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Saving homeless pets in Virginia

Every day, homeless dogs and cats are being killed in animal shelters in Virginia simply because they don’t have a place to call home. But you can help change that.

With your help, we can end the killing in animal shelters throughout Virginia and make the state a safe place for all cats and dogs to call home. You can bring joy home when you adopt from your local shelter, use your voice to defend Virginia pets, support your local shelters, and so much more. We'll show you how.

The latest in Virginia

No-kill in Virginia is within reach, thanks to you.

Virginia has made tremendous progress saving the lives of dogs and cats in animal shelters. As we work to end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters, Best Friends celebrates the 80 Virginia animal shelters that have achieved a 90% save rate in 2024, the benchmark for no-kill. That means these 80 shelters are saving the pets in their care who can be saved.

To achieve no-kill throughout Virginia, 9,878 more dogs and cats need to be saved this year compared to 2023, so that means now is the time for Virginians to act! Adopting a pet is one of the most impactful ways to help, and you can help Virginia become no-kill by choosing to adopt from your local shelter or rescue group. 

In fact, if just 100 more people in each Virginia House of Delegates district adopted a cat or dog this year instead of purchasing from a pet store or breeder, Virginia would become the largest no-kill state in the country.

Dog Cat

Adopt from your local animal shelter

When you adopt a dog or cat, you’re not only saving a life but also making space in shelters for other homeless pets in Virginia.

Adopting a pet from a Virginia rescue group or animal shelter instead of buying from a breeder or puppy mill provides a lifesaving second chance to an animal who needs it most. There are loving dogs and cats in shelters in communities across Virginia waiting to meet someone like you:

Help your local animal shelter or rescue group 

At Best Friends, our goal is to get more dogs and cats out of shelters and into homes and make every shelter in America no-kill. Each and every one of these shelters needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets in your community. 

Find an animal shelter or rescue group near you today:
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Do you believe more animals should be saved in Virginia?

Use your voice to stand up for homeless pets in Virginia so that every pet can safely find their way out of shelters.
You can pledge your support and commit to helping us save every pet possible in the state of Virginia. Your support lets us know that you want to advocate for homeless pets, get shelters and communities the resources they need to save cats and dogs, and keep pets with their families.
I Want to Help
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Protecting cats in Virginia communities

Community cats (aka stray or free-roaming cats) are felines who prefer to live outdoors rather than in homes. They are among the most at-risk animals when they end up in shelters.

These cats are often brought to shelters by well-intentioned people. They need to be returned to their outdoor homes, and the inability to return the cats to their outdoor homes often means they are killed. Together, we can save lives here in Virginia when our communities use trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs to prevent cats from reproducing.

Trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for cats

TNVR is the most effective way to stop cats from reproducing and to help them stay safe.
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What to do if you've found kittens

They’re cute, cuddly, and desperately in need of your help. Or are they?
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Spaying and neutering: Key in saving Virginia's cats

The list below includes a small selection of spay/neuter services offered in Virginia.

Please note that it is not all-inclusive. Some clinics may also provide vaccines and limited wellness care for veterinary needs beyond sterilization. Check to make sure the facility is open, to get more information on the services offered, and to schedule an appointment. You can also go to a private veterinary clinic or animal hospital for veterinary needs, including spay/neuter services.
 

Person holding two tiny kittens

No-kill is within reach, thanks to you

The goal of ending killing in shelters is called no-kill. No-kill is a community commitment to saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved. 

A dog or cat is killed every 90 seconds in a U.S. shelter, including those in Virginia. That's why Best Friends is working to get more pets out of shelters and into loving homes. We believe that every dog and cat deserves a home, and we're not alone. 85% of adults in the United States believe it's important or essential to have no-kill shelters in their area. 

The ultimate goal of no-kill is to ensure that all shelters, like the ones in communities like yours in Virginia, have the resources to save every dog and cat possible. You can help us achieve no-kill in Virginia when you adopt, foster, volunteer, and advocate for homeless pets.

Knowing where each shelter and community stands not only helps determine the best way to move forward, but it also helps track the progress we’re making together. To determine where shelters need the most help, we’re using our latest data to inform our decisions and looking for new ways to save more lives.

See How Your Community Is Doing
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How do we reach no-kill?

We reach no-kill with YOU. Be a part of the lifesaving here in Virginia when you adopt, foster, volunteer, advocate, and keep pets with their families.

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Adopt a Virginia pet

When you adopt a dog or cat from an animal shelter or rescue group in Virginia, you’re not only adding a loyal and loving companion to your family, but you’re also making room in shelters.
Find adoptable cats and dogs near you
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Help cats in Virginia communities

Community cats (you might think of them as stray or free-roaming cats) are felines who call the outdoors their home, and they’re among the most at-risk animals when they end up in shelters.
Helping cats in Virginia
Two people sitting outside with a small dog on stairs leading into a hous

See where your Virginia community stands

Animal shelters, local leaders, lifesaving groups, and individual community members are working together to save at-risk pets right here in Virginia.
Is your community no-kill?

Making Virginia a no-kill state

Looking for a little inspiration? See what Best Friends and our partners are doing on behalf of Virginia's pets and their people.

Virginia is for (pet) lovers

The commonwealth marked a milestone with 80 animal shelters now no-kill.
Two people holding signs outside at the Virginia no-kill event

Best Friends & Richmond Animal League join forces

VA is working to become the largest no-kill state in the U.S., thanks to lifesaving collaborations.
Vixen the dog being adopted by a family from RAL

VA shelter summits spark lifesaving connections

Collaboration took center stage at the inaugural Virginia Is for Animal Lovers Shelter Summits.
The Best Friends team at the Virginia Is for Animal Lovers Shelter Summit in front of the Welcome slide

Virginia’s no-kill commitment

Virginia Loves Shelter Animals Month encourages no-kill in 2025.
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Make your voice heard

Spread the word about the importance of stepping up to save the lives of cats and dogs. Let your family, friends, and neighbors know that together we can make a difference in the lives of pets.

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Show your support for pets in Virginia

Do you believe that the killing in shelters needs to end in Virginia's shelters?
I Agree
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About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends is working to end the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters in part by getting more pets out of shelters and into loving homes.

We’ve come a long way since the first known city reached no-kill in 1994, and now we’re closer than ever to making the entire country no-kill. Today, nearly 2,500 shelters are no-kill throughout the U.S. — and over 600 more are just 100 pets or fewer away from reaching that milestone.

Best Friends is committed to working with passionate people like you to save homeless pets through adoption, volunteering, fostering, and advocacy. In addition to our lifesaving centers around the U.S, we also founded and run the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals.

Working together, we can save homeless pets in our communities and secure a better future for our best friends. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill.