Need help with general issues? This is the place!
Welcome to our Resources pages! Here, you’ll find essential guidance on common animal-related situations and what to do in each instance. You can also find succinct information on several commonly misunderstood subjects.
Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to handle these issues independently so our rescue team can stay focused on saving lives. Explore the topics below to get the help you need and make a difference for animals in your community.
All information on this page is offered for general guidance only and is not offered as specific advice for any particular case. Every pet and situation is different, so please use your best judgment and consult a professional when needed. By using these resources, you understand that Second Chance Pet Adoptions cannot guarantee outcomes and assumes no responsibility or liability for how this information is used.
Spaying (female pets) or neutering (male pets) is one of the most beneficial choices you can make for your pet. It helps prevent unwanted litters, improves your pet’s health, and supports efforts to reduce pet overpopulation in our community.
Why?
Spaying or neutering your pets has numerous benefits.
Medical health benefits:
- Extends life expectancy (cats: 3–5 years, dogs: 1–3 years).
- Reduces or eliminates the risk of certain cancers.
- Reduces overall health issues, increasing pet happiness and reducing medical costs.
Behavioral health benefits:
- Has an overwhelmingly positive impact on pet behavior by addressing potentially problematic traits that cause distress among pets and pet owners.
- Decreases aggressive tendencies like biting humans and fighting with other animals.
- Reduce or eliminates territorial marking, the natural instinct to define boundaries.
- Moderates dominant tendencies like mounting and territorial aggression.
Community benefits:
- North Carolina has the 2nd highest animal shelter euthanasia rate in the country. Spaying or neutering your pets is the single most important way to reduce pet overpopulation, animal homelessness and suffering.
Just the Facts:
What you should do:
If you own an unaltered dog or cat, please discuss spaying or neutering with your veterinarian and schedule the procedure.
If cost is an issue, several resources exist in the area to provide you with assistance:
These organizations support Second Chance and are excellent at what they do. Please consider contacting them if you think you may benefit from utilizing their services.
Veterinarians
Raleigh Glenwood Area
5725 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-783-7387
Raleigh Oberlin Area
1309 Annapolis Drive
Raleigh, NC 27608
919-832-3107
Cary Tryon Area
6400 Tryon Road
Cary NC 27518
919-851-7475
Quartet Veterinary Specialty Hospital
6910 Carpenter Fire Station Road
Cary, NC 27519
919-545-1001
Experienced animal surgery.
Coming soon:
- Medical Oncology
- Internal Medicine
- 24/7 Emergency Room
Urgent Care
PriorityPet Urgent Care
9936 Chapel Hill Road
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-823-5717
Groomers
Pet Palace Pet Boarding Resort
917 Waldo Rood Blvd.
Cary, NC 275119
919-823-5399
Dog Trainers
Raleigh Glenwood Area
5725 Glenwood Ave
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-783-7387
Audrey’s Barkyard
3129 Heritage Trade Dr, #104
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-435-8491
400 Granville Cors.
Oxford, NC 27565
919-339-4762
Boarders
Raleigh Glenwood Area
5725 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612
919-783-7387
Audrey’s Barkyard
3129 Heritage Trade Dr, #104
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-435-8491
Complete Pet Care Animal Hospital
9500 Falls of Neuse Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
919-841-4211
941 Gateway Commons Cir.
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-263-9778
400 Granville Cors.
Oxford, NC 27565
919-339-4762
Finding an injured wild animal can be a distressing experience, and your concern for its well-being is commendable. While it’s natural to want to help right away, taking the right steps is crucial to ensuring the animal’s best chance of recovery.
Here, you can find guidance on what you can do – and what not to do – to provide the safest and most effective assistance.
Before You Act:
Don’t attempt to help injured wildlife yourself. Only trained professionals can ensure proper care and protect both you and the animal.
To rehabilitate wildlife in North Carolina, a Captivity License for Rehabilitation, specific experience, and minimum of 18 years of age are required. It’s best to take injured or orphaned animals to a professional.
