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Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Fairfax

Animal shelter in Fairfax, VA

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is Fairfax County’s only open-access municipal shelter. We take in stray animals in need, owner surrendered companion animals when the owner is no longer willing or able to care for them, and animals who have been seized or taken into custody by Animal Protection Police. We accept all companion animals from Fairfax County who are in need of care, regardless of health, age, temperament, or history. We do not euthanize for space or length of time, and all adoptable animals are given every opportunity for a new home and family. We have an incredibly compassionate staff, and we also have vibrant and active volunteer and foster programs. We know that every animal who enters our shelter will be given the best care and shown boundless love while they are in our care, and while they wait for their forever family to adopt them. We are very proud that, since 2013, our positive release rate has been over 90% each year!

Contact visit shelter
Email animalshelter@fairfaxcounty.gov
Phone (703) 830-1100
Website
Address
4500 West Ox Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
Donation Donate to this rescue
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Meet their adoptable pets

4500 West Ox Road

Fairfax, VA 22030

See every new pet that comes to this shelter!

Create an alert, and we'll notify you every time a new pet comes in who meets your criteria.

Adoptable pets at Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Fairfax

We'll also keep you updated on Boo's adoption status with email updates.
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Boo

Domestic Shorthair

Female, 7 yrs 6 mos
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Charlie's adoption status with email updates.
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Charlie

Domestic Shorthair

Male, 1 yr 1 mo
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Mr. Jingles's adoption status with email updates.
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Mr. Jingles

Domestic Shorthair

Male, 2 yrs
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Dr. Jekyll's adoption status with email updates.
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Dr. Jekyll

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Male, 2 yrs
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Abigail's adoption status with email updates.
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Abigail

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, 3 yrs
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Brute's adoption status with email updates.
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Brute

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Male, 5 yrs
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Skye's adoption status with email updates.
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Skye

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, 4 yrs
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Perro's adoption status with email updates.
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Perro

Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, 3 yrs 7 mos
Fairfax, VA
See Adopted Pets

Shelter FAQs

Fairfax County

  • 1. Visit the Facility and Find a Pet

Additional adoption info

1 - Look at adoptable pets online, and when you see one you want to meet and possibly adopt, come into the shelter to visit with your prospective pet.
2 - Once at the shelter, walk through to see available pets and then visit with the one(s) you are considering adopting. A volunteer or staff member will facilitate the visit and tell you more about the pet you’re visiting.
3 - Once you decide that you would like to adopt, head to the main lobby to complete our brief adoption questionnaire and wait to speak with one of our adoption counselors to go over any questions you might have. We'll go over all of the available behavioral and medical history of the pet you want to adopt.
4 - Complete your adoption! Most pets can go home the day they are adopted, but some must be picked up one or two days later after their spay/neuter appointment.
Notes: 1) Some pets are in foster homes, and that is noted in their bio. If you are interested in a pet who is in a foster home, please email the shelter to arrange a visit. 2) Some special needs animals will be adopted on a best-fit basis, rather than the usual first-come-first-served.

Adoption application

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/adopt/steps

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/donate

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Get adoption advice

How to prepare for bringing a new shelter or rescue pet home
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Get adoption advice

Introducing a new pet to your existing pets
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Get adoption advice

How to navigate common bumps in the adoption process

Pets at shelters & rescues near Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Fairfax

Humane Society of Charles County

71 Industrial Park Drive,
Waldorf, MD 20602

Rock Creek Cats

Kensington, MD 20895

Shirley's Angels Animal Rescue

PO Box 3462,
Winchester, VA 22604

We'll also keep you updated on Bonnie's adoption status with email updates.
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Bonnie

Domestic Shorthair

Female, Kitten
Laurel, MD
We'll also keep you updated on Crow's adoption status with email updates.
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Crow

Domestic Shorthair

Male, 5 mos
Washington, DC
We'll also keep you updated on BO (COURTESY POST)'s adoption status with email updates.
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BO (COURTESY POST)

Labrador Retriever/Beagle

Male
Baltimore, MD
We'll also keep you updated on Dan Humphrey's adoption status with email updates.
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Dan Humphrey

Domestic Shorthair

Male, Young
Washington, DC
We'll also keep you updated on Sherlock's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Sherlock

Sherlock

Labrador Retriever/Retriever (Unknown Type)

Male, Adult
Washington, DC
We'll also keep you updated on Valentino's adoption status with email updates.
Photo of Valentino

Valentino

Domestic Shorthair

Male, Kitten
Germantown, MD

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Animal Charities in Fairfax, VA

HeARTs Speak

HeARTs Speak develops resources that help shelter animals to be seen and find homes, ultimately transforming public perceptions of pet adoption, shelters, and animals in need. Each year our work helps nearly 1 million pets in your community and beyond.

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Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs

There is a tremendous need for new methods of sterilization that are faster, easier, more accessible, and less expensive than surgery. ACC&D works tirelessly to bring together key stakeholders to advance this field.

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Animal Legal Defense Fund

Every day, Animal Legal Defense Fund works to enact tougher animal cruelty laws, provide care and legal assistance for animal victims of cruelty, offer rewards to bring abusers to justice, and provide free legal assistance to prosecutors and law enforcement to put abusers behind bars.

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