Amelia County Animal Shelter
16565 Five Forks Road,
Amelia Court House,
VA, 23002

Phone: (804) 561-3878
E-mail: Ameliaanimalshelter@ameliacova.com

Opening Hours:
Monday: 10am-6pm, Tuesday: 10am-3pm, Wednesday: 10am-6pm, Thursday-Friday: 10am-3pm.
Closed Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
NOTE: You will need to call the shelter and speak to someone in order to make an appointment.
If you are unable to visit during regular business hours, please call the shelter on (804) 561-3878 and make an appointment.

Dog confinement period for Amelia County is now in effect. Your dogs must be confined to your property. Be sure your pets are vaccinated and licensed. If Animal Control pick your dog up because it is running amuck, you will be assessed a $10 a day boarding fee.

If anyone has wash rags and hand towels that they no longer need, the shelter can use them.

The pet in the photo (top right) is looking for a home. Click on the picture for more information about it

Lost and Found Pets are featured on our Facebook Page

Who we are
The Amelia County Animal Shelter is a small county shelter with 12 dog kennels, operated by Amelia Animal Control under the requirements of the Code of the Virginia. The shelter accepts animals as required under the Code and works to place animals back with their owners, adopt them to new owners, or place them with other non-profit animal welfare agencies that are able to find them new homes. Animals are adopted on a first come first served basis, so always contact the Shelter to check that the animal you are interested in is still available. Volunteers are always needed, and welcome! For more information see the Amelia County Animal Control website.

Click here to see a video tour of Amelia Animal Shelter

Volunteering
Volunteers are always needed, and welcome. If you would like to help please phone or visit us during our opening hours.

Lost your dog or cat?
Stray dogs and cats are kept for 5 days before being put up for adoption. Contact the shelter to check whether your pet is there. Some of the stray dogs and cats are featured on our Facebook Page but not all are put here so contact the shelter if you have lost your pet.

How can you make sure your lost pet is found again - Follow the tips below:

1. The very day your pet goes missing, call your local animal shelter and leave a description of your pet. Better yet, take by a flyer with their picture. Check the shelter with your own eyes. Your blue may be my black. Once the stray hold has expired and the animal has found a new home, chances are slim of you ever getting your pet back.
2. Microchip your pet! It works like a licence tag on a car. Every pet that comes into the shelter is checked for a microchip. Please keep your contact information up to date (phone numbers, address, e-mail address). All pets adopted from Amelia County Animal Shelter are microchipped.

3. Keep tags on your pet at all times. County/City Rabies tags must be kept on pets collars at all times. We can use these to get your pet home.
4. Post your missing pet on social media. Every day, pets find their way home without even coming to the shelter. Post them on the Amelia Animal Shelter Facebook Page
.

5. Never take the collar off of your dog. It seems that most pets run off on the rare occasion that the owner takes their collar with ID off.


6. Finally: Check back at the shelter for the weeks following your pets disappearance. We have had dogs reclaimed that had been missing for a year!

Lost dog now home because he was microchipped Sammie went missing on 10/27/19. Nine days later he was brought to the Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter in Galax, VA which is 20 miles from his home in Sparta NC. They scanned him for a microchip, found it and checked the database for his owners contact details. As you can see, his owner is very pleased to have him back. Have your pet microchipped. It may be the only way you will get your pet back if it disappears.

Adopting a dog?
Virginia law says that we have to keep a dog for 5 days so that the owner can claim it before we can put the dog up for adoption. If you are interested in a particular dog before its available date please contact us. We would like a dog to go to a new home or rescue as soon as possible after its 'available' date.

For animals that have not been spayed or neutered: adoptions are open to residents of Chesterfield, Powhatan, Cumberland, Prince Edward, Nottoway, Dinwiddie Counties. If an animal is already spayed or neutered then it is available to be adopted by anyone (even out of state residents). Phone to check that the dog is available and what paperwork is required from you.