What You Should Do:
Before you get involved:
If you find a wild animal, the best action is usually to leave it alone, especially if its uninjured. Captivity is stressful, care is specialized, and if it can move, it’s best left to heal on its own.
A frozen animal:
A wild animal frozen in place isn’t necessarily injured – it may be reacting to fear. Back away until it can’t see or hear you and give it several hours to move on.
If you find babies alone in the nest:
A lone baby wild animal in its nest is normal. Parents often leave young alone for long periods while foraging. Even if displaced, they are usually still cared for. Wild parents rarely abandon their young.
If you’re compelled to act:
If a wild animal is obviously and seriously injured, you can find more information below.
Do NOT give the animal food or water, bathe it, allow children or pets near it or try to rehabilitate it yourself!
Birds
Nestlings:
A nestling, featherless or with closed eyes, isn’t ready to leave the nest. If safe, return it to the nest – its mother won’t reject it due to scent. If the nest is missing, place the bird in a shaded spot nearby; the parent will return.
Fledglings:
A fledgling has open eyes and feathers but can’t yet fly. It can hop and flutter, and its parents are nearby, still caring for it. No help is needed.
Injured birds:
If you find an injured bird, take it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. To transport it safely:
- Line a ventilated box with cloth or paper towels and a towel rolled into a donut-shaped ring (like a bird’s nest).
- Use a box just large enough for the bird to stand.
- Approach from behind and cover the bird with a towel.
- Gently fold its wings to its sides and place it in the box.
- Avoid frequent checks and take it to a rehabilitator promptly.
Deer
Injured deer:
If the animal is able to walk, the best way to help is to give it space. Due to a very low chance of survival in human care, adult deer are best left to heal from superficial injuries on their own.
Its unsafe to try to help a wounded deer on your own. If you are compelled to act, refer to the options under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Sick deer:
Don’t try to help a sick deer on your own. Instead, contact:
- Your local District Bioligist.
Click Here to Download the NC List. - The Wildlife Helpline at 1-866-318-2401.
Fawns:
A silent, alert fawn is likely waiting for its mother, who leaves it in a safe spot and returns to feed and clean it. Leave the fawn alone.
A fawn needs rescue if it cries excessively, has flies around it, seems lethargic, is injured, or is near a dead mother. Mothers usually have two fawns but leave them in separate spots—if one needs help, check for the other. Do not try to help the fawn without the assistance of a professional, which you can find under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Feral Cats and Dogs
Feral cats and dogs are not wildlife animals but they also aren’t socialized pets. They often live outdoors without direct human care and can become fearful or defensive if cornered or handled. Stray cats and dogs are poorly acclimated to human beings and other animals. When confined, cornered and approached, they may claw or bite in self-defense. Their handling is best left to a professional animal control specialist. Please click below to navigate to the appropriate page for guidance regarding non-feral strays.
Rabbits
Abandoned baby:
It’s common to see rabbit nests in shallow depressions in the ground in the spring and summer. The mother only briefly visits 1-2 times per day. Don’t assume the nest has been abandoned. If you find a nest of baby rabbits, leave it alone and the mother will return.
Abandoned Baby:
It’s common to see rabbit nests in shallow depressions in the ground in the spring and summer. The mother only briefly visits 1-2 times per day. Don’t assume the nest has been abandoned. If you find a nest of baby rabbits, leave it alone and its mother will return.
Injured rabbit:
- Wear sturdy gloves before handling.
- Place the rabbit in a lidded box with a warm blanket and air holes. A dark, quiet space helps reduce stress.
- Take it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator identified under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Squirrels and Chipmunks
First, determine if the animal truly needs help. Signs of distress include visible injuries, shivering, prolonged crying, or a dead parent nearby. If none of these apply, it’s best to leave it alone. If one or more apply, consider intervening.
Infants:
(Tail not fluffed, body under 6” long, excluding tail.)
