Small dog sitting next to a person on a step outside

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 unnecessary 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.

Dog Cat

Adopt from your local animal shelter

When you adopt a dog or cat who’s been patiently waiting for a place to call home, you’re not only saving a life. You’re 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:

If you don't see your local shelter listed above, we'll help you find a Virginia animal shelter closest to where you live.

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country.

Each and every one of our network partners needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets in Virginia.

Find a network partner 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

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. These cats need to be returned to their outdoor homes, and 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 he most effective way to stop cats from reproducing and to help them stay safe.
Cat resting on a cement wall outdoors

What to do if you've found kittens

They’re cute, cuddly, and desperately in need of your help. Or are they?
Small kitten sitting outdoors in a bed of straw
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. We believe we can get all pets out of shelters and into homes in 2025, but we need your help.

The ultimate goal of no-kill is to ensure that all shelters, like the ones in communities in Virginia like yours, 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
Person bending down to pet a black and white community cat

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.

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

Best Friends Animal Society is working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across the country, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

As recently as 2017, nearly 20,500 cats and dogs were killed in shelters in Virginia simply because shelters didn't have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number was down to just under 10,000 last year, but there’s still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America.  

Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. We’re sharing our resources and what we know to help shelters around the country achieve no-kill in their communities. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill in 2025.