Animal Shelter

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12-5 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays 12-7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mondays. Please note: We take our last adoption application 30 minutes before closing.
8875 Lorton Road
Lorton, VA 22079
Reasa Currier
Director

Department Resources

Fairfax County Animal Services Consolidation Proposal

Dog with his family sitting on a bench outside

Based on extensive review of current operations, those of neighboring and national benchmark jurisdictions and industry best practices, The Department of Animal Sheltering (DAS) and the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) propose to unite animal care and control functions under DAS, to:

  • Promote safety for all the county’s residents and animals
  • Bring our county in alignment with industry best practices
  • Expand service delivery to our community
  • Optimize county resources

Under this consolidation model, animal protection laws will be enforced by Animal Control Officers (ACOs) who report to a chief ACO under the director of DAS. 

Background

With the best intentions for our community and its animals, Fairfax County’s 2016 decision to separate animal care and control functions between DAS and FCPD through the establishment of the Animal Protection Police (APP) unit, resulted in frustration of operations, the unnecessary impoundment of animals, and the dissipation of law enforcement resources. In the pursuit of continuous improvement, DAS and FCPD jointly studied best practice operations in other jurisdictions and reviewed industry standards.

About the Proposal

Consolidating animal care and control services aligns with industry best practices, will expand service delivery and optimize resources. The current separation of animal care and control functions has led to a siloed approach.  

The proposed change aims to better address the complex reasons pets enter shelters, which are often related to human factors such as lack of access to veterinary care or pet-friendly housing. Animal Control Officers will facilitate access to a range of shelter services, including free pet food and supplies, the PetHaven Program for victims of domestic abuse, behavior and training support and free and low-cost veterinary care. 

The proposed model emphasizes community engagement and compliance through tiered enforcement, resulting in increased compliance rates, decreased shelter intakes and a trusting community. Leading national animal welfare organizations and industry experts support this community-centered approach that focuses on increasing equitable access to services to keep families and pets together. This model has been successful nationwide, including in the neighboring jurisdictions of Alexandria, Arlington County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, the District of Columbia and Montgomery County.  

Additionally, the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) supports a consolidated approach:

"NACA believes that by unifying animal sheltering and animal control under the same leadership, agencies can foster a more comprehensive and impactful approach to animal welfare, achieve more positive outcomes and make a lasting impact on the lives of animals and the people who care for them." 

The proposed model considers the impact of systemic poverty and structural inequality on pet guardianship, furthering the One Fairfax Policy.  

Research shows that an emphasis on enforcement in animal control services disproportionately affects low-income communities, particularly people of color. Sworn law enforcement serving as the face of animal services can act as a barrier to accessing services for some residents. Our proposed approach, with Animal Control Officers connecting pet guardians with shelter services and resources, aims to address these concerns. This model does not replace enforcement for animal cruelty and neglect but encourages a diverse range of solutions that address the root cause of animal welfare issues while keeping animals with their families. 

The county's choice to separate services in 2016 was focused on preserving law enforcement powers and less on the structure required to deliver services effectively. Animal services has evolved greatly since 2016, and national animal welfare organizations support a consolidated structure for animal services. There has also been a shift in policing towards community-based alternative models, and Fairfax County human social services staff address similar welfare concerns through supportive interventions. The time is right to solve this problem by creating a structure that embraces industry best practices, aligns with neighboring jurisdictions and establishes one department operating under a unified mission.

Public Safety

Public safety will remain a top priority. Animal Control Officers have the power to fully enforce state and local codes pertaining to animal care, treatment, and control, including investigating animal cruelty and neglect, bites and enforcing rabies control. They can lead investigations, obtain search warrants, seize animals and appear in court, and they routinely partner with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to protect communities and hold those who harm animals accountable. The Fairfax County Police Department would continue to support the Department of Animal Sheltering for complex investigations, including executing search warrants and making custodial arrests, as they do for the Animal Protection Police unit today.