If uninjured and in its nest, leave it – its mother will return.
If fallen from the nest, do not put it back. Instead:
- Wear sturdy gloves before handling.
- Place the baby in an open box with a mild heat source (e.g., a sock filled with microwaved dry rice or birdseed).
- Set the container near the likely nesting tree.
- Keep pets and children away, and observe from a distance for 6–8 daylight hours.
- If the mother does not return, take the infant to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator identified under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Juveniles:
(Fluffed tail, body over 6” long, excluding tail).
If uninjured, leave it alone—it can care for itself.
Wounded:
- Wear sturdy gloves before handling.
- Place the squirrel in a lidded box with a warm blanket and air holes. A dark, quiet space helps reduce stress.
- Take it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator identified under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Turtles
Turtles in the road:
If you see a turtle on the road, use caution! Watch for traffic and be mindful of potential bites. Often, the best approach is to stand guard while it crosses on its own. If you must move it, always guide it in the direction it was traveling. Consider sliding it onto a car mat and dragging the mat instead of picking it up. Never lift a turtle by its tail! Hold it from the back of the shell rather than the sides to keep your hands clear, especially with snapping turtles, which have long necks and strong bites.
Turtles in the road:
If you see a turtle on the road, use caution! Watch for traffic and be mindful of potential bites. Often, the best approach is to stand guard while it crosses on its own. If you must move it, always guide it in the direction it was traveling. Consider sliding it onto a car mat and dragging the mat instead of picking it up. Never lift a turtle by its tail! Hold it from the back of the shell rather than the sides to keep your hands clear, especially with snapping turtles, which have long necks and strong bites.
Injured turtle:
It can be difficult to tell if a turtle is injured. Carefully check for cracks in the shell, belly, or signs of bleeding—but be cautious of bites. A motionless turtle isn’t necessarily dead.
If the turtle is injured:
- Handle it carefully, especially snapping turtles, which have long necks and strong bites. Wear gloves if available.
- Lift it gently, keeping hands as far from the head as possible, and minimize handling.
- Place it in a dry, well-ventilated box lined with a towel. If found on hot pavement, lightly dampen the towel with cool water. Never transport a turtle in water, as it may drown.
- Take it to a licensed rehabilitator identified under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Raccoons
Although not all raccoons carry rabies, some do. Raccoons therefore cannot be safely handled by those who are untrained. Instead, refer to the options under “Resources for Assistance” above. A raccoon that appears to be stumbling, having seizures, or showing signs of neurological distress should be given a wide berth. If a person or pet has been scratched or bitten, contact your local health department or animal control immediately.
Although not all raccoons carry rabies, some do. Raccoons therefore cannot be safely handled by the untrained. Instead, refer to the options under “Resources for Assistance” above.
A raccoon that appears to be stumbling, having seizures, or showing signs of neurological distress should be given a wide berth. If a person or pet has been scratched or bitten, contact your local health department or animal control immediately
Opossums
Although rabies is rare in opossums, you are strongly discouraged from handling an opossum yourself unless absolutely necessary. If you do, wear protective gloves and be cautious as injured animals can be unpredictable. A wounded opossum can usually be rehabilitated by a professional if their injuries are not life-threatening. Refer to the options under “Resources for Assistance” above to get assistance from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or click the link below:
Although rabies is rare in opossums, you are strongly discouraged from handling an opossum yourself unless absolutely necessary.
If you do, wear protective gloves and be cautious as injured animals can be unpredictable. A wounded opossum can usually be rehabilitated by a professional if their injuries are not life-threatening. Refer to the options under “Resources for Assistance” above to get assistance from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or click the link below:
Skunks
Because skunks are a rabies vector species they cannot be rehabilitated. It is best to leave the animal alone. If the sunk has a life-threatening injury or illness, it should be humanely euthanized. Refer to the options under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Because skunks are a rabies vector species they cannot be rehabilitated. It is best to leave the animal alone.
