Wake County residents will surely recognize this next non-profit attendee! The Wake County Animal Center has been joining since the beginning of Spring Fling, and we are thrilled to welcome them back again! We asked their team why the love Spring Fling and this is what they said:
"As far as I'm concerned, this is the biggest animal event of the year!"
Wake County Animal Center is our open admission (the only one in Wake County), county shelter that receives all the stray and abandoned pets in Wake County. They also take owner surrendered pets and as an open admission shelter, they have to take any animal that comes through the doors. This means that sometimes they end up with animals other than dogs and cats, like chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even birds or reptiles on occasion!
WCAC work with fosters, volunteers and rescues to re-home thousands of pets each year. They also have an adoption center, which welcomes visitors to come and look at the pets on their adoption floor (during adoption floor hours.)
The Wake County Animal Center has operated out of their current facility off New Bern Avenue in Raleigh since 1996. Prior to that, the Animal Center was located on Rogers Lane in Raleigh. By 2029, WCAC hopes to move into a brand-new facility off Auburn Knightdale Road.
They recently received approval from the County Manager's Office and the County Commissioners for their new building. In 2025, they grew their Volunteer Program from ~16,000 hours per year to over 28,000 hours. WCAC continues their lifesaving efforts with help from their fosters, volunteers, donors, and community members.
Meet Capone!
(Professional Goofball & Boss of Good Boys)
Fuhgeddaboudit-Capone is here, and he's running this operation with charm, snacks, and a whole lot of love. Don't let his name fool you-this guy isn't looking to run the streets; he's
looking to run your sofa!
This lovely gentleman is equal parts couch potato and adventure buddy. He loves long walks around the neighborhood to "check his territory", followed by extended naps where he supervises the household from the couch. Occasionally, he gets so pumped to go out on a walk that he will take matters into his own paws and pick up his leash to remind you that it's time to go!
Capone is extremely loving and will happily soak up all the pets, cuddles, and praise you're willing to give. He's a total foodie and firmly believes snacks are a basic human right (and should be shared). He can be a tiny bit stubborn when he's decided his way is the better way. But honestly, it just adds to his charm. Learn more on Capone's adoptable profile!
WCAC offers tours of the Animal Center for anyone interested in learning more about who they are, where they are, and what they do. They also cannot save the lives they save without fosters, volunteers, and donations - thank you for your support! Learn more about tours, fostering, and volunteering on their website!
Visit the Wake County Animal Center team in-person at
Unleashed's 13th Annual Spring Fling Dog & Cat Fundraiser
Sunday, April 26, 2026
12-6 pm
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Stay up to date on all things Spring Fling 2026:
2025 FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1TntG29de2/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k9springfling