There will be no change in how calls for animal-related services are handled. The public will continue to call the police non-emergency number. Animal Control Officers will be dispatched in the same way as current Animal Protection Police Officers, equipped with a portable police radio and a mobile dispatch terminal. Most emergency calls for animal services in Fairfax County are not law enforcement matters but involve requests for assistance with injured, ill, orphaned, or stray animals or minor code violations.  

Wildlife

There will not be any changes to the county’s response to wildlife calls. Placing a call for assistance with a wildlife-related issue will happen the same way, by calling the non-emergency number.

Animal Control Officers have full enforcement power for the proper care, treatment and control of animals in Fairfax County, including capturing, handling, transporting and euthanasia of wildlife. 

The Department of Animal Sheltering will work with various agencies to ensure Animal Control Officers follow industry best practices for wildlife capture, rescue, rehabilitation and euthanasia understanding the intersectionality of community, pet, and wildlife health and well-being.

Our current practice of routing all calls that involve an immediate danger (dangerous animal, deer struck by a car, animal attack, etc.) to the Fairfax County Police Department and Animal Control Officers for immediate dispatch will remain in place.  

Under the new model, the Department of Animal Sheltering will form a wildlife advisory committee including community members, licensed wildlife rehabilitators and industry experts to ensure the program meets the community’s needs and embraces industry best practices for wildlife issues. 

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors mandated the development of the Fairfax County Deer Management Program in response to concerns of county residents about the growing number of deer.

The goal of the Fairfax County Deer Management Program is to reduce the deer population within Fairfax County to healthier, more sustainable levels to minimize safety, health and environmental impacts related to overabundant deer.

The Fairfax County Police Department and the Department of Animal Sheltering listened to feedback from residents, industry experts and other county agencies and determined the wildlife management program, including the deer management program and other services, is not best suited to operate under the Department of Animal Sheltering’s mission and will not be included in the consolidation of animal services.

The Fairfax County Police Department will continue to work with the Park Authority, other county agencies, and the community to determine the best placement for this program to ensure its long-term success. The wildlife management program’s services are overseen by the Board of Supervisors and will continue to be provided, unchanged. 

Transition and Next Steps

The transition is anticipated to take 18 to 24 months. A Chief Animal Control Officer will be hired and will work with the commander of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Animal Services Division.  

The Chief Animal Control Officer will provide consistency, oversee strategic and operational efficiency, and lead the Animal Control Officers in embracing industry best practices. The new organizational structure will create opportunities for specialization, advanced training, and growth for all officers and staff.  

Current Animal Protection Police Officers will have the opportunity to convert to Animal Control Officer positions with the Department of Animal Sheltering or to a police officer position within the Fairfax County Police Department. Their pay and retirement will be unaffected by the change. 

The Department of Animal Sheltering and the Fairfax County Police Department shared information with the community at a Safety and Security Committee meeting on Jan. 30.  

Public town halls are scheduled for Monday, March 11 at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Michael R. Frey Campus and Wednesday, March 13 at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Lorton Campus.  

The Board of Supervisors can approve this reorganization through the FY25 Budget Process. Public comment on this proposal will be part of the FY25 Budget Public Hearings. 

Consolidation Proposal Resources

Town Halls

Virtual Wildlife Services Conversation

Join the Fairfax County Animal Shelter and the Fairfax County Police Department for a conversation about how our proposal to unite animal care and control services will benefit wildlife. We will provide a brief overview of the proposal and our efforts to bring our services in alignment with industry best practices and our neighboring jurisdictions' operations.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 29
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Zoom

Register for the Meeting Invite

Upcoming Town Halls

The Department of Animal Sheltering and the Fairfax County Police Department are hosting two town halls in March to discuss and answer residents' questions about the proposal. 

Town Hall Meeting One

Date: Monday, March 11
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Michael R. Frey Campus, 4500 West Ox Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030

Town Hall Meeting Two

Date: Wednesday, March 13
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Fairfax County Animal Shelter - Lorton Campus, 8875 Lorton Rd., Lorton, VA 22079


Close
Fairfax Virtual Assistant