CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control is asking more people to foster pets because the shelter is full of dogs. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control shelter is full of dogs

  • Shelter officials said decrease in adoptions, increase in lost dog intake and upcoming renovations are making situation challenging

  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control said euthanasia decisions may be a possibility if this trend continues

  • Shelter officials encourage fostering, adopting or staycationing to help with the overcrowding

Communications and outreach manager Melissa Knicely said this is the fullest she’s seen the shelter in the 16 years she’s worked there. 

Shelter officials said there has been a 20% drop in adoptions and a 16% intake increase for lost dogs compared with last year. 

Renovations to bring the shelter into compliance will also reduce much-needed kennel space. 

“In the next few months, if the community doesn’t come to help by fostering, adopting, staycationing, then we’ll have to make euthanasia decisions.” Knicely said. “In the next few months, if the community doesn’t come to help by fostering, adopting, staycationing, then we’ll have to make euthanasia decisions.” Knicely said. 

Volunteer Alexis Ketover, who has fostered four dogs from the shelter since 2022, said it’s heartbreaking to see the statistics. 

“It’s something that makes me incredibly sad, that if people don’t step up, these dogs are not going to make it out,” Ketover said. 

The shelter is encouraging fostering. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control Director Dr. Josh Fisher said the behavior of dogs can deteriorate at the shelter due the loud environment. 

"The shelter is not the ideal environment for a dog. As most of you know and can attest, dogs thrive in homes. They don’t thrive in sheltering environments,” Fisher said. 

Ketover noticed Linda’s attitude change once she brought her home. 

“Knowing that I have made a difference in this dog’s life and knowing that she will go to a forever home because she was given a chance and that I was able to give her that chance, it’s rewarding,” Ketover said. 

This year 334 dogs and 147 cats have been euthanized at the shelter. Overcrowding is one of the reasons but not the only one. 

Shelter officials said another way for you to help is to hold onto a lost dog while you look for its owner. You can file a found dog report on the shelter's website. 

If you are interested in fostering or adoption, you can find more information here.