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Animal Services Unit

Show All Answers

1. Where are you located?

2100 S Military Highway
Chesapeake, VA 23320

2. Do you offer animals for adoption and what do I need to adopt?

Yes, we offer dogs, cats, exotics, pocket pets, poultry, and livestock. When an application for adoption is done, you will need to provide current rabies vaccination and City license information (if applicable) for the animals that you own.

3. What are the fees for adoption and what does that include?

Dog adoptions are $105 and cats are $75 (unless there is a promotion). Exotics, pocket pets, poultry, and livestock vary in cost but are minimal. Services for cats and dogs (only) include spay or neuter, microchip, initial vaccinations, rabies vaccination, FeLV/FIV/HW testing (cats), and heartworm testing (dogs).

4. How do I see the animals for adoption?

Visit the shelter or view animals available for adoption on this site.

5. What determines if I can take my new pet home the same day when I adopt?

Adopted animals must be spayed or neutered, microchipped, and rabies vaccinated before they can go home, unless they are too young. They may be scheduled for these services, when you adopt, and a date set for you to pick them up at that time.

6. Does this facility offer veterinary services? Or can I surrender my pet for euthanasia there?

CAS does not offer any medical or veterinary services to the public. Please see our resource link for low-cost veterinary services offered in our area.

Citizens interested in surrendering a pet for euthanasia should call the office, during operational hours, at 757-382-8080 option 1 to schedule an appointment. Owners are not allowed to be present for this service. There is a minimal fee, per pound, for disposal unless private cremation arrangements are made by the owner.

7. I have lost my pet? What do I do?

Visit the shelter and make sure to bring a photo of your pet. Let the front office know that you are missing your pet so they can direct you to areas of the shelter to look for your pet. If your pet is not here, then ask to file a lost report. Please see our resources page for other avenues of locating your pet. Our website also has photos posted of strays.

8. I found a stray animal. What do I do?

You can either bring the animal to the shelter during operational hours, call dispatch at 757-382-6161 for an Animal Control Officer to pick it up, or call the office and file a found report at 757-382-8080 option 1. If a found report is done, then make every effort to have that animal scanned (for a microchip) at a local vet or at the shelter. Please see our resources page for other avenues of locating an owner.

9. I have a problem with stray cats. Is there any way to get a cat trap from the shelter?

Please call 757-382-8089 and leave a message with your name and contact information. There is sometimes a wait for a trap rental depending on the need, but someone will contact you about your request. If the trap cannot be securely chained for use then a $35 deposit is required for a trap.

10. Can I buy my City license at the shelter?

The front office sells City licenses and exotic permits. If your rabies vaccination information is not current with the Treasurer's Office then you will need to have a current certificate to purchase a City license.

New exotic permits must first be approved by the City's Development and Permits Department before CAS can issue one.

11. Can I volunteer or foster for this facility?

CAS takes volunteers and fosters! You must be 16 to volunteer in the shelter. Learn more about our volunteer opportunities and sign up!

12. How do I report animal cruelty or an injured animal?

All complaints or concerns that would require an Animal Control Officer (ACO) response must be called in to the police dispatch non-emergency number at 757-382-6161.

13. How long does it take for an Animal Control Officer (ACO) to arrive for a stray?

ACOs must prioritize their calls accordingly. These are the types of calls from the highest priority to the lowest: aggressive animal, injured/sick animal, livestock loose, stray, animal cruelty (can also be higher priority depending), surrender, and nuisance wildlife. The police dispatcher may be able to get an estimated time of arrival (ETA) from the ACO on duty, if requested.

14. Do Animal Control Officer’s respond for calls 24 hours a day in Chesapeake?

Every city is different in their overnight availability for animal control services. In Chesapeake ACOs start responding to calls at 8 a.m. and until 7 p.m. However, there is always an ACO on-call from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. for emergencies. Often police will verify emergencies overnight when available.

Overall, staffing is optimal during the weekday time.

15. I have wildlife in my yard! Will an Animal Control Officer (ACO) respond and remove it?

ACOs only respond for wildlife when the animal is aggressive, injured/sick, or orphaned.

It is best to leave wildlife alone if they appear healthy and are acting normal. Evaluating your yard to reduce food and/or shelter resources can lessen the amount of wildlife traffic in your yard. See the resources page for more wildlife resources.

16. I have wildlife in my attic or crawlspace under my house. Will an Animal Control Officer (ACO) respond and bring me a trap?

ACOs do not respond for these types of wildlife calls and traps are not offered for nuisance wildlife. Traps are only used for domestic animals and/or injured wildlife. You would need to find a company that offers removal services for wildlife in these situations.

17. There is a snake in my house! Will an Animal Control Officer (ACO) come out and remove it?

ACOs do respond for any wildlife inside of a home or dwelling. Any type of confinement of the animal, into an area, until they arrive will increase the likelihood of removal. ACOs do not respond for a snake in your yard, but every situation where safety is a concern is considered.

18. I found a baby bird and put it in a box. Can an ACO come and get it?

ACOs will call you on this to make sure you did not pick up a fledgling! Most bird species must get on the ground to learn how to fly. They are very vulnerable during this lesson and easily scooped up by concerned hands. Please see the resource page for more information on fledglings.

19. My neighbor’s dog barks all the time and it is so annoying! Can an Animal Control Officer (ACO) respond and do something about this?

ACOs do not respond for barking complaints. Citizens can file a complaint online through the Police Department, call the CAS office, or the City's Customer Contact Center at 757-382-2489 (CITY). All of these complaints are routed to CAS and two letters, per calendar year, are sent per location to let the owner know that there have been complaints filed about barking dogs. Please see the resource page for the online reporting link.

20. My neighbor keeps walking their dog and letting it defecate in my yard. Will an Animal Control Officer respond for this?

No, but all complaints for defecation are handled just like barking. CAS also sends letters for animals at large, but only two letters, per year, are sent and you must know the owner's address.

21. My neighbor loves it when my dog goes over to their house to visit, but then I received a letter for my dog being “At Large”? How is my dog at large if they are okay with him being there?

If you are not in physical control of your animal while it is off of your property, then it is at large. This applies to domestic, companion, livestock, fowl, exotics, and wild animals in captivity. The one neighbor may not mind your dog visiting, but other neighbors can still complain.

22. My 10 year old loves to walk our 150 pound Mastiff, but the neighbors called in a complaint? What is the problem if the dog is on a leash?

Just because something has not happened yet, does not mean that it won't. It could be another dog that causes a problem and then your child could be in danger. It is never a good idea to allow children to walk any dog that they might not be able to control in any situation.

23. I received a notice from an ACO about a complaint of cats being fed at my location. They are not my cats, but I feel sorry for them and feed them. I can’t get in trouble for that, can I?

Chesapeake does have a Harboring code which makes it unlawful to harbor an animal for more than 14 days without reporting it as a stray. Feeding animals after that point makes you responsible for them. If a neighbor is complaining about the cats running at large and an Animal Control Officer (ACO) witnesses that offense, then yes, you can be issued summons for that.

24. I just purchased my pet. What does Chesapeake require from pet owners?

All owners are required to have a rabies vaccination for dogs and cats and a City license. City licenses cost $4 for cats/dogs that are altered and $10 if they are not altered. Rabies vaccinations must be administered by a licensed veterinarian.

Exotics are required to have a permit. More City Code information for exotic animals can be found within the Chesapeake Municipal Code of Ordinances (Municode). Information for exotics is on the resource page.