Durham County Animal Shelter, Adoption & Pets 2026
Use this Durham guide to adopt a dog, cat or small pet, check shelter hours, contact APS of Durham, report a found animal, understand surrender appointments, call Animal Services, get rabies vaccine details, and avoid common lost-pet scams.
Key split: APS of Durham operates the Durham County Animal Shelter for adoption, lost/found and surrender intake. Durham County Sheriff’s Animal Services handles animal-control calls, rabies vaccination questions, bite reports, nuisance animals, and emergency animal response.
Choose What You Need
- Clickable action cards
- Shelter hours and contact
- Adoption fees and inclusions
- Adoption micro-steps
- Foster-home adoption
- Lost/found pet steps
- Lost-pet scam warning
- Surrender and Safety Net
- Animal Services calls
- Rabies vaccine and licensing
- Wildlife and nuisance animals
- Before you leave home
- Call/email scripts
- Map
- Official links
- 10 FAQs
Clickable Durham County Animal Shelter Action Cards
Choose the exact task. Durham has separate routes for adoption, lost/found, surrender, Animal Services, rabies vaccines, and licensing.
Durham Shelter Hours, Address and Contact
The adoption shelter and the Animal Services office are different locations. Use the correct one.
| Need | Official detail | Best practical step |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption shelter | APS of Durham / Durham County Animal Shelter, 2117 East Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27704 | Use for adoption, shelter pets, lost/found shelter route and surrender appointments. |
| Shelter phone | 919-560-0640 | General info, adoption, lost/found and surrender options route through this number. |
| Adoptions | 919-560-0640 ext. 4 or adopt@apsofdurham.org | Email if you have a specific animal, foster pet, application or visit question. |
| Lost/found/surrendered animals | 919-560-0640 ext. 5 | Use when searching, reporting or asking about an animal at the shelter. |
| Surrender appointment | 919-560-0640 ext. 9 | Appointment is required before surrendering an animal. |
| Animal Services office | 3005 Glenn Road, open 8:30am-5pm Monday-Friday, info phone 919-560-0630 | Use for Animal Services information, rabies vaccine questions and administrative animal-control questions. |
APS Durham Adoption Fees and What They Include
APS lists fee ranges and says the adoption package is all-inclusive.
| Animal | Fee | Included / note | Ask before adoption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cats and kittens | $95 | Second cat is $50 when adopting two together. | Ask about FeLV/FIV test, vaccines, litter habits and first-week setup. |
| Dogs and puppies | $125-$175 | Fee varies by animal and supports care for thousands of shelter pets. | Ask about dog meet, behavior notes, heartworm test and pickup timing. |
| Other animals | Varies | Small pets may include rabbits, guinea pigs or other pocket pets. | Ask about enclosure, diet, lifespan and vet needs before adopting. |
| Payments | Cash, credit cards, Apple Pay | APS says checks are not accepted. | Bring a backup payment method. |
| Adoption package | Included in fee | Medical exam, spay/neuter, microchip, rabies vaccine when age-eligible, dog/cat core vaccines and other listed treatments/tests. | Ask which vaccines/tests apply to that exact animal. |
Durham Adoption Micro-Steps
Follow this order to avoid waiting, missing the visitation cutoff, or applying for the wrong pet.
Search animals online
Open adoptable dogs, adoptable cats, or other animals. Screenshot the pet name and listing.
Visit during posted hours
Adoptions and animal visitations are open to the public, but animal visitations end 30 minutes before closing.
Bring the right people and pets
APS recommends bringing children to visit with pets. If adopting a new dog, you may also bring your family dog for the match process.
Plan for an hour or more
APS says the adoption process can take an hour or longer, and there may be a wait to see an adoption counselor. Weekday visits can be easier.
Ask animal-specific questions
Ask about behavior, age, medical notes, vaccine status, microchip, spay/neuter, dog/cat compatibility and first-week care.
Bring payment and transport
APS accepts cash, credit cards and Apple Pay, but not checks. Bring a carrier for cats/small pets and a leash/harness plan for dogs.
Adopting an Animal in Foster Care
Some APS animals are not physically at the shelter, so the foster route is different.
