Animal Shelters

Animal Shelters Near You — Give a Pet a Second Chance

Every year, millions of dogs, cats, and other animals end up in shelters across the United States — many of them healthy, loving, and eager for a forever home. Petzooie makes it easy to connect with local animal shelters so you can explore adoptable pets, volunteer your time, or donate to support the animals in your community.

Why Adopt from a Shelter?

Adopting from a shelter is one of the most rewarding decisions a person can make. You are not just gaining a companion — you are directly saving a life and making room for another animal in need. Shelter pets come in all sizes, breeds, ages, and personalities. Many are already house-trained, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, which can significantly reduce your initial costs.

What to Expect When Visiting a Shelter

  • An intake process where you complete an adoption application
  • Meet-and-greet sessions with animals to find the right personality match
  • Transparent health history and behavioral assessments for each animal
  • Adoption fees that typically cover spay/neuter, vaccines, and microchip
  • Post-adoption support from shelter staff

Types of Animal Shelters

Municipal (Government-Run) Shelters

These are operated by local governments and often accept all animals regardless of space. They are open-admission facilities and typically serve the widest geographic area.

Private Nonprofit Shelters

These organizations raise their own funding and often have more resources for animal enrichment, behavioral rehabilitation, and long-term care. Some are no-kill facilities.

Rescue Organizations

Rescues are typically foster-based and specialize in specific breeds or species. They operate without a physical shelter, placing animals in temporary homes until adoption.

Beyond Adoption: How You Can Help

  • Fostering — temporarily house animals while they await adoption
  • Volunteering — walk dogs, socialize cats, assist with events
  • Donating — food, blankets, toys, and financial contributions are always needed
  • Spreading the word — sharing adoptable animals on social media saves lives

Find Shelters on Petzooie

Browse local shelters and rescues using the search tool above. Filter by location, type of animals available, and services offered. Whether you are ready to adopt, want to volunteer, or simply want to know what is available in your area, Petzooie connects you to the resources you need.

541. Rakki-Inu Akita Rescue, INC

We are committed to helping Akita owners all around the world and providing new, devoted homes for the animals we rescue.

542. GO RESCUE Pet Adoption Center BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Our rescue facility offers a haven for stray dogs, providing them the time, attention, and love they need to find the right home, not just any home," says the organization.

543. Cece The American Pitbull Terrier

An American Pitbull Terrier that is devoted and affectionate and is just trying to overcome her anxiety like everyone else.

544. Ruff Road Pet Rescue

Time:
  • Monday09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tuesday09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Wednesday09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Thursday09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Friday09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • SaturdayClosed
  • SundayClosed

The goal of Ruff Road Pet Rescue is to end the euthanasia of adoptable animals by offering rescue services to regional shelters, with a focus on rural areas, offering re-homing assistance to everyone in our neighborhood, offering community support for feral cat communities, offering spay and neuter assistance as needed, promoting the avoidance of animal cruelty, and fostering the human-animal bond by matching disadvantaged animals with lifelong, devoted families.

545. K9 Angels

Patrick and Maria Nolan, proprietors of Bayside Kennels in Virginia Beach and The Ruff House Stay & Play in Chesapeake, created K9 Angels in 2019. Through discussions with other dog daycare/kennel owners, shelter directors, and hospital social services staff, it became abundantly clear that a nonprofit organization was required to help pet owners and patients who were forced to make the terrible choice of deciding between their health and their pet.

546. Norfolk Animal Care and Adoption Center

Time:
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday02:00 PM - 06:30 PM
  • Wednesday02:00 PM - 06:30 PM
  • ThursdayClosed
  • Friday02:00 PM - 04:30 PM
  • Saturday12:00 PM - 04:30 PM
  • Sunday12:00 PM - 04:30 PM

The city's animal shelter is called NACC. Open admittance, our sanctuary offers a haven for animals from the City of Norfolk.

547. Virginia Beach SPCA

Time:
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday01:00 PM - 06:00 PM
  • WednesdayClosed
  • Thursday01:00 PM - 06:00 PM
  • Friday01:00 PM - 06:00 PM
  • Saturday01:00 PM - 06:00 PM
  • Sunday01:00 PM - 06:00 PM

To increase human compassion while ending animal suffering in order to build a more compassionate and accountable community.

548. Cat Rescue, Inc

Time:
  • Monday07:00 AM - 07:30 PM
  • TuesdayClosed
  • WednesdayClosed
  • ThursdayClosed
  • FridayClosed
  • SaturdayClosed
  • SundayClosed

The next step was to rescue cats from kill shelters, vet them, and find them new homes. Trap Neuter Return is another service we offer to the public and those who want it.

549. Chesapeake Humane Society Adoption Center

Time:
  • MondayClosed
  • Tuesday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Wednesday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Thursday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Friday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Saturday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
  • Sunday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM

The Chesapeake Humane Society is a private, non-profit organization that strives to advance the welfare of companion animals in Hampton Roads. It is situated in the Great Bridge neighborhood of Chesapeake. Neither CHS nor any other animal welfare organizations established in Virginia nor any national humane organization receive any money from the government. Our programs and services are solely supported by the kind donations of private individuals and businesses. We work closely with Chesapeake Animal Services to help find homes for animals in the City shelter, despite the fact that we are neither affiliated with nor financed by the City of Chesapeake.

550. Chesapeake Animal Services Unit

Time:
  • Monday08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Tuesday11:00 AM - 06:00 PM
  • WednesdayClosed
  • Thursday08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Friday08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Saturday08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
  • Sunday12:00 PM - 04:00 PM

The Chesapeake Animal Services Unit (CASU), which has its headquarters at 2100 S Military Highway, is a division of the police force.