About Us

Who are we?

REASON board members and volunteers are just ordinary folks with different jobs, backgrounds, interests, and hobbies. All volunteers have at least one important thing in common; they are bonded by love for their own pets. Click here to see them at home.

We saw a need in Burke County

Because board members and volunteers love their own pets, they hate to see any pet suffer. The statistics of dogs and cats killed in 2011 was mind-numbing!

  • 2011 – 5,654 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 4,354 Killed

We took action

REASON (Reduce Euthanasia and Spay or Neuter) became a non-profit in May 2012.

We developed our mission

Our mission is to provide reduced cost spay and neuter services for Burke County residents who might not otherwise be able to afford the services, ending overpopulation and the unnecessary killing of healthy dogs and cats.

What we do

First program to offer spay & neuter surgeries through a unique partnership with all local vets.

Collaboration with local rescues (in alphabetical order):

and Burke County Animal Services in addition to Burke Country Manager, Bryan Steen.

By June 2013 we had completed 340 spays and 132 neuters.

Fall of 2013, REASON collaborated with Burke County Management to receive reimbursement from the NC Spay/Neuter Fund. 

May 2014, joined Best Friends Partners.

How are we doing? 

  • 2012 – 6,617 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 5,508 Killed
  • 2013 – 5,378 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 4,126 Killed
  • 2014 – 4,115 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 3,049 Killed
  • 2015 – 4,358 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 2,700 Killed
  • 2016 – 3,546 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 2,438 Killed
  • 2017 – 3,465 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 2,232 Killed
  • 2018 – 3,285 Dogs and Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 2,259 Killed

And in 2018, specifically…

  • 1,442 Dogs received at Burke County Animal Control.   664 Dogs Killed
  • 1,843 Cats received at Burke County Animal Control. 1,595 Cats Killed

We have currently completed 3,242 spays and neuters.

What is our goal?

We won’t be satisfied until we get to zero, until no dogs or cats are killed needlessly.

How does REASON work?

  • Volunteers work from their homes answering calls from clients.
  • Clients then meet volunteers at Sign Up Events to sign the forms and pay their co-pay.
  • A volunteer schedules the surgery with one of the vets and notifies the client.
  • The client takes their pet to the vet for surgery. 

How can you help?

You can help us end the killing.

 Help Burke County be a No Kill County.