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Richmond Animal Care & Control Animal shelter in Richmond, VA

Richmond Animal Care & Control (RACC) was established as the first city pound on June 5, 1902. Since then, it has served as the only open-admission public animal shelter in the City of Richmond. We provide humane care for more than 3,000 stray, sick, injured, and relinquished pets per year. Our focus is on keeping owned animals out of the shelter environment and instead offering pet owners a variety of rehoming options and resources to find placement for their pet(s). With such a great need for immediate intervention with stray, sick, and injured animals in our area, our ability to take in surrendered animals is limited, and we operate on a case-by-case basis when the space and resources are available in this regard.

While we seek to help every pet that comes into our care, there are instances where humane euthanasia is the only option. When an animal is considered a danger to the community or is suffering due to a severe medical condition, we believe the most responsible and compassionate option is humane euthanasia. First and foremost, our commitment is to public safety and ending unnecessary suffering. RACC is not considered a "no-kill" animal shelter and does not subscribe to this label. However, we never humanely euthanize animals due to space or length of stay.

Contact visit our Adoption Center
Email christy.hemsworth@rva.gov
Phone (804) 646-5573
Website
Address
1600 Chamberlayne Avenue
Richmond, VA 23222
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Meet their adoptable pets

1600 Chamberlayne Avenue

Richmond, VA 23222

See every new pet that comes to this shelter!

Create an alert, and we'll notify you every time a new pet comes in who meets your criteria.

Adoptable pets at Richmond Animal Care & Control

We'll also keep you updated on Back To School Blues's adoption status with email updates.
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Back To School Blues

American Pit Bull Terrier/Shar Pei

Female, Adult
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Mr. Steal Your Girl's adoption status with email updates.
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Mr. Steal Your Girl

American Pit Bull Terrier

Male, Young
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Limited Edition Pink Crocs - In Foster's adoption status with email updates.
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Limited Edition Pink Crocs - In Foster

American Pit Bull Terrier

Female, Adult
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Bullfrog's adoption status with email updates.
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Bullfrog

Bulldog

Male, Adult
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Carlton's adoption status with email updates.
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Carlton

American Pit Bull Terrier

Male, Adult
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Chocolate Truffle's adoption status with email updates.
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Chocolate Truffle

American Pit Bull Terrier

Male, Adult
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Ponyo - In Foster's adoption status with email updates.
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Ponyo - In Foster

Hound (Unknown Type)

Female, Puppy
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Don't Be a Square's adoption status with email updates.
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Don't Be a Square

Domestic Shorthair

Male, Young
Richmond, VA
See Adopted Pets

Shelter FAQs

Richmond Animal Care & Control provides pet adoptions and humane services for thousands of cats and dogs every year throughout the Richmond, VA community.

  • 1. Visit the Facility and Find a Pet
  • 2. Meet the Pet
  • 3. Interview

Additional adoption info

Our focus here at RACC is on same-day adoptions. Those interested in adopting an animal from us, as well as all members of the household, must visit our shelter in person to meet and interact with the animal(s) they are potentially interested in adopting. For dog adoptions, any resident dogs must come for the meet-and-greet. During the visit, RACC staff will ask a series of questions to determine if the animal(s) would be a good fit for the potential adopter. Once an appropriate selection is made, the prospective adopter must complete an adoption application. The application is immediately reviewed by staff and is approved or denied on the spot. Our dog and cat adoption fees cover the cost of the spay/neuter surgery, flea/tick prevention, age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, heartworm testing (for dogs), and FeLV/FIV testing (for cats).

If the cat/dog has already been spayed/neutered, the adoption can be finalized immediately. If the cat/dog is not spayed/neutered, the pet is able to go home as a "foster-to-adopt" and the spay/neuter surgery is then scheduled with one of our partnered veterinary clinics. The adopter will handle the transport, then the adoption will be finalized once the pet has been spayed/neutered. RACC staff will email and mail the adoption package to the adopter once the surgery is complete.

Adoption fees:
- $100 adoption fee for dogs, puppies 5 months or older, cats, and kittens
- $150 adoption fee for puppies 4 months or younger
- Cats and kittens may be adopted two for the price of one
- The adoption fee is waived for senior pets (8 years or older), special needs pets, and barn cats

https://www.raccfoundation.org/#donate

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Introducing a new pet to your existing pets
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Pets at shelters & rescues near Richmond Animal Care & Control

West End Cat Rescue / S.A.F.E.

Henrico, VA 23233

Angel Winston's Pack Rescue

Nottoway, VA 23930

Petersburg Animal Care & Control

1600 Johnson Rd,
Petersburg, VA 23805

We'll also keep you updated on Neva's adoption status with email updates.
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Neva

Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier

Female, 4 yrs 1 mo
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Van's adoption status with email updates.
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Van

Domestic Shorthair

Male, 6 mos
Mollusk, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Flash's adoption status with email updates.
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Flash

Hound (Unknown Type)

Male, 4 yrs 5 mos
Mineral, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Kanji's adoption status with email updates.
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Kanji

Domestic Shorthair/Domestic Mediumhair

Male, Young
Williamsburg, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Armadillo in California MD's adoption status with email updates.
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Armadillo in California MD

Pit Bull Terrier

Male, Adult
Richmond, VA
We'll also keep you updated on Emery's adoption status with email updates.
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Emery

Maltese

Male, 3 yrs
Sandston, VA

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