson provided a response.
"Wake County Animal Center and the General Services Administration are working together to address all identified issues. Repairs for each of the structural violations are in progress, and updated policies are being implemented to address procedural violations. The County remains committed to complying with state regulations and ensuring that animals at the Wake County Animal Center receive good care."
WRAL Investigates also wrote to Dr. Jennifer Federico, who leads the Wake County Animal Shelter, to ask how many times she or her staff requested the repairs from the county. We have not yet heard back.
WRAL Investigates has previously reported on the state fining other area shelters, including Nash County.
In a recent report, WRAL Investigates discovered euthanasia rates in North Carolina shelters are increasing slightly, as some shelters deal with staffing struggles and increasing demand for their services.
Dr. Patricia Norris, the director of the state's Animal Welfare Section, provided a statement on the matter:
"The Wake County Animal Shelter has long been a tremendous resource for shelters across the state, providing free training opportunities and additional support whenever assistance is needed. While the recent violations indicate that the shelter was not in full compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, they also reflect the issues facing shelters statewide, including aging facilities and strained staffing resources. The shelter has remained cooperative and responsive in addressing the issues identified in the civil penalty."
