Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below is a list of frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the county's pet services, adoptions, and animal control.

Location, Contact Information and Hours

Where is the Animal Services shelter located?
The shelter and Pet Adoption Center are located at 115 Shelter Way, Smithfield, NC 27577.

What are your hours of operation?
The Animal Control Shelter is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though they close daily for lunch between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM. The Pet Adoption Center operates Monday through Friday, as well as the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, strictly by appointment only.

How can I contact the shelter?
You can reach the shelter by calling 919-934-8474 to ask questions or schedule an adoption appointment. You can also email them at animals@johnstonnc.gov.

Are you animal control or just a shelter?
We perform both duties. We provide Animal Control services for the county (excluding city limits), and our shelter facility serves the entire county (both county and city residents).

Adoptions and Fostering

What are the requirements to adopt a pet?
You must be at least 18 years old and present a valid government-issued ID. You do not need to be a resident of Johnston County to adopt.

How much does it cost to adopt an animal?
Standard adoption fees typically range from $110 to $125. This generally includes a $110 base fee (which acts as a spay/neuter deposit or voucher for intact animals), a $10 fee for a microchip, and a $5 fee for a rabies vaccination if the animal is three months of age or older. (Note: The shelter frequently runs adoption specials, such as waiving all adoption fees during the month of July).

Are there any adoption discounts for military personnel?
Yes. Johnston County Animal Services waives the base adoption fee for Veterans. However, standard spay/neuter deposits and mandatory voucher fees still apply.

Can I download the paperwork in advance for my adoption appointment?
Yes. You can download, print, and fill out the official Johnston County Animal Shelter Adoption Form directly from their website before coming in.  

Where can I view your adoptable animals?
All animals currently available for adoption can be found on our Adoptable Pets Page.

Searching by Breed:
Breed identifications are listed on our website to the best of our knowledge.

Searching for Specific Pets:
Whether you are looking for a specific name, a black cat, or a bunny, all available animals are updated directly on our main adoption page, and included in the site search results by name and breed.

Do you have Pit Bulls available for adoption?
Yes, we do have Pit Bulls.

Do you have exotic pets, small mammals, or livestock available?
We rarely have birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, hedgehogs, potbelly pigs, horses, or primates. If we do, they follow our standard adoption process. For standard small pets (hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.), we recommend visiting a local pet store.

How long do adoptable pets stay at the shelter before a decision is made?
The shelter endeavors to keep adoptable pets as long as possible, but we do have space limitations and the intake volume varies.   We do not have a set time limit and have many animals that are in our adoption room for months. These decisions are based on the health and temperament of the animal, and the space available.

Do you use foster homes or accept foster applications?
No, we do not utilize a foster network. If you are interested in fostering, please contact local non-profit rescue organizations.

Lost, Found and Reclaiming Pets

What should I do if I find a stray animal?
You can submit a "Found Pet" report with a photo on the shelter's website to add the animal to their online database and generate a printable poster. However, posting online does not satisfy the North Carolina state law requirement of a 72-hour holding period for stray animals. That mandatory hold can only be completed by surrendering the animal to a licensed shelter like Johnston County Animal Services.

My pet is missing. How do I know if it is at the shelter? / How do I check if my lost pet was brought to the shelter?
While the shelter hosts an online lost and found database, they cannot verify if your pet is at the facility over the phone. You are welcome to visit our facility in person to conduct a walkthrough and check if your pet has been brought in during standard operating hours.

Is there a fee to reclaim my pet from the shelter?
Yes. The reclaim fee is $25 for the first occurrence and $50 for each subsequent time. Please note that additional citations may be issued if your animal was found running at large.

I need help uploading a photo of my lost pet to your site. Who do I contact?
For technical assistance with lost pet photos, please email chuck.lively@johnstonnc.gov.

If I live in Clayton, does the town have its own shelter?
No. The Town of Clayton does not operate an animal shelter. They maintain a formal agreement with Johnston County Animal Services, meaning any stray or loose animals picked up by Clayton officers are transported directly to the Smithfield facility.

Local Animal Laws and Enforcement 

What are the laws and leash laws governing animals in Johnston County?
Our local ordinances, combined with North Carolina state laws, can be found via the Animal Laws page.

Does the county leash law apply everywhere, and what exactly does it require?
Yes, Johnston County enforces a strict county-wide leash law. It states that it is unlawful for an owner to permit a dog to run at large. Dogs must either be kept inside a secure enclosure or firmly restrained on a leash by a person accompanying them.

Are there restrictions on chaining or tethering a dog in the county?
While the broad county ordinance varies, if you reside within certain contracted municipalities like Clayton or Archer Lodge, tethering, tying, or chaining an animal for any length of time is completely prohibited. Animals must be kept in a fenced area or walked on a leash.

How many dogs can I have at my residence?
There is no legal limit within Johnston County. However, if you reside within city limits, you must check your specific town or city ordinances.

Do I need a dog license?
A license is not required by Johnston County. If you live within city limits, please check with your local municipal government.

Are the animal laws available in languages other than English?
Yes. Johnston County provides downloadable copies of all their official local animal laws translated into Spanish (available in both PDF and Word formats that can be found on the Animal Laws Page).

