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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 Scooby Dane's adoption status with email updates.
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Scooby Dane

Mixed Breed (Small)

Male, Adult
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Agnes's adoption status with email updates.
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Agnes

Siamese/Domestic Mediumhair

Female, Adult
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Princesa Luna's adoption status with email updates.
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Princesa Luna

Mixed Breed (Small)/Mixed Breed (Medium)

Female, Adult
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Cottage (J 2/10)'s adoption status with email updates.
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Cottage (J 2/10)

Mouse/Mouse

Female, Baby
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Parmesan (J 8/10)'s adoption status with email updates.
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Parmesan (J 8/10)

Mouse/Mouse

Female, Baby
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Asiago (J 4/10)'s adoption status with email updates.
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Asiago (J 4/10)

Mouse/Mouse

Female, Baby
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Baby Canela's adoption status with email updates.
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Baby Canela

Mixed Breed (Small)

Female, Adult
Fairfax, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Queso's adoption status with email updates.
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Queso

Mixed Breed (Small)/Mixed Breed (Medium)

Male, Adult
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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How to navigate common bumps in the adoption process

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

Atascosa Animal Allies - VA Transport Stop

Arlington, VA 22201

Cat Rescue of Maryland, Inc.

Baltimore, MD 21228

Rescue Without Borders- Germantown MD

Germantown, MD 20874

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

Shepherd (Unknown Type)

Female, Puppy
Herndon, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Serena Dodd's adoption status with email updates.
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Serena Dodd

Domestic Shorthair

Female, 5 yrs 3 mos
Merrifield, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Lily's adoption status with email updates.
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Lily

Domestic Shorthair/Domestic Mediumhair

Female, 15 yrs 8 mos
Waldorf, MD
We'll also keep you updated on McGruff's adoption status with email updates.
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McGruff

Labrador Retriever/Retriever (Unknown Type)

Female, Young
Washington, DC
We'll also keep you updated on Bentley's adoption status with email updates.
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Bentley

American Bulldog/Pekingese

Male, Senior
Millersville, MD
We'll also keep you updated on Shortbread's adoption status with email updates.
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Shortbread

Mixed Breed (Large)

Female, Adult
Baltimore, 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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