If the sunk has a life-threatening injury or illness, it should be humanely euthanized. Refer to the options under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Bats
Bats are state and federally protected due to their rapidly declining populations. It is unlawful to harm a bat or roost.
If you believe a bat is orphaned, give the mom the chance to retrieve her baby by leaving it in the location you found it but out of direct sunlight. If the mom does not return within 12 hours, seek the help of a licensed professional under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Never attempt to feed, wash, treat or rehabilitate a bat. Although most bats do not carry the virus, they can be a vector species for rabies.
Bats are state and federally protected due to their rapidly declining populations. It is unlawful to harm a bat or roost.
If you believe a bat is orphaned, give the mom the chance to retrieve her baby by leaving it in the location you found it but out of direct sunlight. If the mom does not return within 12 hours, seek the help of a licensed professional under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Never attempt to feed, wash, treat or rehabilitate a bat. Although most bats do not carry the virus, they can be a vector species for rabies.
Bats are state and federally protected due to their rapidly declining populations. It is unlawful to harm a bat or roost.
If you believe a bat is orphaned, give the mom the chance to retrieve her baby by leaving it in the location you found it but out of direct sunlight. If the mom does not return within 12 hours, seek the help of a licensed professional under “Resources for Assistance” above.
Never attempt to feed, wash, treat or rehabilitate a bat. Although most bats do not carry the virus, they can be a vector species for rabies.
Snakes
While only 6 of the 38 species of snake in NC are venomous, you should not try to handle a snake you find; steer clear and leave it alone. Most snake bites occur when people try to handle a snake.
Wolves, Coyotes, Foxes, Cougers and Bobcats
It is not safe to approach these animals. Instead, contact a Wildlife rehabilitator by clicking the button under “Resources for Assistance” above. Coyotes are not native to North Carolina and cannot legally be rehabilitated.
Alligators
What.. are you crazy? Leave that thing alone!
Velociraptors
Hey, if you think you can domesticate it – go for it!
(Just don’t bring it to our Adoption Center… they make our kitties nervous.)
Additional Resources
Animal Rehabilitators of the Carolinas:
A nonprofit that cares for orphaned and injured wildlife around Charlotte.
Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center:
A wildlife rescue and sanctuary near Charlotte that is also a good source of information
We understand life can change, and you may need to rehome your pet. While we focus on dogs and cats, below is some guidance that may help you find a home for other species.
What you should do:
Contact species-specific rescue groups:
Many rescue organizations specialize in specific species. These groups often have the knowledge, resources, and appropriate setups to care for small animals and exotics. Search online for local or regional rescues for your pet’s species. Examples:
- House Rabbit Society (for rabbits)
- Local herpetological societies (for reptiles)
- Small animal rescues in your area (guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, etc.)
Be honest and prepare a pet profile:
Provide accurate information about your animal’s behavior, health, diet, and enclosure needs including:
- Age and gender
- Temperament (e.g., shy, social, needs experienced handler)
- Medical history
- Favorite foods, toys, or routines
- Photos and videos to help potential adopters connect
Never release an animal into the wild:
Domesticated animals and exotics cannot survive in the wild! Releasing them is dangerous and often illegal. Always seek a responsible alternative.
Try to rehome the animal yourself using a reputable platform:
Often, the best option is for you to directly re-home your pet yourself. You know their personality and needs better than anyone!
- Contact trusted friends, family, or coworkers.
- Ask them if they or someone they know is looking to adopt.
- Properly screen adopters so the pet is not used for baiting or animal food.
- Use safe, reputable platforms:
- Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet: www.rehome.adoptapet.com
- Home to Home: www.home-home.org
- Leverage local community groups:
- Ex: Facebook or Nextdoor
- Leave clear, honest descriptions.
- Consider a rehoming fee to deter unethical adopters.
Reach out to veterinary clinics:
Veterinary clinics often have bulletin boards or connections with clients looking to adopt. Some may also know of local rescue groups or foster homes.
