North Carolina Construction News staff writer
The SPCA of Wake County has officially broken ground on its new $27.5 million structure, a transformative project designed to double the organization’s yearly capacity for spaying and neutering animals while expanding social services to keep families and pets together.
Wright Construction will lead the development of the new facility, marking a significant step toward addressing the unmet needs of both animals and families across the state.
Located at 200 Petfinder Lane in Raleigh on a 22-acre tract of land, this new regional campus will include North Carolina’s first-ever Regional Campus for Pets and People. It will feature a state-of-the-art 25,000-sq. ft. Pet Admission & Resource Center, replacing the current Admissions Center built in 1970 in Garner. The existing Pet Adoption Center will remain in place, and the facility will serve as a central hub for deploying resources across the state.
“I’ve been touched by many pets in my life,” Kim Janzen, president and CEO of the SPCA, said at a groundbreaking ceremony. “This feels personal to me because I know the power of pets in people’s lives.”
The SPCA of Wake County works in 59 counties across North Carolina, supporting rural and resource-strapped areas to save more lives and provide much-needed resources for people and pets. This work has highlighted the unmet needs of both communities and animals across the state, leading the organization to embark on this major expansion.
“The new regional campus will allow us to deepen our work in Wake County while expanding geographically to help more families and animals in need,” Janzen said. “Our goal is to transform entire communities and provide essential resources to keep families and pets together.”
SPCA Wake has already raised $21.7 million for the project and plans to raise an additional $5.8 million before the campus opens.
The project comes at a critical time, as many animal shelters in the state are operating at capacity, forcing them to euthanize animals to create space. Janzen is optimistic that the new campus will help address hese challenges, noting, “The best way to help animals is to help the people who love them.”
“This is more than a building—this is a commitment to transforming lives,” said Janzen. “With this facility, we’ll expand our ability to serve the pets and people who rely on us, creating a brighter future for families and their beloved pets.”