Foster adoption route
- If a pet is labeled “in foster care,” complete the adoption form.
- Email foster adoption forms to adoptafoster@apsofdurham.org.
- Meetings may be virtual, in person with the foster family, or at the shelter.
- Forms may be completed at the shelter or through DocuSign when arranged.
Questions to ask foster
- How does the pet behave at home, not just in a kennel?
- How is the pet with children, visitors, dogs, cats or small animals?
- What food, crate, litter, sleep or medication routine is working?
- What is the first-week transition plan?
Lost or Found Pet in Durham County
Durham has an important legal rule for found strays: do not privately give away or adopt out a found stray without the county shelter route.
If your pet is lost
- Call APS at 919-560-0640, especially ext. 5 for lost/found/surrendered animal questions.
- Check APS shelter listings and visit the shelter during open hours.
- Update your microchip registry with current phone, email and emergency contact.
- Post clear color photos with cross streets, date, collar/tag, microchip status and temperament.
- Contact nearby vets and local lost/found groups.
- Beware of scam calls demanding money for emergency surgery.
If you found a pet
- Use the APS Report a Found Pet route.
- Check collar, tag, rabies tag and microchip if safe.
- Durham’s found-pet guidance says a stray cannot legally be given away, sold or adopted out without first surrendering it to the animal shelter.
- If you want to adopt the animal you found, tell shelter staff when you bring the animal in.
- Keep found pets separate from your pets until health and behavior are known.
- If the animal is aggressive, injured or unsafe, call Animal Services instead of handling.
Lost-Pet Scam Warning
APS warns about scams targeting owners after a pet is reported lost.
Scam pattern
A caller may pretend to be APS, law enforcement or a vet office and claim your lost pet needs emergency surgery.
Money demand
The scammer may demand urgent payment and threaten that the pet will be euthanized if you do not pay.
Safe response
Hang up and call APS or the official office directly using a known phone number, not the number from the suspicious caller.
Surrender and Safety Net
APS says surrender requires an appointment. Use Safety Net resources before surrender when possible.
| Need | Correct route | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Owner surrender | Call 919-560-0640 ext. 9 | Pet age, species, reason for surrender, behavior notes, medical records, vaccine status and your Durham County residency details. |
| Safety Net alternatives | APS Safety Net | Try family/friends, temporary boarding, lower-cost vet care, behavior support and community assistance where possible. |
| Unable to bring animal to APS | Durham County Animal Services route | Sheriff’s Animal Services page says Animal Services can pick up a sick pet or pet you can no longer keep if you are unable to take the animal to APS. |
| Legal owner requirement | Owner must be present | Animal Services says the legal owner must sign a surrender form and provide proper identification. |
Durham County Animal Services: Routine vs Emergency Calls
Animal Services is part of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, not the adoption desk.
| Situation | Route | What to include | Do this first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Services information | 919-560-0630; office at 3005 Glenn Road | Your address, animal type, question and callback number. | Use during normal business hours for information. |
| Emergency animal situation | 919-560-0900 or 911 for immediate emergency | Exact location, danger level, injuries, whether animal is still loose. | Do not approach unsafe animals. |
| Animal bite by dog, cat or ferret | Animal Services | Victim details, animal owner if known, animal description, location and whether it is loose. | Seek medical care and report the bite. |
| Animal abuse or neglect | Animal Services routine call route | Food/water/shelter concerns, injury, dates, photos/video if safe and legal. | Do not trespass or put yourself at risk. |
| Stray or at-large domestic dog | Animal Services | Location, direction of travel, collar/tag, aggression level and whether contained. | Do not chase into traffic. |
| Nuisance domestic animal | Animal Services / relevant city route | Repeated dates/times, address, photos/video and contact details. | Anonymous nuisance complaints may not be enforceable. |
Rabies Vaccine and Licensing Questions
Durham County Sheriff’s Animal Services lists low-cost one-year rabies vaccination details and separate licensing contact information.
| Rabies vaccine item | Official detail | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $10 cash only, exact change | Bring exact cash before going. |
| Animals | Cats and dogs 4 months of age and older | Dogs must be leashed; cats must be in carriers. |
| Normal vaccine hours | Tuesday and Thursday, 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm, first come first served | Call 919-560-0630 before visiting to verify the current clinic status. |
| Four or more animals | Appointment needed | Call 919-560-0630 for a special appointment. |
| Licensing | Durham County Tax Office, 919-560-0300 | Use for animal licensing questions. |
Rabies visit checklist
- Bring exact $10 cash per pet.
