The Dare County Animal Shelter is staffed and managed by the Outer Banks SPCA, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization that serves as a community resource for pets and people by providing assistance to the abandoned and homeless animals across Dare County. 

The shelter is concerned with the welfare of all animals—domestic, feral or wild. Responsibilities include providing shelter for homeless dogs and cats as well as the enforcement of state and county ordinances regarding to the keeping, restraint and humane treatment of animals.

Educating the public about responsible animal ownership and proper care is an important part of the Outer Banks SPCA's mission. The SPCA promotes the responsible placement of adopted animals and the humane disposition of unwanted, unadoptable, sick or injured animals.

Dare County Animal Shelter staff members provide many animal-care and animal-control services, including pet adoption, licensing, spay/neuter assistance, and lost and found animal reporting.

Dare County Animal Shelter staff members are responsible for investigating animal cruelty, animal nuisance complaints and animal bites within the unincorporated areas of Dare County, as well as in the towns of Manteo, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores and Duck, regardless of the severity. Shelter staff members also provide rabies control measures and advocate for humane education.

For more information about the Dare County Animal Shelter, please contact the Outer Banks SPCA. To view the most recent videos of the "Pet of the Week," please visit the Dare County YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/DareCounty.