Q. I need to give up my pet. Can you take him or her?
A. Because we have limited space, we might not be able to take your pet when you call. However, if we have room, we’ll be happy to help find your animal a new home, and if not, we can provide contact information for other local rescue groups that may have space.
Q. What hours are you open?
A. Our administrative offices and cat/small mammal facilities in Fairfax are open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm, and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Our facility in Centreville, which houses our dogs and horses, is open to the public by appointment only. See detailed hours, directions and contact information here.
Q. Where are your offices, animals, and thrift store located?
A. Our administrative office is located at 4057 Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax City across the street from the Fairfax County Courthouse. Our cats, rabbits, small mammals, and birds are housed there as well. Dogs and horses stay at our farm in Centreville. You must have an appointment prior to seeing animals at our Centreville location. Our thrift store, Second Chance Thrift and Gift, is located next door to our administrative office at 4055 Chain Bridge Road. See location details here. Learn more about adoptions here.
Q. How do I become a volunteer?
A. Check out our volunteer activities here. If you see something you’d like to do, fill out an application and submit it. Once we review your application, we’ll email you a welcome packet.
Q. How old do you have to be to volunteer?
A. Our volunteers must be 18 or older. Learn more about volunteering here. For younger kids, check out More Ways Kids Can Help the Animals.
Q. Do you offer free or discount spay/neutering and vaccinations for pets?
A. No, not at this time. However, we have low cost spay and neutering resources here. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter offers discount dog and cat rabies vaccinations for Fairfax County residents. You can call them at 703-830-1100.
Q. What is the first step if I want to adopt an animal?
A. First, fill out an application. For cats and other small animals located in Fairfax, you may fill out the application online or visit our office to complete one. For dogs and horses, please fill out an online application or download one here and submit it to the address provided. Once we receive your application, we’ll contact you to set up an appointment. If you don’t have access to a computer, please call us at 703-385-7387. Learn more about adoptions here.
Q. I submitted my animal adoption application. What happens now?
A. One of our employees will contact you to discuss your application if you have submitted it online, usually within 48 hours. If you wish to see cats, rabbits, other small mammals, or birds, you may stop by our offices in Fairfax at any time during business hours to discuss your application and/or view the animals.
Our dogs and horses are shown by appointment only. One of our employees will arrange an appointment for you to see these animals after we’ve reviewed your application.
Q. Are you connected with the Fairfax County Animal Shelter? What is their phone number and where are they located?
A. No, we’re a privately funded, non-profit 501(c)(3) rescue organization and not affiliated with the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is a county-funded public shelter located at 4500 West Ox Road in Fairfax. Their main number is 703-830-1100.
Q. Do you take donations? What kind do you take or need?
A. Yes! We do take donations of animal supplies, food, and monetary gifts. Food must be unopened and not yet expired. These items may be delivered to our administrative office building at 4057 Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax. Learn more about our Ani-Meals Pet Pantry here.
Our thrift store, next door to our administrative office, accepts donations of clothing, household items, books, toys, and other small items. Due to space limitations, we cannot accept furniture, mattresses, gym equipment, large electronics, etc. Learn more about our Second Chance Thrift and Gift Store here.
Learn more about other kinds of donations here.