- Use leash for dogs and carrier for cats.
- Be ready to hold your animal during vaccination.
- Clean up after pets inside and outside the building.
- Call ahead if clinic schedule may have changed.
Wildlife and Nuisance Animal Confusion
Not every animal problem is handled by the shelter or Animal Services.
Wildlife inside living area
Animal Services says to call the Emergency Communications Center at 919-560-0900 if a wild animal is in a common living area such as kitchen, bedroom or bathroom.
Wildlife outdoors
For outdoor wildlife or animals in attic/walls, Animal Services generally directs people to a private pest removal contractor, wildlife trapper or NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Barking dog
The Sheriff FAQ says city of Durham barking issues may go to Durham Police non-emergency at 919-560-4600; unincorporated county issues may use 919-560-0900.
Before You Leave Home
Pet screenshot, children/family dog if needed, payment, carrier/leash, time for counselor wait.
Color photos, microchip number, collar/tag, cross streets, scam-awareness, vet records.
Safe photo, exact location, microchip scan plan, shelter route, no private giveaway.
Appointment, ID, records, behavior notes, medical details, Safety Net alternatives tried.
Map: APS of Durham / Durham County Animal Shelter
Use this map for adoption, shelter visit, lost/found shelter route, and surrender appointment visits. For Animal Services calls, see the separate Glenn Road office details above.
Copy/Paste Call and Email Scripts
Adoption
Hello, I am interested in [animal name/listing]. Is this pet still available, and should I visit during regular hours or contact a foster/adoption counselor first?Lost pet
Hello, my [dog/cat] is missing near [cross streets]. Description: [color/markings/collar/microchip]. Has a matching pet been reported or brought to the Durham County Animal Shelter?Found pet
Hello, I found a [dog/cat] near [exact location] on [date/time]. The animal is [safe/injured/scared/aggressive]. I understand found strays must go through the shelter route. What should I do next?Animal Services
Hello, I need Animal Services help at [exact address]. The situation is [bite/stray dog/abuse/injured animal/nuisance/wildlife]. The animal is [loose/contained/injured/aggressive]. My callback number is [phone].Official Durham Animal Shelter Links
The key details are summarized above. Use these official links for live verification, forms, current pets and final action.
Durham County Animal Shelter FAQ
Where is Durham County Animal Shelter located?
Durham County Animal Shelter / APS of Durham is located at 2117 East Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27704.
What is the Durham County Animal Shelter phone number?
The main APS of Durham phone number is 919-560-0640.
What are APS of Durham shelter hours?
APS lists Monday and Tuesday from 10:30am to 5pm, Wednesday from 10:30am to 6pm, Thursday and Friday from 10:30am to 5pm, Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and Sunday closed.
When do animal visitations end at APS of Durham?
APS says animal visitations end 30 minutes before shelter closing time.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat or kitten from APS Durham?
APS lists cats and kittens at $95, with the second cat only $50 when adopting two together.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from APS Durham?
APS lists dogs and puppies as ranging from $125 to $175.
What is included in APS Durham adoption fees?
APS says the adoption package includes a medical exam, spay or neuter surgery, microchip, vaccines, and other listed tests or treatments depending on the animal.
How do I surrender a pet in Durham County?
APS says surrender requires an appointment. Call 919-560-0640 extension 9 for surrender options.
Who handles animal-control calls in Durham County?
Durham County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services handles routine and emergency animal-control calls. The information line is 919-560-0630, and emergency communications can be reached at 919-560-0900.
How much is the Durham County low-cost rabies vaccine?
Durham County Sheriff’s Animal Services lists a one-year rabies vaccination for cats and dogs four months or older at $10 cash only with exact change.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.