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Spotsylvania County Animal Shelter
450 Tv Drive,
Fredericksburg,
VA, 22408

Phone: 540-507-7459
E-mail: animal@spotsylvania.va.us

Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: Viewing/Adoption 12pm-4pm, Lobby cats 8am-4:30pm. Call 540-507-7459 to schedule an appointment for adoption, visitation, redemption, or surrender.
Closed Sunday, Monday and Holidays

The pet in the photo (top right) is looking for a home. Click on the picture for more information about it.

Lost and Found Pets are featured on our Facebook Page

Who we are
The Spotsylvania Animal Shelter is a county shelter operated Spotsylvania County Animal Control under the requirements of the Code of the Virginia. Animals are held in accordance with state requirements, and are redeemed by the owner, adopted, or euthanized. Our shelter has been on a NO KILL Mission since September of 2013. The shelter also houses a low cost spay/neuter clinic, which is operated by Lionhearts Inc, a local humane organization. All dogs and cats adopted from the shelter are sterilized within 30 days from the date of adoption, with the exception of puppies and kittens that are too young. The Spotsylvania Animal Shelter is a county shelter operated Spotsylvania County Animal Control under the requirements of the Code of the Virginia. Animals are held in accordance with state requirements, and are redeemed by the owner, adopted, or euthanized. Our shelter has been on a NO KILL Mission since September of 2013. The shelter also houses a low cost spay/neuter clinic, which is operated by Lionhearts Inc, a local humane organization. All dogs and cats adopted from the shelter are sterilized within 30 days from the date of adoption, with the exception of puppies and kittens that are too young. For more information see the Spotsylvania County Animal Control website.

Volunteering
Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office Animal Control recognizes the importance of volunteers who are dedicated to the care and placement of unwanted animals within the community. Participation in the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Division's Volunteer Program supports the Division's efforts in the safe and efficient operation of the Animal Shelter with the ultimate goal of humane treatment and care for animals. To accomplish this goal, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Division is committed to effectively utilizing properly trained volunteer resources to supplement their well trained and experienced staff.

Lost your dog?
Stray dogs without identication are kept for 5 days before being put up for adoption. Dogs with identication are kept for 10 days before being put up for adoption. Contact the shelter to check whether your pet is there. Some of the stray dogs are featured on the Spotsylvania County Animal Services Facebook Page but not all are put here so contact the shelter if you have lost your dog.

Adopting a dog?
Virginia law says that we have to keep a dog for 5 days so that the owner can claim it before we can put the dog up for adoption. If you are interested in a particular dog before its available date please contact us. We would like a dog to go to a new home or rescue as soon as possible after its 'available' date.

For animals that have not been spayed or neutered: adoptions are open to residents of Spotsylvania, Stafford, Caroline, Hanover, Louisa, Orange, Culpeper Counties. If an animal is already spayed or neutered then it is available to be adopted by anyone (even out of state residents). Phone to check that the dog is available and what paperwork is required from you.

Make sure that you are able to take your dog home on the day you adopt it. We will not keep a dog for you after its "available" day.

Our Adoption fee for dogs is $85 and for cats is $55, other companion animals: $20. Dog/cat adoption fee includes some vaccines and spay/neuter surgery. Virginia law requires that a sterilization agreement be signed. This agreement states that you will have the adopted animal sterilized within 30 days of leaving the shelter or by 6 months of age. If you do not live in a surrounding county, the dog or cat will have to be sterilized before it leaves our facility.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY ADOPTION

  • Dogs can be adopted out of state with the proper identification required (see below), unless they have not been spayed/neutered, in which case they are restricted to residents of Spotsylvania and adjacent counties (Stafford, Caroline, Hanover, Louisa, Orange, Culpeper County).

  • To adopt a dog you must be 18 years of age or older.

  • You must provide a picture ID with a current address at the time of the adoption.

  • Each pet is required to be vaccinated for rabies within seven days of adoption, if it is four months of age or older. Rabies vaccination is required for each pet, upon turning four months of age.

  • Every new owner of a pet adopted from Spotsylvania County Animal Shelter shall have the pet sterilized within thirty days of the pet turning six months of age, or within thirty days if the pet is over six months of age.

  • Out of state adoptions must be spayed or neutered before leaving Virginia.

  • Return of the proper paperwork (sterilization and rabies certificates) is required within seven days of sterilization.

  • State law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for rabies.

  • If you rent your home or land, you must have written permission with a telephone number to contact your landlord before the adoption takes place.

  • Adopters must agree to comply with all state and local ordinances/laws governing animals.

  • Animals are placed as household pets, not as guard dogs and mousers.

  • NO animals adopted to persons having a history of losing, giving away, selling, turning in animals to shelter/s, or having animals injured or killed by moving vehicles/accidents.

In households where there are small children under six (6) years, application for adoption of puppies and kittens less than five (5) months of age shall be judged by the following guidelines:

  1. Age of Child.

  2. Compatibility between the child and the animal, which will be evaluated by the Animal Shelter Assistants before adoption.

  3. The child's previous experience with other animals.

Find the right dog for you
When looking for that new family member please remember to really think about the things you and your family want and need in a pet that fits the family lifestyle. Get to know your breeds! Some breeds require more space, exercise and circumstances than others. Even if you are going to adopt a mixed breed, look into what it's primary breed needs in a home, environment and exercise. Your new family member needs to be wanted by everyone in the family and included in your daily lives to be truly happy. Click here for more information on how to find the right dog.

Please Donate to Help the Dogs
We need towels, blankets, hard and soft dog food, basic cleaning supplies and dog beds. See our Donation Page for other items we can use. You can also donate to our Spay/Neuter Fund. For more information about how you can donate, see our Donation Page. On behalf of the dogs thank you.

Keep your dog in the family


Visiting Spotsylvania County Animal Shelter
Please phone us on 540-507-7459 to check that the dog you want to visit is still available.
Location Map of Fredericksburg, VA




This website is operated and maintained by The Dog Rescues Network as a service to the community. We have no connection with Spotsylvania County Animal Shelter. No payment has been received or is required. For enquiries about this website e-mail: webmaster@dogrescues.net