Make sure that you are able to take your dog home on the day you adopt it. We will not keep a dog for you after its "available" day.

Our Adoption fee is $10 and all our animals come with a discount Spay/Neuter/Rabies certificate to either Village Vet or Countryside Animal Clinic (this includes the exam, the surgery and the Rabies vaccine) thanks to a local Non-Profit, APAW (Amelia Patrons for Animal Welfare). State law requires that anyone adopting a shelter animal must have it spayed/neutered within 30 days of leaving the shelter. Virginia law requires that a sterilization agreement be signed. This agreement states that you will have the adopted animal sterilized within 30 days or by 6 months of age. If you do not live in a surrounding county, the dog or cat will have to be sterilized before it leaves our facility. All our animals come with a microchip and 30 day free trial of pet insurance. All puppies will have been started on vaccines and dewormed, and some of the older dogs have as well, depending on the situation.

• Residents of Amelia and adjacent counties (Chesterfield, Powhatan, Cumberland, Prince Edward, Nottoway, Dinwiddie County) may adopt pets from Amelia County Animal Shelter with proper identification required.
• To adopt a dog you must be 18 years of age or older.
• You must provide a picture ID with a current address at the time of the adoption.
• Each pet is required to be vaccinated for rabies within seven days of adoption, if it is four months of age or older. Rabies vaccination is required for each pet, upon turning four months of age.
• Every new owner of a pet adopted from Amelia County Animal Shelter shall have the pet sterilized within thirty days of the pet turning six months of age, or within thirty days if the pet is over six months of age.
• Out of state adoptions must be spayed or neutered before leaving Virginia.
• Return of the proper paperwork (sterilization and rabies certificates) is required within seven days of sterilization.
• State law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for rabies.

Find the right dog for you
When looking for that new family member please remember to really think about the things you and your family want and need in a pet that fits the family lifestyle. Get to know your breeds! Some breeds require more space, exercise and circumstances than others. Even if you are going to adopt a mixed breed, look into what it's primary breed needs in a home, environment and exercise. Your new family member needs to be wanted by everyone in the family and included in your daily lives to be truly happy. Click here for more information on how to find the right dog.

Please Donate to Help the Dogs
We need canned cat food, puppy potty pads, canned dog food, kitten chow (canned or hard), puppy chow (canned or hard), basic cleaning supplies, towels, blankets, and dog beds or you may mail a donation to Amelia County Animal Shelter, 16565 Five Forks Road, Amelia Court House, VA 23002. If you would like to donate using Paypal you can do so via APAW (Amelia Patron's for Animal Welfare).
On behalf of the animals thank you.

No Squeeky Toys Please
Toys that make a noise when you squeeze them can encourage some dogs to be aggressive towards young children because they squeek too. The device that makes the noise is usually small and can be harmful if swallowed. Some toys of this type contain a small battery which is poisonous if the dog eats it. The best toys are tuggers, tennis balls and hard chew toys that cannot be ripped apart.

Changes to Dog Tethering Law
From July 1, 2020, there are changes to dog tethering laws across the state of Virginia.

The legislation expanded the definition of 'adequate shelter' for family dogs. It is illegal to leave tethered dogs outside when temperatures are below 32°F or above 85°F or when the weather service issues warnings for hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather.

The legislation also increases the minimum length of a tether from 10 feet to 15 feet.

Additionally, dogs must be provided adequate shelter during hot weather that is properly shaded and does not readily conduct heat. During cold weather, the shelter must have a windbreak at its entrance and provide bedding material (such as straw, cedar shavings, or similar) that is sufficient to protect the animal from cold and promote the retention of body heat.

Cats Needing Homes
Please take the time to check out all the nice young kittens and cats kittens and cats here. Please contact us for more information about the cats available for adoption.

Visiting Amelia County Animal Shelter
Please phone us on (804) 561-3878 to check that the dog you want to visit is still available.
Location Map of Amelia Court House, VA