Stafford County Animal Shelter

06/03/2026

🐾 Top Dog of the Month: Vanessa 🐾

Although the shelter is closed to the public today for deep cleaning and staff training, animal care never stops. Long before our doors open each day, staff members are already hard at work caring for the animals who depend on us.

The public often sees the happy adoption photos, wagging tails, and playful kittens, but there is a lot that happens behind the scenes. Staff arrives hours before opening to clean kennels, feed animals, administer medications, complete daily care tasks, and make sure every animal receives the attention they deserve. It is rewarding work, but it is also hard work, and much of it goes unnoticed.

That is why we are excited to recognize our Top Dog of the Month for May 2026: Vanessa! 🏆

Vanessa started with us as a temporary part-time Animal Caretaker in October 2024 and became a full-time Animal Caretaker in September 2025. Since joining the team, she has consistently brought a positive attitude, reliability, teamwork, and a willingness to jump in wherever help is needed. Her dedication to the animals and her coworkers has not gone unnoticed.

If you know Vanessa, you know she is humble and never seeks the spotlight. In true Vanessa fashion, she wanted to use her Top Dog of the Month recognition to highlight something else here at the animal shelter.

Located in front of the shelter is our Little Free Library, courtesy of our friends at Loving Touch Animal Hospital. 📚

The concept is simple: Take a book, leave a book. It is free for everyone to enjoy and just one more way our community comes together.

Come visit us during our open hours, meet our team, check out the Little Free Library, and maybe even meet your future best friend.

📍 Stafford County Animal Shelter
26 Frosty Lane
Stafford, VA 22554
📞 540.658.7387

🕒 Open Hours:
Monday-Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

06/03/2026

Any brand of canned kitten food is fine. Thank you so much for thinking of us

Tiny paws. Tiny meows. Tiny tummies that never seem to stay full for long. 🐾💕

Right now, the Stafford County Animal Shelter is caring for vulnerable kittens who depend on canned kitten food to grow, stay healthy, and thrive while they wait for loving homes.

Every can donated helps provide the nutrition these little ones need during one of the most important stages of their lives. A small act of kindness can make a huge difference for a kitten who has nowhere else to turn.

If you're able, please consider donating canned kitten food and help give these babies the best possible start. 🐱❤️

[Wish list links in the comments]

26 Frosty Lane
Stafford, VA 22554

06/03/2026

Adoptable Harley wanted to let you know that our building will be closed to the public today for a deep clean and staff training. We will open back up tomorrow at 11am and will have plenty of adoptable animals to check out! See you tomorrow!

06/02/2026

🐾 Are You Missing Me? 🐾

This handsome Bloodhound, whom we have named Boone, was brought to Stafford County Animal Shelter after being found running loose in the 22554 area along Richmond Highway. Unfortunately, we were not provided with a more specific pickup location.

Boone is estimated to be about 8 months old and already weighs approximately 63 pounds, so he still has plenty of growing to do.

If you recognize Boone or know who his owner may be, please contact Stafford County Animal Shelter as soon as possible.

Boone is currently on stray hold. Please do not inquire about adoption at this time, as we are actively trying to reunite him with his owner.

A photo ID and proof of ownership are required for all reclaims.

📍 Stafford County Animal Shelter
26 Frosty Lane
Stafford, VA 22554

📞 540.658.7387
📧 [email protected]

🕒 Hours:
Monday-Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

06/01/2026

Calling all kitten and cat lovers! We have brought in 18 kittens alone in just the last three days and need a place for them to crash.

Have you ever considered opening your home up for fostering? Are you looking for something to get you and your family involved in this summer?

Being a foster family is a great way to get involved and save lives.

We will provide the supplies and teach you the ins and outs. What we ask in return? Some TLC while they get big and strong. Once they’ve are big enough, we will get them spayed/neutered and then they will be on their way to getting adopted.

Foster families are crucial to helping reduce illness and work on socialization.

Please fill out the linked form to sign up as a foster family!

https://form.jotform.com/221373991465160?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv4_a1demo0dwjc8of

Please note: At this time, fosters must live in Stafford County.

05/29/2026

✨ Seraphine Is Ready to Start Her Next Chapter ✨

Seraphine arrived at Stafford County Animal Shelter as a stray on 05-19-2026, and after patiently waiting through her stray hold, this sweet girl is finally ready to find a family of her own. ❤️

Estimated to be around 3 years old, Seraphine is suspected to be a Schnauzer mix with the cutest wiry black and white coat and an adorable face that somehow manages to look both sophisticated and slightly mischievous at the same time.

At around 48 pounds, Seraphine is the perfect medium-sized companion packed full of personality. She is friendly, playful, curious, and always interested in what is happening around her. Whether she is exploring outside, making new friends, or simply soaking up attention, Seraphine approaches life with enthusiasm.

Since she arrived as a stray, we do not know much about her past, which means she is ready to start fresh and create new memories with her future family.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and the shelter opens at 9:30 a.m. We welcome walk-in visits and adoptions, so come meet Seraphine and all of our other adoptable pets during open hours. 🐾

💲 Adoption Fee: $45

📍 Stafford County Animal Shelter
26 Frosty Lane
Stafford, VA 22554
📞 540.658.7387

🕒 Open Hours:
Monday-Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

We welcome walk-in visitors and adoptions during open hours. Come meet your best friend.

05/29/2026

🐾 We Love Happy Tails!!! Pup-Date: Tank 🐾

Back on 04-20-2024, a Rottweiler named Tank was surrendered to the shelter. Altogether, Tank spent 46 days with us after being adopted once and later returned.

Shelter life was not easy for Tank.

Some dogs walk into new situations ready to make friends with everyone immediately. Others need time, patience, consistency, and people willing to understand them. Tank was one of those dogs.

