The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is taking an innovative approach to animal welfare through its Pet Resource Center. Under the leadership of manager Lauren Krzywicki, the center has seen an impressive 250% increase in pets served compared to the same period in 2023.
The Animal Shelter’s mission? To keep pets with the families who love them.
“We started looking holistically at why animals are coming into the shelter,” explains Krzywicki. “The top two reasons that we see in our owner surrender data is access to veterinary care and housing, which is actually a major one as well.”
This insight led to a complete reimagining of the shelter’s role in the community. Krzywicki explains this and more about the animal shelter’s Pet Resource Center on a recent episode of the “County Conversation” podcast.
The Impact
Rather than simply being a place where unwanted pets end up, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter now actively works to keep pets with the families who love them.
Through the shelter’s comprehensive Pet Resource Center, they offer:
- Monthly vaccine and microchip clinics at both shelter locations
- A pet food pantry providing supplies to families in need
- An innovative spay/neuter voucher program
- Temporary pet housing for domestic violence survivors
The impact of this approach is particularly visible at the shelter’s new Lorton campus.
At vaccine clinics held there, an impressive 75% of participants are accessing the shelter’s services for the first time. The addition of this second location has been crucial in reaching underserved areas, particularly along the Route 1 corridor where the need is greatest.
The center’s spay/neuter voucher program illustrates the transformative nature of their work. Fairfax County residents who meet income eligibility requirements can receive vouchers for services at partner veterinary clinics.
What makes this program special is its comprehensive nature – beyond just the surgery, it includes post-operative care, core vaccines and microchipping. Perhaps most telling is that half of the residents using this program have never taken their pet to a vet before.
Clinic Heros
The Pet Resource Center’s work extends far beyond the shelter’s walls. Krzywicki and her team have forged crucial community partnerships to bring pet supplies and services directly to those who need them most. They work closely with:
- Lorton Community Action Center
- Rising Hope Mission Church
- Local food banks
- Shelter House (supporting domestic violence survivors)
“Most animals are in loving homes,” Krzywicki notes. “And if we can support them in doing that and avoid a shelter intake, that’s what we’re going to do.”
The center’s success hasn’t come without challenges. With just two staff members managing these extensive programs, volunteers play a crucial role. These “clinic heroes,” as Krzywicki calls them, make it possible for the center to serve hundreds of pets and their families each month.
Looking ahead, the Pet Resource Center continues to evolve and expand its services. They’re focusing on what Krzywicki calls “upstream solutions” – addressing problems before they lead to shelter surrenders. This includes everything from offering pet supplies to providing educational resources, often in both English and Spanish to serve the county’s diverse population.
For those interested in supporting this vital work, the center welcomes donations through their Amazon wish lists, with dry cat food and cat litter being particularly needed items. They also rely heavily on volunteers for everything from staffing vaccine clinics to sorting donations.
As the Pet Resource Center reaches its one-year anniversary at the Lorton campus, it’s clear that this innovative approach to animal welfare is making a difference. By keeping pets with their families and bringing services to those who need them most, they’re not just saving animals - they’re strengthening the entire community.
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is Fairfax County’s only open-access, municipal animal shelter. With 4,000 to 5,000 companion animals entering its two locations each year, animal shelter staff are committed to treating each animal as an individual and providing the highest quality of care.
For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter or email petresourcecenter@fairfaxcounty.gov. The shelter operates at two locations: the Michael R. Frey Campus at 4500 West Ox Road in Fairfax, and the Lorton Campus at 8875 Lorton Road in Lorton.
The County Conversation Podcast
The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Click here to listen to past episodes of “County Conversation.” To find other county podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts.
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