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How to Adopt

​EVERY ADOPTION MAKES
A DIFFERENCE!

Dogs, cats, and other small companion animals may be adopted from the Stafford County Animal Shelter located at 26 Frosty Lane Stafford, Va 22554. We do not discriminate an animal's age, breed, or species. Here at our shelter, we believe every adoptable animal deserves a fresh start and a new opportunity to find a forever home!

There is a $20 adoption fee for dogs and a $10 adoption fee for cats. There is no charge for small companion animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. or reptiles. All puppies and kittens adopted from the shelter are given their first distemper shot and dewormed. The adopter is responsible for follow up booster shots and routine vet care. All adoptions must be done in person at the shelter. The adopter will have paperwork and forms to complete in order to adopt from us. We require a current photo I.D. (driver's license) which will be checked against our "DO Not Adopt To" list. We encourage all adopters to bring a cat carrier or collar and dog leash if they chose to adopt. The shelter will not allow the adopter to leave without proper restraint. The shelter does sell "cat boxes" for $5.00 if needed.

The adopter will be required to sign a spay and neuter contract agreeing to have the animal spayed or neutered within 30 days or by the time the animal reaches 6 months of age. There will be NO exceptions. ALL shelter animals are required to be spayed or neutered if adopted from our facility.  A letter from your veterinarian must be submitted directly to the shelter if the animal is not a candidate for the spay or neuter surgery due to medical issues or age. If the adopter refuses to have the animal fixed the shelter will deny the adoption. Let's work together to spay and neuter our pets to decrease the number of unwanted animals in animal shelters all around the world! 

 

Adoption is available to citizens within the following jurisdictions if the animal has not already been spayed or neutered: 

  • Caroline

  • Culpeper

  • Fauquier

  • Fredericksburg City

  • King George

  • Prince William

  • Spotsylvania

  • Stafford


                                  Outside Jurisdiction Adoptions

 If you do not live in one of the jurisdictions listed above, and the animal has not been spayed or neutered, you will not be eligible to adopt from us. Per state law section 3.2-6546, you may only adopt an animal that has been fixed. The shelter staff try their best with trying to spay and neuter all the shelter companions before they are adopted so that everyone may have an opportunity to adopt one of our shelter companions. This law does not apply to small companions or reptiles. 

 

    **THE SHELTER HAS THE RIGHT TO DENY AN ADOPTION AT ANYTIME**

 



                                  Working With Rescue Agencies


Stafford County Animal Control works closely with local and out of state rescue agencies to make sure our animals are placed in the best care. We are always looking to build new, long-term relationships with rescue groups in order to give all of our animals chance at finding a home. We usually seek rescue assistance for animals with medical conditions, behavioral problems, breed or species that need special care, and  assistance when our own shelter is at capacity and we need space. Stafford County has avoided euthanizing for space for the past 5+ years thanks to our families who chose to adopt and rescue agencies!

If you have any further questions, please contact Stafford County Animal Shelter at (540) 658-7387 and a staff member will be happy to answer any questions that you may have about our adoption policies.

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