A couple of our animal caretakers took it upon themselves to help find Tank the right permanent placement, knowing he needed more than just a quick adoption. His future family spent a lot of time with him making sure everyone was the right fit, and Tank slowly began learning that he was safe, loved, and finally home.

Animals adjust just like humans do. Some are outgoing, carefree, and instantly comfortable. Others take time to trust their humans and settle into a new life. There is nothing wrong with either personality type. ❤️

Now, more than two years later, we still receive updates on Tank, and seeing this big boy thriving with his family means the world to us. You can see the trust, comfort, and love in the video they shared.

Thank you to Tank’s family for believing in him, supporting our mission, and giving him the time and patience he needed to succeed. And thank you for continuing to send us updates after all these years. 🐾

Stories like Tank’s are why we encourage people to visit the shelter and meet the animals in person. Your perfect match may not always be the first dog barking at the kennel door. Sometimes your own “Tank” is simply waiting for the right person to give them a chance.

💲 Dog Adoption Fee: $45

📍 Stafford County Animal Shelter
26 Frosty Lane
Stafford, VA 22554
📞 540.658.7387

🕒 Hours:
Monday-Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

We welcome walk-in visitors and adoptions during open hours. Come meet your best friend.

05/29/2026

🐾 Pup-Date: Milk, Now Known as Winston 🐾

Back in December 2025, a shaggy little “Poodle mix” named Milk arrived at the shelter at only 6 months old. Fast forward to today, and Winston is now 11 months old and fully thriving in his new home. ❤️

His adopter sent us an update along with proof of his neuter, which is required under Virginia state law for animals adopted from shelters if they have not already been spayed or neutered before adoption. We always appreciate adopters following through to help prevent unwanted litters and support animal welfare in the community. 🐾

And apparently… the DNA results are in.

Winston would like everyone to know he is NOT a “mix,” thank you very much. According to his DNA test, this fluffy shelter puppy is actually a purebred Standard Poodle. We loved him regardless, because at the shelter we do not see breeds first. We see furry friends looking for homes. Big or small, mixed breed or purebred, we love them all. ❤️

His adopter let us know Winston has adjusted well to adopted life and is doing wonderfully in his home. Winston would not mind reconnecting with his sister, Cookies, who was also surrendered to the shelter, someday for a sibling reunion. 🐩

We are sharing Winston’s before and after photos because watching shelter pets grow into happy, loved family members never gets old. ❤️

Stafford County Animal Shelter welcomes walk-in visitors and adoptions during our open hours of operation.

🕒 Hours:
Monday-Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Come meet your best friend!

05/29/2026

🌫️ One Eye, Nine Lives, and Zero Complaints 🌫️

Misty is a beautiful 3-year-old brown-and-black tabby with white markings who arrived at the shelter as an owner surrender in mid-April. Misty had three kittens. Raising her own babies apparently was not enough for this girl, though. When orphaned kittens needed help, Misty stepped in and raised them too, as they had always belonged to her. 🐾

Misty looked at motherhood and said, “Fine, I’ll do overtime.”

Life has not exactly taken it easy on her. Along the way, Misty even needed to have one of her eyes removed. Yet somehow she still walks around acting like she has absolutely nothing to worry about. No pity party, just laid-back confidence and cozy naps. ❤️

Misty may genuinely be one of the coolest cats at the shelter.

She cohabitates well with other cats, is litterbox trained, and has fully mastered the art of relaxing. After spending so much time taking care of everyone else, Misty is more than ready for a home where somebody finally takes care of her for a change.

Misty has been spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, and her adoption fee is only $35.

💲 Adoption Fee: $35

📍 Stafford County Animal Shelter
26 Frosty Lane
Stafford, VA 22554
📞 540.658.7387

🕒 Hours:
Monday-Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

We welcome walk-in adoptions. Please note that adoptions conclude 30 minutes before closing.

05/29/2026

🐾 The Breakfast Club Adoption Update: Midnight & Oatmeal 🐾

“We adopted Oatmeal (previously Tiki) and Midnight from Stafford County Animal Shelter in 2025 and 2024, respectively.

We were looking for a kitten when we adopted Midnight. The shelter posted on Facebook that they had a litter of kittens available and we rushed over to the shelter to see them. All the kittens had been adopted by the time we got there, and Midnight, the mama cat, was left behind. (Midnight was named something different, but I don’t remember what it was.) We decided to adopt mama cat and named her Midnight.

Midnight is such a sweet girl! She loves her cat tower and she loves laying on bags I bring home from the grocery store. We call them her rafts.

We adopted Oatmeal (Tiki) as a kitten the following year. She was at an adoption event and I fell in love with her. Midnight and Oatmeal fell in love with each other pretty quickly and can commonly be found lounging on their cat tower or curled up together in a breakfast room chair. Wherever Midnight is, Oatmeal can usually be found nearby.

We also have three dogs and Midnight and Oatmeal get along really well with them, but the dogs know the cats rule the house!”

We especially love this update because Midnight was the mama cat left behind after her kittens were adopted… and now she has a home, a best friend, cat towers, grocery bag “rafts,” and a family that absolutely adores her. ❤️

And the best part? Their adopter is also one of our volunteers.

Shelter volunteers help in so many ways behind the scenes. Whether you enjoy scooping p**p, helping with rescue transports, driving animals to veterinary appointments, taking adoption photos, helping dogs build confidence and social skills, organizing supplies, or simply spending time with shelter animals, there is always a way to make a difference for animals waiting for homes.

Interested in volunteering with Stafford County Animal Shelter? Please inquire here: https://share.google/F2p0hXxefEBbKTSkZ