Most dogs surrendered to shelters (96%) have NOT received any obedience training.

Studies have been done which shed some light on why people surrender animals to shelters View details

Research has shown that it is safe to spay and neuter kittens and puppies at a much younger age than veterinarians once thought. Many veterinarians are now safely and routinely performing spay and neuter surgery on kittens and puppies at eight weeks of age.

Vaccinations: North Carolina State Law requires that the owner of every dog and cat four months of age and older has their animal vaccinated against rabies and that dogs and cats shall wear rabies tags at all times. View details

Licensing Fees:  The annual licensing fee in Durham County for a spayed or neutered dog or cat is $10.00 annually. The licensing fee for all intact animals is $75.00 annually.  View details

Indoor vs. Outdoor Pets: The APS strongly recommends that ALL pets be kept indoors with the family:

• Leaving a dog outside for long periods, especially if he or she is chained or otherwise tethered, can be physically, emotionally, and behaviorally detrimental. Dogs need companionship, care, exercise, and attention. More info

• Outdoor cats face many hazards, including traffic, pet theft, unfriendly neighbors, poisons, snakes, poisonous insects, wildlife, etc. More info

Animal Bites: Should you be bitten by an animal, contact Animal Control  with all pertinent information such as the owner's name, address, phone number and description of the animal. If ownership cannot be confirmed, provide the last known location of the animal and the Animal Control Officer will attempt to locate the animal in that area. Should your animal bite someone, be responsible. All dogs and cats that bite a person shall be immediately confined for 10 days in a place designated by the local health director (the Durham County animal shelter, licensed veterinarian or in certain circumstances in the home).  View details

Kitchens:  You know that your dog and cat think that the kitchen is a great place, especially when you are cooking and spilling scraps for them to lick from the floor.  But did you know that kitchens can also be dangerous places for your companion animals?
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Parasites: Did you know that parasites live in your eyebrows?  The Demodex folliculorum mite lives in hair follicles, eats dead material from follicles, and even lays eggs inside follicles!  Most people don’t notice this parasite, but heavy infestations may lead to hair loss and skin irritation.  That’s the joy and trouble with parasites.  Sometimes they live with us peacefully and other times they cause problems. The same is true of dog and cat parasites.  More...

Natural Environment: Did you know that we are linked to the natural environment, just like dots in a connect-the-dots puzzle?  If a dot is missing or you connect the dots in the wrong order, the picture does not turn out the right way.  The same thing happens in the natural environment; missing species or incomplete connections lead to problems such as global climate change, polluted air and water, or extinction of plants and animals.  Luckily, once the problems are identified, we can all act to help fix them.  More...