Animal Control

General Information

The Chesterfield County Animal Control Office is located at 9300 Public Works Rd, Chesterfield. The mailing address is Chesterfield County Animal, Control P.O. Box 148 Chesterfield, VA 23832 and the phone number is (804) 748-1683.

The Animal Control office is open Monday - Friday from 10:30 am to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from Noon - 4:00 p.m.

You can also get the following information from the Chesterfield County Citizen 24 hour Answer Line at 804-751-4636

• 228 Adopting an Animal
• 227 Animal Bites
• 215 Barking Dogs
• 135 Dead Animal on or Along a Roadway
• 126 Dog Licenses
• 216 Injured or Sick Pets
• 136 Lost or Found Dogs
• 244 Rabies
• 134 Rabies Inoculation for Pets

If You've Recently Moved Into Chesterfield County

Anyone who brings a dog or cat that has not been inoculated against rabies into the county must have the animal inoculated by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days fro the date the animal enters the county. If the animal has a current inoculation must be provided to the animal control officer.

Cruelty To Animals Is A Misdemeanor

The Code of Virginia states that any person who overrides, overdrives, overloads, tortures, ill-treats,
abandons, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain on an animal shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor,
which is punishable by up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. Such treatment includes cruelly
or unnecessarily beating, maiming, mutilating or killing any animal, whether belonging to you or
another person. It also includes depriving any animal of necessary sustenance, food, drink or shelter, or
causing any of the above things. The law also applies to the owner of an animal who permits such acts to be done by another, or who willfully sets foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal, or shall carry or cause to be carried in or upon any vehicle or vessel, or otherwise treat any animal in a cruel, brutal or inhumane manner, so as to produce torture or unnecessary suffering.

Guide Dogs

Special exception is made and no license is required for any dog trained as a guide dog and
serving a blind person, hearing-impaired person or mobility-impaired person.

Adopting an Animal

The Chesterfield Animal Shelter is located off Courthouse Road Extension across the street from O. B. Gates Elementary School. Dogs and cats are available for adoption on a daily basis.

The shelter hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, except holidays. The fee for adopting a dog is $40. A cost of $30 for spaying and $15 for neutering is applied when adopting cats.

Telephone information is available by calling 748-1683 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

Animal Bites

All animal bites of human beings must be reported to the Chesterfield County Health Department,
748-1691, or the Chesterfield County Police Department, 748-1251, within 24 hours.

Wild Animal Bites

Should your pet be bitten or scratched by a wild animal, report it as soon as possible to the Health
Department or Animal Control authorities. If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to
Animal Control. Do not go near the wild animal.

Barking Dogs

Barking dogs bring almost daily complaints to the Chesterfield County Police Department, particularly in warm weather when windows are open. All barking dog complaints will be investigated by Animal Control or the Police Department. Owners of barking dogs may be in violation of the county's nuisance ordinance.

In addition to being against the law, it is extremely inconsiderate to allow your dog to bark when unnecessary. If your dog is barking, investigate the cause.

To report a dog that barks loudly and frequently, contact the Chesterfield County Police Department. The telephone number is 748-1251.

Injured or Sick Pets

If your pet becomes ill or is injured, you should call your veterinarian or the one nearest to you. Local veterinarians' phone numbers are listed in the yellow pages of the phone book under 'Veterinarians.'

Lost or Found Dogs

If you have a lost dog in the county or have found a dog running loose, there are several steps that should be taken for the safety of the dog as well as the public. A dog running free is in danger. It could be hit by a car, or eat discarded and possibly poisonous foods. Loose dogs also can scatter trash and cause damage to neighboring lawns.

To report a lost or found dog, contact an Animal Control Officer by calling 748-1683. When reporting a lost or found dog, provide a description of the dog and any information on the dog's tag.

Dog owners are liable for their pet's actions. You can prevent your dog from causing injury so someone else only if the dog is confined to your property or leashed, as required by law. Failure to do so could result in legal or financial problems for you. The Board of Supervisors has passed a dog control ordinance that requires all dogs be physically restrained by an owner or custodian when off that person's property. Violation of this ordinance could result in a fine of up to $250.00 plus the cost of impounding the dog.

Rabies Control

By law, dogs and cats that are four months old or older must be inoculated against rabies by a
licensed veterinarian. Also, Chesterfield County ordinance requires owners of all dogs to keep them confined on their premises, unless the dogs are leashed in such a manner that persons or animals will not be bitten.

Rabies Inoculation for Pets

If you own a dog or cat that is 4 months old or older, it is required by law to have its first rabies inoculation. The Board of Supervisors passed a rabies control ordinance that requires all dogs and cats four months old or older to be inoculated against rabies by a Virginia Licensed Veterinarian. Violation of this ordinance could result in a fine of $50.00 to $250.00.

You many have the inoculation done by your veterinarian, or you may come to the county clinic.

For further information, call Animal Control at 748-1683.