Admissions & Rehoming a Pet

Pet Admissions at BAS:

We know you care about homeless pets as much as we do and we are committed to ensuring a positive outcome for every pet in need. We are often been overwhelmed with the number of dog intake requests, which frequently exceeds the available animal holding space we have in our facility. To ensure dogs that are most in need receive priority assistance over those whose situations are not urgent, we utilize a triaged approach to intake. This is similar to how human medicine triages patients so those in emergency or life-threatening situations are prioritized over those whose situations are more stable and don't need immediate assistance. 

We will always immediately admit pets in emergency and urgent circumstances.  For pets who are not in imminent danger, their intake will be deferred to a later date, as space is available. This is to ensure that we remain in compliance with rules and laws that govern the capacity for the care of animals in North Carolina shelters, to avoid the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable dogs, and to better facilitate lost pets' reunification with their families. 

If you find a lost dog, we ask that you do not bring the dog to us unless it is a true emergency. Please follow the recommendations below for steps you can take if you find a lost dog or if you need to re-home your dog. If you need help caring for a pet, please let us know, as we may be able to help. We have an Emergency Pet Food Pantry and other safety net services available to assist you in keeping your animal, or in temporarily supporting a lost dog until it can be reunited with its family. 

Pets in our community depend on all of us working together to support and care for them. You are our most important partner in our work to help them. We need our community now more than ever to unite with us in supporting pets in need so that together we can ensure they all have a safety net of support and find their way home.

 Updated: November 15, 2023

BAS receives an overwhelming number of pet admission requests. In order to best serve animals most in need, and remain compliant with legal capacity limits and care requirements, we must manage the intake of pets. Emergencies and pets with the most urgent need are prioritized. Non-emergency admission of pets is by appointment only. Please use the information on this page for tips about what to do if you find a lost pet in the community, or if you need to rehome your pet. 

If you have a true emergency situation and need to speak with one of our staff, please call 336-578-0343 or email us at petsupport@burlingtonnc.gov 

Click on the green graphic to schedule a pet admission appointment. 

Admission Appt (1)

Pet Rehoming & Admission 

Due to higher-than-usual dog intake requests, we are prioritizing pets with the most urgent needs, and emergency situations. These situations typically include bites, rabies exposures, sick/injured animals, strays in imminent danger, and neglect/abuse cases. 

Lost Pets: 

Lost pets are usually no more than 1 mile from their home. Check with your neighbors first before attempting to bring him or her to us. Finders are welcome to bring an animal in to scan for a microchip, but we will typically not be able to immediately admit the animal unless it truly is an emergency. We will work with you to provide support and assistance until the pet is reunited with its family, or until space is available and it can be admitted at the Pet Adoption & Resource Center. Please schedule an admissions appointment for non-emergencies. Appointments are available each business day, on a first come first serve basis. 

Dogs:

Most loose pets are found within a close distance of their homes—often less than a mile. Dogs are actually much more likely to be reunited with their owners if they remain in their communities rather than come to the Animal Services Pet Adoption and Resource Center. We are currently experiencing unusually high levels of dog intake requests. In order to maintain space in our facility to house pets that have no other options, we are asking that, where it is possible, community members help us by taking an active role in getting lost pets back home.

There are several simple steps you can take to increase this pet’s likelihood of reuniting with his/her owner. First, just ask around your neighborhood! It is likely that someone knows this pet. Post on social media sites such as Next Door, Finding Rover, Instagram, and Facebook (specifically:

  1.  Lost and Found Pets of Alamance County and Surrounding Areas 
  2. Lost & Found Dogs - North Carolina)
  3. Paw Boost
  4. You can also see a listing of lost/found pets within the community by going here: www.burlingtonnc.gov/lostpet, and you can submit a found report online at this link. 
  5. During this time, you can also bring the pet by BAS or any veterinary clinic to be checked for a microchip.  

If you are willing, we can also set you up as a foster for a found dog. When you foster a pet through BAS we provide all the needed medical care and support. If the dog's owner is not found, we will get him/her spayed/neutered and vaccinated and provide you with any needed supplies, such as food and vet care. We will also promote the pet for adoption and help find a new home for him/her. 

