Henrico County Police Animal Shelter

07/30/2026

07/19/2026

Alumni update!

Beauregard was adopted last summer and has been loving life with fur-ever family. He gained weight and quickly stepped into his new role as velcro dog. His family reports that he is a very good boy who has mastered crate training and house training, and knows commands sit, stop, paw and stay. ❤

His family says: "He's doing amazing, he's my little sidekick. He’s the sweetest, biggest baby."

We love seeing pets adopted from our shelter thriving in their new homes, so comment or message us anytime with updates!

07/17/2026

We would never make you choose between pizza and pets! Come by the Henrico County Police Animal Shelter tonight from 4-6:30 p.m. to get to know our adoptable cats, kittens and dogs over a slice.

Meeting our pets during these events really allows visitors to see the energy levels of different animals and who they connect with. You can also stop by our Sundays at the Shelter adoption event from 10 a.m. to noon July 19.

To adopt a pet, you must:
– Be 18 or older
– Have a valid photo ID
– Pay an adoption fee (varies upon spay/neuter status of pet)
*You do not have to be a resident of Henrico to adopt a pet from our shelter, only the desire to provide them a loving home!

If you would like to see all of our adoptable pets (or you can't make it to the event!), you can look online:
- PetFinder: https://www.petfinder.com/.../henrico-county-police.../
- AdoptaPet: https://www.adoptapet.com/.../84283-henrico-county-police...

Please call 804-727-8807 with any questions about the event or to make an appointment to meet our pets, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For additional event details: https://henrico.gov/calendar/pizza-party-at-the-shelter-2/

07/13/2026

Hilda and Zelda were reunited with their mom after their home was damaged in a fire at the Darby Home apartments last week.

Carol Chiovari is one of almost 60 residents who were evacuated after the fire, but she never stopped asking about the status of her pets. She adopted Hilda and Zelda two years ago as kittens, and let her grandchildren name them after the aunts from "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." Chiovari was more worried about her cats than herself after the fire, and feared the worst.

"I thought they were dead," she said. "It was a scary thing."

Capt. Justin Finan, deputy fire marshal, spent two days with the Henrico County Division of Fire searching Chiovari's apartment for the cats, and finally found them hiding in a dresser. Though the cats were difficult to catch — and he bears the scratches and bite marks to prove it — being able to help them was worth seeing the relief on Chiovari's face.

The cats were brought to the Henrico County Police Animal Shelter for a check up. They were not hurt in the fire, but they were hungry, dehydrated and scared. Hilda and Zelda immediately began meowing when they heard Chiovari's voice, and demanded chin scratches before they left the shelter together.

This reunion could not have been possible without so many people working together, including Henrico Fire, the American Red Cross Virginia Region, 12 On Your Side, the Varina Vet Clinic and Shamin Hotels.

Our staff was overjoyed to witness Chiovari reunite with her cats. We often care for lost pets who cannot tell us how to get back home. Tags with an up-to-date phone number or microchips with current owner information are the best ways for us to contact a pet's family.

07/10/2026

07/10/2026

Happy birthday, Emily!🐮

Emily, the Jersey cow, turned 10 years old yesterday!! Happy Birthday!!

Emily is a gentle giant who is always curious about what is going on around her. She is eager to earn treats during training sessions and enjoys back scratches from the animal care team.

During the heat of the summer, you can often find Emily and her pasture mate, Marigold, resting in the shade.