North Carolina Divorce Lawyers Blog
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Celebrating Our Furry Family Members on Dec 11th

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The holidays are a season of giving. We shop for our children, cook up incredible feasts to share with loved ones, decorate our homes to spread joy, and often make end-of-year contributions to our favorite charities. But in the hustle and bustle that comes with December, it’s easy to overlook some of the most vulnerable members of our North Carolina community: the animals in our local shelters.

December 11th is Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day. This annual observance is dedicated to restocking shelter pantries before the deep winter sets in.

At Woodruff Family Law Group, we know that for many of our clients, pets are beloved family members who provide comfort during life’s most difficult transitions. This December, we encourage our friends in the Triad and the Triangle to extend that sense of family to the animals waiting for their forever homes.

Why Winter is Tough for Shelters

Winter will always be a challenging season for animal welfare organizations. Heating bills for large facilities are expensive, and the colder weather often brings an influx of surrendered animals who cannot be kept outdoors.

While the day is officially called a “Food Drive,” local shelters/organizations often have needs beyond kibble. For example, the SPCA of the Triad frequently lists heavy-duty trash bags, paper towels, Dawn dish soap, and bleach as top-priority items alongside food, largely due to the fact that keeping animals healthy in such close quarters requires a lot of resources.

How You Can Help

No matter where you are in North Carolina, there are plenty of ways to help this season.

In the Triad (Greensboro / High Point)

  • You could donate to SPCA of the Triad. If you cannot make it to the shelter to drop off supplies, you could always check their online wish list. It’s an easy way to send exactly what they need directly to their door.
  • If you have been thinking about expanding your family, now is the time. Guilford County Animal Services is participating in the national “Empty the Shelters” event from December 1st through the15th, 2025, reducing adoption fees.
  • Local rescues like the Haley Graves Foundation in Summerfield rely on support from the community to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome dogs in need.
  • Groups such as Fur-Ever Friends of N.C. distribute hundreds of pounds of pet food each month through church and community partners. Their goal is to educate and assist families in keeping their dogs at home and out of overcrowded shelters.

In the Triangle (Raleigh / Durham)

  • This month, Wake County Animal Center is also running an adoption event called “Home for the Holidays” from December 1-22, 2025. You can adopt a dog for just $25 or a cat for $5. Adopting a pet now gives your new companion a loving forever home and helps the shelter make room for the next animal in need during this high-traffic season.
  • If you’d like to meet animals outside of the shelter environment, where you’d be able to see their personality really shine, look for Independent Animal Rescue (Durham)’s adoption events at local pet stores in mid-December.

More Than Just Property

As family law attorneys, we look at life through a unique lens. Under North Carolina law, pets are technically classified as personal property during a divorce, treated similarly to a piece of furniture or a vehicle for the purposes of equitable distribution.

However, we know the law doesn’t always reflect the heart. The bond you share with a pet is emotional and deep. We see firsthand that pets are an integral part of the family unit and do our best to help during such a difficult process, whether that means negotiating a “custody” schedule for a beloved dog (through a private agreement) or ensuring a cat remains with the child they are bonded to. Supporting these holiday drives is another way to honor that bond.

Let’s Fill the Bowls

This December 11th, we challenge you to make one small contribution. Drop off a bag of food, order a box of trash bags for a shelter, organize a micro-drive in your neighborhood or workplace, or simply share a post about an adoptable animal.

If you are facing family law challenges this season, no matter if it’s regarding two-legged or four-legged family members, we are here to help. Contact Woodruff Family Law Group today to schedule a consultation.