Medical, Vaccinations and Shelter Operations

Do you spay or neuter the animals at the shelter?
The Pet Adoption Center requires all adopted pets to be spayed or neutered to help reduce the homeless pet population. While they do not perform the surgeries on-site, they provide a $100 voucher that can be applied toward the surgery at selected participating veterinarians.

Do you offer veterinary medical services, microchipping, or spay/neuter surgeries?
No. Because we do not have a veterinarian on staff, we cannot provide microchipping, testing (such as FIV/Feline Leukemia), spay/neuter surgeries, or general medical treatments like flea and heartworm prevention. Please contact a local veterinarian or local spay/neuter clinic for these services.

Is my pet required to have a rabies vaccine?
Yes. Under North Carolina Animal Control laws, the owner of every dog, cat and ferret over four months of age is legally required to have the animal vaccinated against rabies.  These are the only three animals listed under the law.  Please note that we only vaccinate dogs and cats.  We do not vaccinate ferrets.

Is a rabies tag on my pet's collar considered legal proof of vaccination?
No. If an Animal Services officer or law enforcement requests proof of rabies vaccination, the collar tag alone is not sufficient. Under state law, owners must present the physical Rabies Vaccination Certificate provided by the veterinarian, which lists the exact vaccine details and expiration date.

Does the shelter offer rabies vaccinations? / Do you offer pet vaccinations?
We only provide Rabies vaccinations. The county hosts an annual Rabies Clinic for the public. If you miss the event and still need your pet vaccinated, you can contact the Animal Shelter directly to make arrangements.

Are you a "no-kill" shelter?
No, we are a traditional (kill) shelter.

Complaints, Abuse and Emergency Services

How do I file an animal-related complaint or report a stray/roaming animal?
Please call our main office at 919-934-8474 to report stray dogs, roaming chickens, lost pigs, or general animal complaints.

How do I report a nuisance barking dog?

Between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM: Call Animal Services at 919-934-8474.

Between 5:00 PM and 8:00 AM: Contact the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.

How do I report animal abuse or neglect?
Please report all cases of suspected animal abuse immediately by calling 919-934-8474.

What after-hours emergency services do you provide?
Our after-hours emergency responses are strictly limited to:

Animal bites to humans

Severe animal attacks

Critically injured animals

Bats found inside a living residence

What should I do if I find an abandoned or stray pet?
Please call 919-934-8474 to report the animal's location so an officer can assist, or to get instructions on how to drop the animal off.

Animal Standards of Care and Nuisances 

What are the legally required minimum standards of care for livestock and horses (equines) in the county?
Johnston County holds livestock owners to strict legal definitions of "adequate care."

Adequate care includes:

• Clean, potable water available at all times
• Mold-free nutritious feed
• Hoof maintenance suggested every 6 to 8 weeks
• Preferably a structural shelter that protects them from weather extremes while being free of standing water or sharp debris.  There can be standing water as long as there is an area that the livestock can go that does not have standing water.  

What is expected for standard pet shelter and sanitation?
Owners must provide access to fresh water at all times, a fully enclosed doghouse with enough room for the animal to move comfortably, additional natural or artificial shade to protect them from direct sunlight, daily opportunities for exercise, and regular sanitation of the enclosure to prevent disease.

Why does a stray cat have a clipped or tipped ear?
A clipped ear is the industry-standard indicator that a community cat has been fixed and vaccinated through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

Do you provide animal traps?
We only provide animal traps for dogs, animals that have actively bitten a human, or severely injured animals. (Note: For instructions on how to set a standard trap, instructional videos on YouTube can provide visual assistance).

Surrenders, Wildlife and Daycare

How do I surrender my pet to the shelter?
Owner surrenders are accepted by appointment only. Please call 919-934-8474 to schedule a date and time. We do not offer public rehoming or networking services.

Do you accept reactive dogs?
Yes, we accept reactive dogs; however, please be aware that we do not place reactive animals up for public adoption.

My pet is elderly or sick. Will you euthanize it for me?
No, we do not provide owner-requested euthanasia services for sick or elderly pets. You must contact a private veterinary clinic to discuss end-of-life care.

Do you offer daily pet daycare or boarding?
No, we do not provide daycare or boarding services.

Do you handle wildlife (foxes, bats, groundhogs, opossums, snakes)?
We only handle wildlife if they are inside the living quarters of a house.  No, we do not handle or remove wildlife from the outdoors.

For foxes, copperheads, or general wildlife concerns: Contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

For nuisance bats or bat removal: Contact a private, licensed wildlife removal service.

(Note: It is illegal to possess an opossum in North Carolina without a specific permit from NC Wildlife).

Do you offer dead animal or roadkill pickup?
Animal Services rarely handles dead animal removal (Visit our Request a Roadkill Cleanup Page to learn more about reporting roadkill).

To report roadkill or a dead animal on public roads: Please contact the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT).

For pet cremations: We do not handle cremations. Please contact a private pet cremation service provider.

Community, Volunteering and Support

How can I support the shelter or make a donation?
Financial donations can be made to Friends of Johnston County, our dedicated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You can mail a check or drop off physical supply donations directly at the shelter. Please contact us ahead of time to find out our current, high-priority needs.

Do you accept volunteers?
We are not accepting volunteer applications at this time.

Do you sell shelter merchandise?
Yes! Johnston County Animal Services t-shirts available for purchase in our front lobby.