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Local Pet Adoption Agencies in Northern VA

August 18, 2017 by Mary Telesz

pet adoptionEach year, more than 6 million abandoned, lost, or unwanted cats and dogs enter U.S. animal shelters. These agencies are also often home to other types of animals, from hamsters and ferrets to birds and rabbits. In fact, there are so many animals that need a home that nearly 1.5 million are euthanized annually. If you live in Northern Virginia and are contemplating pet ownership, please consider adoption! There are many excellent pet adoptions throughout Northern Virginia, brimming with adorable, healthy pets in search of their forever homes.

Places Where You Can Adopt Your Next Pet

There are several different types of organizations for pet adoptions in Northern Virginia. Each type of organization has its advantages and downfalls so weigh your options carefully before choosing a facility to adopt your pet. The following places are where you can adopt cats, dogs, and other types of animals:

Private Shelters

Private shelters are often non-profit organizations ran by knowledgeable staff and helpful volunteers. Once you have found a pet that you’re interested in adopting, you’ll have the opportunity to get acquainted. You’ll also have the chance to bring in your other pets to ensure that there are no conflicts.

At a private shelter, you may be asked to fill out an adoption application to see if you’re a good fit for pet ownership. The application will often contain basic questions such as your experience with pets and type of home. It may also ask for references.

Often times the pets will be spayed or neutered before they’re available for adoption. You may be responsible for an adoption fee which covers any medical costs. The funds also act as a donation to support the organization as it continues to care for and rehome pets. Adoption fees generally range between $50 and $200, which is a fraction of the cost of pet shop purchases.

Pros:

  • Wide availability of animals
  • Fast and easy adoption process
  • Studied temperament and socialization

Cons:

  • Problems with overcrowding
  • High rate of euthanization
  • Purebreds not as a common

Private Shelters in Northern Virginia

SPCA of Northern Virginia

Located in Arlington, the SPCA of Northern Virginia aims to end the homelessness and abuse of cats and dogs. The non-profit, volunteer-based organization is a “no-kill” shelter that rescues and rehabilitates pets. Unlike a traditional shelter, their cats live in foster homes and their dogs live in foster homes or their private kennel.

Homeward Trails Adoption Center

Homeward Trails Adoption Center in Arlington is a non-profit organization with pet adoption opportunities in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. In addition to finding homes for cats and dogs, the adoption center also rescues pets from high-kill animal shelters.

Friends Animal Shelter

Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA) shelter is a “no-kill” organization in Aldie. The shelter places approximately 500 cats and dogs each year, and has up to 100 dogs and 60 cats and kittens at any given time.

Humane Society of Fairfax County

The Humane Society of Fairfax County in Fairfax, VA is one of the area’s oldest animal shelters. This pet adoption agency fosters the humane treatment of animals through rescue, education, adoption, and community support. In addition to cats and dogs, you’ll find birds, horses, rabbits, chinchillas, mice, guinea pigs, and other critters.

Animal Welfare League

The Animal Welfare League has locations in Arlington and Alexandria. The private non-profit organization was founded by volunteers and provides shelter and animal control services under a contract with Arlington County. Services include low-cost spay and neuter services, humane education, fostering, veterinary assistance, and specialized medical treatment for shelter pets.

Animal Control/Municipal Shelters

Animal control and municipal shelters are similar to private shelters. These “no-frills” facilities have staff and sometimes volunteers and adoption counselors. You’ll also find a wide variety of pets to choose from. Just like at a private shelter, these animals are well-cared and provided medical care, spay and neutering, rehabilitation, socialization, and plenty of love. As these types of animal shelters are often strapped for cash, adoption fees are usually very affordable.

Pros:

  • Give an animal a second chance
  • Save money
  • Find a pet that is already housebroken

Cons:

  • Minimal pet history is available
  • Exact breed and age may be uncertain
  • Behavior and temperament is unknown

Municipal Shelters in Northern Virginia

Fairfax County Animal Shelter

Situated in Fairfax, VA, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter is where you’ll find adoptable puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, guinea pigs, bunnies, birds, gerbils, ferrets, snakes, and more. When you visit the shelter, you’ll have the opportunity to take a tour, speak with staff, and interact with animals waiting for homes.

Prince William County Animal Shelter

Located in Manassas, the Prince William County Animal Shelter is the area’s source for adoptable pets and information regarding animal welfare laws. The shelter works hard to find great homes for animals that are lost or surrendered by their owners. The animals are immediately evaluated upon arrival and are put up for adoption if found adoptable.

Rescue Groups

pet adoptionRescue groups can vary greatly in terms of animal availability and ease of adoption. While many rescue groups work with all domestic pets, other focus on one particular breed or one type of animal. Unlike shelters which have a public facility in which pets are kept, many rescue groups have adoptable pets that live in the homes of organization members.

During the adoption process, you may be invited to visit the pet in the member’s home or in a central adoption location, such as a pet supply store. As rescue groups aim to match a pet to the perfect family, the entire process is usually more personalized. While you’re more likely to find a pet that suits you, the process can be longer and more rigorous.

Pros:

  • Personalized service
  • Pets often possess better social skills
  • Animals are healthy and well-cared for

Cons:

  • Lengthy adoption process
  • Paperwork and interview fees can be extensive
  • Some pets may require home visits

Rescue Groups in Northern Virginia

A Forever Home Rescue Foundation

A Forever Home Rescue Foundation in Chantilly is a non-profit dog rescue group that strives to match canines to prospective adopters. The experienced rescuers will find a pet that meets your lifestyle and needs, whether you’re a homebody or an athlete.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

Are you in search of a furry friend? The Lucky Dog Animal Shelter in Arlington is a volunteer-powered non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing neglected, homeless, and abandoned animals. They also educate the community in the importance of spaying, neutering, proper nutrition, and obedience training.

The Role of Local Pet Agencies

pet adoptionPet adoption agencies play a crucial role in every community. These organizations provide medical care, rehabilitation, and socialization to stray animals. They also offer information, education, and assistance to families in the local area.

When a pet becomes lost or is abandoned, pet adoption agencies step in to temporarily care for the animal until a permanent home can be found. In many cases, pets are matched to families interested in adoption. In other instances, lost pets find their way back home thanks to microchips and other means.

Pet adoption agencies also aim to control overpopulation by spaying and neutering pets before placing them in new homes. In turn, this lowers the occurrence of disease and people injured by stray animals. Shelters also bring communities together by creating volunteer opportunities.

Pet Adoption Agencies in Northern Virginia

There are many reasons to adopt a pet. Not only are you saving a life, but you’ll also get to join a great animal to your family. Adopting from a shelter or rescue group is also significantly cheaper than buying from a pet shop and you won’t be supporting puppy mills. Become a responsible pet owner and consider adoption today!

And remember – if you need assistance with your pet in the Northern VA region at any time, contact our team of pet lovers here at Paw Pals! We offer pet sitting and dog walking services, so you can be sure your pets are loved and cared for even when you need to be on the road, are working late, or are taking a much-needed summer vacation. For more information, check out our About page or Meet our Team of pet lovers.

Filed Under: Pet Adoption

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
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Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

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4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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