Fairfax County Animal Services (FCAS) 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.
Before Making an Appointment for You to Surrender Your Pet, We Will Ask:
- 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.
- We also maintain a list of local trainers that you can contact directly.
- 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.)
- 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
- To help us learn more about your pet, please complete a profile linked below (one form per pet).
Please complete the forms in a regular browser window, not incognito or private.
- 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.
- Please send the items listed below to AnimalServices@fairfaxcounty.gov:
- Proof of Fairfax County residency (such as a photo of your driver’s license)
- All available medical records for your pet
- Up to three recent photos of your pet
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.
