SMITHFIELD — In roughly 230 days this year, the Johnston County Animal Services shelter has taken in 1,245 dogs, most of them strays, though owners have surrendered 262.
If past is predictor, the shelter will find homes for more than half of those dogs. In 2022, the latest year for which numbers are available, the Johnston shelter took in 1,715 dogs, returning 393 of those to their owners and finding adoptive homes for another 701, or 41%. It euthanized 621 dogs, or 36%.
Rescue groups take mos of the Johnston strays that leave the shelter, said Chuck Lively, supervisor. County residents adopt many too…