Cats: 

Unless cats are sick or injured, it is generally best to leave them where they are, as they are rarely lost. Many people allow their cats to go indoors and outdoors, and some live entirely outdoors. It is most likely that this cat lives within walking distance of where you found him/her. Taking the cat is removing the cat from his/her home, and unfortunately, most cats who come to the shelter are not reclaimed.

For stray outdoor cats, we do offer the option of running the cat through our Mighty Mouser program. Through this program, we spay/neuter and vaccinate community cats. Check out our community cats page to learn more about this program.

Very Young or Orphaned Kittens: 

Spring is what is known in the animal sheltering field as "kitten season." During this time we begin receiving more inquiries about what to do when you find a young kitten.  If you see a mom with kittens who look to be under 6 weeks old, leave them be! This is their best chance of survival. We will not take a mama and unweaned kittens unless there is a medical reason, or if the mom truly is not around anymore. However, we can help with finding an appropriate solution for the cats which may include finding them a new home when it is appropriate. For more information about what to do if you find young kittens you are concerned about, check out our page with information about orphaned kittens.  


Pet Surrender:   

We do our best to help pets stay with their families, and we have resources for food, veterinary care, pet-friendly housing, and more. Please email petsupport@burlingtonnc.gov to request assistance. 

If you need to re-home a pet, please make every effort to rehome your pet on your own. This is ideal because it is less stressful on your pet, and it allows you to choose exactly the kind of home you would like for him/her. There are several rehoming options that you can use in order to find a home for your dog. 

Adopt-a-Pet.com's rehoming website is a great place to start. A lot of people have great luck finding homes for their pets here, and Adopt-a Pet's staff are there to guide you through every step of the process!  Pets listed with AdoptaPet.com are also viewable on our website on the Pets Available in the Community tab. There are also several Facebook groups where people in Alamance County can post animals needing new homes: 

North Carolina Pets (Rehoming, Lost Pets, Advice) (30k+ members)

Alamance County, NC Pets (8.5k+ members)

Alamance County, NC Pet Rehoming, Lost, Found & Rescue (1.8k+ members)

Cats of the Triad Needing Rescue or Adoption (5.1k+ members)

Appointments are required for all types of non-emergency pet admissions. You can schedule a pet admission appointment here.

Rehoming a pet? Click on the blue graphic below to list your pet on our  webpage for pets available in the community. 

WE UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SUCH THAT CAUSE PEOPLE TO NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CARE FOR A PET. WE KNOW THAT HAVING TO SURRENDER A PET IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION. WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST YOU WITH RESOURCES TO HELP.

FAQ's 

Q: I don't want to surrender my pet, but I don't have a choice. Is there help available for the problem I am having with my pet? 

A: Yes! We want to help you keep your pet if possible. Keeping pets in their homes is always preferable to the pet being in the shelter. Our trained staff can talk with you about your individual circumstances and connect you with available resources or offer solutions that can make it possible for you to keep your pet in many situations. You can also check our Pet Help Resources pages for resources and information about solutions to some common issues with pets. 

Q: Why do I need to make an appointment to bring a pet to the Animal Services Center? Can't I just drop a pet off anytime you're open?  

A:  Scheduling an appointment ensures we can best assist you and the pet. When scheduling your appointment, staff will be able to gather much of the information in advance which will help ensure a smooth appointment process. Animal services staff can also provide those with owned pets with information and resources that can assist those interested in keeping their pets or re-homing themselves. The appointments will help citizens avoid busy times at the shelter and a potentially long wait. Emergency situations (i.e. pets with severe injuries or medical conditions) will be prioritized

Q: Can I drop off an animal at the Pet Adoption & Resource Center when you are closed? 

A: NO. Do not leave animals at the Pet Adoption & Resource Center when we are closed. It is dangerous for the animal, and is a violation of NC animal abandonment laws! We maintain security video surveillance of our entire premises. People found abandoning animals are referred to the police. We offer multiple ways for you to connect with us about getting assistance with an animal during regular business hours. You may call and leave a message after hours. Our staff will return your call the following business day. You can also email us 24/7 at petsupport@burlingtonnc.gov  and staff will respond to you.  If you have an animal emergency during times when we are closed, call 911. Animal Control Officers are on duty to respond to animal emergencies 24/7.