Adopt A Shelter Pet Day: These Cats And Dogs Need Homes In Fairfax

FAIRFAX, VA — Here’s a number to keep in mind on National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day on Sunday: 9,957. That’s the number of cats and dogs shelters in Virginia took in during the first three months of the year.

The national database Shelter Animals Count keeps a running tally of abandoned and surrendered pets, based on reports from local shelters around the country. Euthanasia rates are rising with the increase in the number of cats and dogs that wind up in shelters.

In some cases, the rate at which healthy dogs and cats are put down has more than doubled, according to a Scripps News Service investigation by reporters Clayton Sandell and Rachel Gold earlier this year.

Nationally, 1,267 shelters took in 454,233 cats and dogs from Jan. 1-March 31, according to the shelter census. About 50,380 were euthanized or did not survive for other reasons.

In Virginia, 40 organizations reported they took in 9,957 cats and dogs from Jan. 1 to March 31. Of that number, 500 were euthanized or did not survive for other reasons.

In Fairfax County, the county's animal shelter and two local rescue organizations reported taking in 1,138 cats and dogs from Jan. 1-March 31, according to the shelter census. About 60 were euthanized or did not survive for other reasons.

Reasa Currier, the director of the Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering, said the county shelter has seen nearly a 25 percent increase in animal intakes during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

"Many Fairfax County families with pets are facing challenges in finding pet inclusive housing and affording the basic services they need for their pets," she said. "We encourage residents who are considering surrendering their animal to reach out to us first. We are here to help and have resources we can provide to support families keeping their pets including free and low-cost veterinary care, free pet food and supplies, and behavior and training support."

The shelter also encourages anyone who wants to add a pet to their household to adopt.

"We have nearly 100 pets of all species, shapes, and sizes waiting to be matched with a family," Currier said. If you can’t adopt, please consider volunteering or fostering. At any given time, we have 40 percent of our animals in loving foster homes receiving extra care and support so they can be ready for their next chapter.”

The number of cats and dogs taken in at animal shelters reached a high for the year in March, according to the Shelter Animals Count report. The actual number is likely much higher, as only about half of the nation’s 3,500 animal shelters filed intake reports.

In March, about 60,000 of the cats and dogs taken in by shelters were strays, but about 45,000 of them were surrendered by their owners.

According to the Scripps investigation, the reasons euthanasia rates are increasing are complex, ranging from logistical problems like a lack of space and staffing to decreasing demand for pets with the end of pandemic restrictions and the cost of keeping a pet amid high inflation.

“As people have returned to normal, and animals are staying behind,” Stephanie Filer, the CEO of Shelter Animals Count, told the Scripps reporters. “And so that whole system has essentially bottlenecked.”

National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day is an informal observance every year on April 30 to raise awareness of the million of cats, dogs and other pets waiting for adoption.

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter, which is located at 4500 West Ox Road in Fairfax. Currier shared the following photos and stories about three animals currently available for adoption.

Sasha, Female cat, 8-years-old, Grey & White, Domestic Shorthair.

"Sasha is officially our longest-term cat resident. She has been in the care of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter since July 2022. She is a hard sell due to skin issues (on her stomach). But after a recent stay in a foster home, she is looking SO much better, and we think it will continue to improve with good care and continuing her once-daily medication (called Atopica). Her foster family discovered that putting her in a little onesie really helped. They said the following about Sasha:

"Sasha was a wonderful house guest. She is an independent soul who comes around for pets and back rubs, but also likes to spend time looking out the window. Sasha is a terrific litter box user and is fastidious about personal hygiene. Since she can be easily frightened, Sasha may be happier in a very quiet home. She liked to rest on the upstairs landing, watching the activity downstairs but also keeping her distance. When it was quiet, she would chirp and wait to be called downstairs. She then comes running and wants to be petted. Sasha is an excellent eater—with and without the cone. She enjoys both wet and dry food and drinks a good amount of water. She is a late riser and prefers her breakfast to be served more like a brunch. I really enjoyed having Sasha with me. She is a cool cat who is a great companion, without too many demands. She does not like being on the bed at night but will sleep on the floor nearby. She is a quiet, calm presence. (As a side note—I fostered Sasha for a week back in November and had a small dog in my home then. While she seemed generally neutral to my dog, my sense was she would have preferred to be the only pet. She pretty much stayed in one room and did not venture out to explore. This second time at my house she was much more interested in investigating and getting pets.)"

Barbara, Female, 6-years-old, Terrier mix.

"Barbara has also been with us for way too long. She has been at FCAS since October 2022. She’s gotten several nicknames from staff and volunteers during her time here: Babs, Barbie, BarBar, and more! We don’t know if it’s her age that deters adopters but that really should not be the case because Barbara is full of energy—but the right amount. She enjoys chasing toys, playing tug, and taking you for walks (our polite way of saying she needs work on her leash manners). Barbara came to us as a stray, so we know nothing about her history. We do know that she’s a wiggly, friendly girl who loves getting attention and being with her people. She knows basic commands, like Sit and Down, but she could still use additional training. She is super food motivated, so that should help. Barbara could likely do well with the right dog, i.e. one that has energy to match her but not overwhelm her."

Vince, Short-tail Chinchilla, Male, 1-year-old, Agouti coloration.

"Vince came to us because the other male Chinchilla's in the home were not getting along with him, and he suffered some injuries. Vince is friendly with people but does have his limits with handling – fair enough. (People do tend to overhandle small animals just because they can). Basically, Vince prefers to interact on his terms and like most mammals – big and small—he has boundaries. We’re confident that treats, positive reinforcement, and patience will help to win him over. Vince loves his parkour when he gets excited! He bounces off the walls and everything around him. It’s the cutest, funniest thing ever. As with any exotic species, we recommend that a potential adopter do thorough research before bringing a pet like Vince into their home."