Pet Resources

Keeping Pets and Families Together: A Resource Hub from the Regional Animal Shelter

At the Regional Animal Shelter, we believe pets are family. We know that sometimes life brings challenges that make it hard to care for your pet. Whether you're facing financial hardship, medical concerns, behavior problems, housing issues, or personal crises, we're here to help. Our goal is to keep pets out of shelters and in loving homes.

We serve King William, King and Queen, and West Point, Virginia. Our shelter prioritizes stray intake, and owner surrenders are only accepted through our waitlist, depending on space. Please consider the following resources before surrendering your pet.

🛑 Shelter Surrender: A Last Resort

Our Owner Surrender Waitlist is intended for guardians who have exhausted all other options. But space is extremely limited. We strongly encourage exploring every possible alternative first. If you still feel surrender is your only option, you can request placement by filling out our Owner Surrender Waitlist Form below.

🛠️ Struggling to Keep Your Pet? Start Here:

🐶 Behavior & Training Help

  • Richmond Animal League Behavior Resource Library: Tips and strategies to manage common pet behaviors. ral.org/behavior-resources
  • ASPCA Behavior Helpline: Free expert advice by phone. 888-426-4435
  • Jackson Galaxy Cat Help: Cat-specific behavior help from the “cat daddy.” www.jacksongalaxy.com
  • GoodPup: Online 1-on-1 training for dogs via video call. www.goodpup.com
  • Local Trainers:
    • K9 Insights (Richmond): Personalized dog training. k9insights.com
    • Sit Means Sit RVA: Professional dog training in RVA. (804) 412-6003
    • Cayton’s Canine Training: Local dog training with a personalized approach. caytonsk9training.com
    • Alpha Love Dog Training: Offers obedience and behavior support with a focus on positive reinforcement. alphalovedogtraining.com

 

💊 Medical & Financial Support

🍽️ Pet Food Assistance

  • Regional Animal Shelter Pet Pantry: Free pet food for local residents. Call (804) 769-4983
  • Richmond Animal League Pet Pantry: Free food and supply assistance. ral.org/pet-food-resources
  • Feeding Pets of the Homeless: Pet food support for unhoused pet owners. www.petsofthehomeless.org
  • FeedMore: Regional food banks that may offer pet supplies. www.feedmore.org

✂️ Low-Cost Spay/Neuter & Vaccines

  • PETA Mobile Clinic: Affordable mobile spay/neuter and vaccines held at RAS. https://kwc.gov/564/PETA-Mobile-Spay-Neuter-Clinic
  • Prevent A Litter Clinic (Richmond): High-volume spay/neuter clinic. (804) 359-6369 | preventalitter.org
  • RAL Loving Spay & Neuter Clinic: Affordable services for owned and rescue pets. ral.org
  • Fixin' To Save: Spay/neuter clinic. https://gmhumanesociety.org/fixin-to-save/
  • Kincheloe South at the Jessica Beath Clinic: High volume spay/neuter clinic. (804) 752-7729
  • Fixin to Save Spay/Neuter Clinic: High volume spay/neuter clinic. (804) 694-0349
  • No More Chasin’ Tails Spay/Neuter Clinic: High volume spay/neuter clinic. (757) 255-8804
  • Indian Rivers Humane Society: Financial assistance for spay/neuter for local residents. (804)885-3109

🏠 Need to Rehome Your Pet?

Rehoming directly is often safer, quicker, and more successful than surrendering to a shelter.

  • Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet: Helps you list and screen adopters. rehome.adoptapet.com
  • Richmond SPCA Project Safety Net: Rehoming and pet retention support. richmondspca.org
  • RAL Home To Home Courtesy Listings: Direct listings from current pet owners. ral.org
  • Local Facebook Rehoming Groups: Connects you with people in your community.
    • Virginia Pet Rehoming Network
    • Richmond VA Pets
    • King William area groups

Tips:

  • Be honest about your pet’s needs
  • Include medical and behavior history
  • Ensure your pet is vaccinated and sterilized if possible

🌎 Moving, Military & Crisis Support

🚒 Moving/Deployment Resources

🚨 Domestic Violence Support

  • RedRover Safe Escape Grants: Helps pay for boarding during crises. redrover.org
  • Greater Richmond SCAN: Local child and family safety programs. (804) 257-7226
  • The James House: Crisis shelter and services in Central VA. (804) 458-2704 | thejameshouse.org
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 24/7 support for survivors. 800-799-7233

🏠 Boarding & Short-Term Care

🐾 Other Local Shelters & Rescues

  • Richmond SPCA: Full-service humane society. (804) 521-1300 | richmondspca.org
  • Richmond Animal League: Adoptions and community support programs. (804) 379-0046 | ral.org
  • RACC (Richmond Animal Care & Control): Municipal shelter for city of Richmond. (804) 646-5573 | rva.gov
  • Henrico Humane Society: Foster-based rescue. (804) 262-6634 | henricohumane.org
  • Norfolk SPCA: Shelter and low-cost vet care. (757) 622-3319 | norfolkspca.org
  • Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption: City-run shelter. (757) 385-4444
  • Chesapeake Humane Society: Rescue and affordable services. (757) 546-5355 | chesapeakehumane.org
  • Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society: Full-service humane society. (804) 693-5520 | http://www.gmhumanesociety.org/ 

National Organizations

  • Best Friends Animal Society: National resources for pet retention, rehoming, and shelter partnerships. bestfriends.org
  • Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Offers national programs for pet help, housing, disaster response, and cruelty prevention. humanesociety.org
  • Pets for Life (by HSUS): Community outreach model that provides support to under-resourced pet owners. humanepro.org/pets-for-life

❤️ Still Need Help?

If you’ve reviewed these resources and still feel surrender is your only option, please fill out our Owner Surrender Waitlist form below.

We understand this is a difficult time. You are not alone, and we’re here to help guide you through it with compassion and care.