The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is an open-access animal shelter, meaning that we accept owner-surrendered dogs, cats, and other companion animals in need, regardless of age, health or behavior, from residents of Fairfax County.

Owner surrenders are scheduled by appointment. This process helps us serve the community more effectively by keeping the shelter population at humane levels. It allows staff to prepare in advance and ensures that space is available for incoming pets. We understand that emergencies may arise, and exceptions can be made when necessary.

We currently have a very high population of dogs, due to a higher-than-usual number of surrender requests combined with a lower-than-usual number of adoptions. This is occurring in shelters across the country. If you can delay surrendering your dog, or if you are able to rehome your dog to a new family on your own, please do so!

Before Making an Appointment for You to Surrender Your Pet, We Will Ask:

1. How can we help you keep your pet?
   • Our goal is to keep pets with their families, if at all possible! Our Pet Resource Center offers services and resources that can help, including low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics, spay/neuter vouchers, a pet pantry, a list of organizations offering financial assistance for pet medical care and more.
   • If you need training help for your dog, GoodPup is offering a FREE week of training and a discount on training for life. We also maintain a list of local trainers that you can contact directly. 
2. Have you tried rehoming your pet on your own?
   • This is beneficial because you know your pet best, and you know what type of new home they would thrive in, and it allows you to be part of the process of finding a new family for your pet. 
   • We encourage you to utilize your neighborhood Facebook group or Nextdoor, and ask people you know (friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, people you know from your gym or church or club, etc.).
   • If you’d like a more structured option for rehoming your pet, consider using one (or both) of these online platforms:
     • Home to Home is a free service that allows you to find a new home for your pet directly. You can list rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, reptiles, cats and dogs on this site. Visit Home to Home to get started.
     • Adopt-a-Pet Rehome is an easy-to-use platform, offered through the Petco Foundation, that helps pet guardians connect with potential adopters. It's available for dogs and cats. Learn how it works and view the Pet Guardian FAQ.
       • There is a small fee to use this service, but you can apply the coupon code FCAS102770 to get 90% off.
3. Did you originally adopt your pet from another shelter or rescue organization?
   • If yes, please contact that shelter or rescue organization to return the pet there. Responsible rescue organizations and other shelters usually require that any pet adopted from their organization be returned to them and will take the pet back if the owner can no longer keep them. Please give the shelter or rescue at least a few days to respond.

Surrender Appointment Requests

Whenever possible, we work to keep pets and their families together. If you have explored available resources and still need to surrender your pet, we are here to help. We know this is a difficult decision, and we are sorry you are facing it.

Please note:

• Submitting a request does not guarantee we can accept your pet. As an open-access shelter, there are situations where we may be unable to accept an animal based on species, jurisdiction or other factors.
• We are currently receiving a high volume of requests. Appointments are scheduled in the order received and based on available space for each species.

Steps to Request a Surrender Appointment

• To help us learn more about your pet, please complete a profile linked below (one form per pet).
  • Dog Profile
  • Cat Profile
  • Small Mammal Profile
  • Reptile Profile
  • Bird Profile
• Email your completed profile to animalshelter@fairfaxcounty.gov. Be sure to include:
  • Proof of Fairfax County residency (such as a photo of your driver’s license)
  • All available medical records for your pet
• Once your profile is reviewed, shelter staff will reach out to you within two business days to schedule a phone consultation to discuss surrender and retention options. If needed, a surrender appointment will be set up during this consultation.

If your surrender request is accepted, you will be asked to sign a release form transferring legal ownership of your pet to Fairfax County. Please keep in mind that surrendering a pet to the shelter is a final decision. If anyone else may have a legal or personal claim to ownership, we encourage you to contact them before proceeding with the surrender.