Gaston County Animal Shelter, Adoption & Pets 2026

Physical address

1491 Business Park Court, Gastonia, NC 28052.

Use this address for shelter visits, adoption, reclaim, lost/found pet checks and approved surrender appointments.

Main phone

704-922-8677.

Use this for adoption questions, surrender scheduling, lost/found pets, license questions and shelter service details.

Public hours

Tuesday–Friday: 11 AM–5 PM.

Saturday: 11 AM–2 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Dispatch / emergency

Non-emergency dispatch: 704-866-3300.

Emergency phone: 911.

County-run GCACE shelter

This article is for the county animal shelter at 1491 Business Park Court in Gastonia. It handles adoption, sheltering, reclaim, lost/found pets, licensing and animal enforcement work.

Private rescues and humane groups

Private groups may use foster homes, separate adoption events, different fees and different applications. Do not assume their rules are the same as GCACE.

Charlotte, Lincoln, Cleveland and York

If a pet crossed county lines or was found near a border, also check neighboring county shelters because pets can travel or be transported by finders.

Dogs, cats and other animals

Visitors can view available shelter pets and complete the adoption questionnaire so staff can match adopter needs with available animals.

Reclaim and ID support

GCACE posts shelter animals and community lost/found listings. If a pet lacks ID, owners are told they must come to the shelter to check in person.

Animal control complaints

Field operations investigate nuisance, leash-law issues, animals on school grounds, rabies suspects and reported cruelty, abuse or neglect.

Canine adoption fee

$90 is the listed adoption fee for dogs/canines.

Feline adoption fee

$75 is the listed adoption fee for cats/felines.

Love and Go option

Love and Go applies to eligible adoptable pets already spayed or neutered and marked with the program logo.

What the release date means

The adopt/placement date reflects when the legal hold is satisfied and the animal can be released from county custody. Stray animals are held for three business days so an owner has a chance to find and reclaim the pet before adoption or placement.

• Do not wait until late afternoon if a pet has a release date you care about.
• Call before the release date if you are interested in claiming or adopting.
• Understand that animals can be first come, first served when multiple people are interested.

Other listing labels

• Foster: animal may be housed outside the shelter by approved foster or rescue.
• VTech: animal may be in additional medical care through the Gaston College veterinary technology program.
• Rescue Only: animal may need specialized support through an approved placement partner.
• Owner Contact / Owner Reclaim: legal or ownership steps may still be pending.

If your pet is missing

• Check the current shelter pet database repeatedly.
• Do not over-filter by breed because staff may describe breed differently.
• If your pet was not wearing identification, come to the shelter to check in person.
• Submit lost-pet information through the county lost/found route when available.
• Post flyers in the area where the pet was lost and nearby high-traffic places.
• Check surrounding counties if your pet could have traveled or been transported.

If you found a pet

• Take the animal to a veterinary clinic or shelter to scan for a microchip.
• Upload found-pet details with a photo and unique characteristics.
• Note the exact location, date, time and condition of the animal.
• Ask anyone claiming the pet to provide proof of ownership, such as photos or veterinary records.
• If you cannot temporarily care for the animal, contact GCACE about stray admissions.
• Do not permanently rehome a found pet without following proper lost/found steps.

Call 704-922-8677

Use the main GCACE number for adoption, surrender appointments, licensing questions, lost/found pets and shelter-service questions.

Call 704-866-3300

Use non-emergency dispatch for animal-related issues that need field response but are not immediate life-threatening emergencies.

Call 911

Use 911 for immediate danger, serious attacks, severe injuries, active threats or urgent public-safety situations.

Owner surrender appointment rules

• Call 704-922-8677 to schedule a surrender appointment.
• Appointment calls are handled Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM.
• Surrender appointments are Tuesday and Thursday from 1 PM to 3 PM.
• Owners must complete required surrender forms before or at the appointment.
• Bring legal ID and proof of Gaston County residency.
• Veterinary records are appreciated and can help with placement decisions.

Stray intake and end-of-life cases

• Found stray animals can be brought Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 4 PM.
• Calling ahead can reduce wait time.
• Low-cost humane euthanasia is listed at $20 Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 4 PM.
• End-of-life humane euthanasia decisions are at the shelter veterinary team’s discretion.
• Vet paperwork is recommended when requesting end-of-life service.

Altered pet, 1 year

Spayed/neutered dog or cat: $10 for one year with proof.

Altered pet, 3 years

Spayed/neutered dog or cat: $25 for three years with proof.

Not altered

Not spayed or neutered: $55 for one year with valid rabies proof.

Late fee risk

A $15 late fee may apply if licensing is late or missing.

Gaston Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic

The county page says everyone is eligible and appointments can be made Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Financial assistance

The county page says financial assistance may be available. Call the clinic for current eligibility and pricing details.

Ask before booking

Ask whether pricing includes pain medication, e-collar, vaccines, testing, pregnancy status, weight limits and required deposits.

Photo ID

Bring valid ID for adoption, reclaim, licensing and surrender appointment questions.

Proof of residency

For surrender, GCACE requires proof of Gaston County residency along with legal identification.

Veterinary records

Bring rabies proof, spay/neuter proof, medical history and ownership records when relevant.

Payment method

Bring payment for adoption fees, licenses, reclaim fees or other listed services.

Secure carrier

Use a hard carrier for cats or small animals. Loose transport is unsafe.

Dog transport plan

Bring a leash, collar, harness, crate or safe vehicle setup for dog transport.

First 24 hours

• Keep the new pet in a calm starter space.
• Do not introduce every guest, room and resident pet immediately.
• Use leash or carrier safety even if the animal seems calm.
• Expect stress signs such as hiding, pacing, barking, reduced appetite or nervousness.
• Keep adoption paperwork, medical contract, license tag and vaccine notes together.

Days 2–7

• Follow veterinary contract instructions and appointment timing.
• Create a predictable feeding, potty, walking and rest routine.
• Introduce resident pets slowly and safely.
• Watch for coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, limping or severe anxiety.
• Ask for training or veterinary help early if problems appear.

Arrive early

Give yourself time for pet viewing, forms, proof review, payment and questions.

Call for one pet

If your visit depends on one animal, call 704-922-8677 before driving.

Use the right route

Adoption, surrender, lost/found, reclaim and emergency dispatch are different paths.

Before visiting

• Do not visit Sunday or Monday expecting public adoption hours.
• Do not arrive late Saturday expecting a long adoption conversation.
• Do not rely only on breed filters when searching lost pets.
• Do not assume a pet is available just because it appears online.
• Do not ignore release dates, hold status or listing labels.

Before surrendering or reporting

• Do not bring an owned pet without scheduling a surrender appointment.
• Do not forget legal ID and proof of Gaston County residency for surrender.
• Do not permanently rehome a found pet without lost/found steps.
• Do not delay rabies, bite, cruelty or urgent safety concerns.
• Do not forget to license and identify pets after rabies vaccination.