Your Pet the Law

The DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES handles the following:

Visit their Web site: http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/ps/ac

Animal Warden's Office (for animal violations) 703.830.3310
Animal Shelter (lost, found animals) 703.830.1100
County Health Department 703.246.2411
County Police Department 703.691.2131
Dog License Information 703.222.8234

TO REDEEM IMPOUNDED PETS
Visit the Animal Shelter:

   Tuesday - Friday 8 am - 6 pm
   Saturday 8 am - 5 pm

Stray animals are held for 5 days at the Shelter prior to adoption or euthanasia or 10 days if wearing a collar, tag, or tattoo.

TO ADOPT PETS
Visit the Animal Shelter:

   Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm
   Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Pet Licenses: Cats and dogs four months or older must have licenses.

Cost: $2 with proof of surgical altering; otherwise $10.

Purchase At:
Animal Shelter
910 S. Payne Street
703-838-4775
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mondays - Saturdays, except holidays

Animal Control / Protection located at:
4101 Eisenhower Avenue,
Alexandria, Virginia 22304
703-838-4775

They care for more than 4,000 lost, unwanted or injured animals each year. Animal wardens investigate complaints of animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect and enforce the City and State animal control laws. Animal Shelter staff provide for the rescue of injured or sick stray pets and the temporary care and shelter of injured or orphaned wildlife. The animal care team assists potential adopters with their pet selection and matches the animal's behavior and personality to the adopter's lifestyle. The Animal Shelter answers hundreds of phone inquiries daily and provides animal care posters, speakers, and public displays.

The Animal Shelter is open

Monday through Friday from noon-8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon-5:00 p.m.

Animal visiting and adoptions are closed on Wednesdays, but open during all other business hours.

Animal Control is on duty from 7 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., and Emergency Service Technicians from 10 p.m. – 7 a.m.


The website for information on dog parks is http://ci.alexandria.va.us/recreation/parks/dogpark.html

The Commonwealth of Virginia requires the County of Loudoun to require all dogs four (4) months of age and older to be licensed annually. Dog licenses go on sale in November of each year and must be purchased by January 31. New county residents and new dog owners may purchase licenses throughout the year. All licenses expire on December 31 of each year regardless of when they were purchased.

A Loudoun County dog license may be obtained at a cost of $5.00 for neutered males and spayed females and $10.00 for intact males and females upon presentation of a valid rabies certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. All dogs must have their license tags securely attached to a collar and worn whenever the dog is off of the owner’s property.

You may purchase a dog license at the Animal Shelter, the Treasurer’s Offices in Leesburg and Sterling, or by mail. Click here to print a dog license application. Mail it, along with the fee and proof of current rabies vaccination and spay/neuter, if applicable, to:

Loudoun County Department of Animal Care and Control
39820 Charles Town Pike
Waterford, Virginia 20197

http://www.loudoun.gov/animals/ 

The Treasurer’s Offices are located at the following addresses:

1 Harrison Street, Leesburg (first floor of the County Government Center)
21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, Suite 104

REPORTING INJURED ANIMALS

Any vehicle operator who strikes an animal should report the accident to the Department of Animal Control or the Police Department as soon as possible.

DISPOSAL OF DEAD ANIMALS

The owner of any animal or fowl which has died is the responsible for having the body cremated or buried. The State Highway Department is responsible for pick-up of dead animals on state right-of-way. Call 703-383-VDOT. Most Animal Shelters will accept small animal carcasses for disposal. In Fairfax County call 703-830-1100.

ANIMALS CREATING NUISANCE

It is against the law to allow animals to trespass on, destroy or damage another person's property. Animals must not frequently and habitually make loud and objectionable noises or be kept in such a manner as to cause unsanitary conditions. Nuisance noises may be reported to Animal Control, 703-830-3310, or the Police Department, 703-691-2131. A complainant may also request that the owner of the animal abate the noise violation. If the violation continues, that person, along with another complainant, not a member of the same household, may go to a magistrate and swear out a warrant against the animal owner. The complaining parties may appear in General District Court for action against the animal owner.

ANIMALS RUNNING LOOSE

It is against the law to allow animals to run loose on public property or private property of others. Dogs must be restrained by a dependable leash and controlled by a responsible person when off the property of the owner. Animal Control is authorized to pick up dogs at large. The agency also may pick up other animals that pose a public nuisance or threaten public safety or health.
 

VICIOUS AND DANGEROUS ANIMALS

Citizens shall not keep or permit to be kept any wild, exotic, or vicious animal as those terms are defined in the County Code.
 

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

It is against the law to maliciously kill, disfigure, or poison animals. All pets must be humanely treated with proper food, water, shelter, and exercise. It is also against the law to overload, torture, or cruelly beat any animal.
 

WILD ANIMAL PROBLEMS

If you have a problem with a sick or injured wild animal, you may call your County Animal Warden (in Fairfax 703-830-3310), or the volunteer Wildlife Rescue League Hotline, 703-440-080. All other wildlife problems should be referred to a private pest control or exterminator service or the State Game Warden at 540-899-4169.
 

ANIMALS THAT HAVE BITTEN HUMANS

YOUR ANIMAL WARDEN

County Animal Wardens are responsible for enforcing state laws and County ordinances dealing with animal control and cruelty to animals and for assisting citizens having problems with wild animals. The primary function of wardens is to help and protect citizens while dealing with animals as humanely as possible. The cooperation and assistance of all citizens, however, is necessary to provide for good human/animal relationships in our communities.

 

Contact Information

Telephone

703.691.HART (703.691.4278)

Postal address

P. O. Box 7261
Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7261

FAX

703.691.1730

Electronic mail

General Information: HART Office
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