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Tuesday 8am - 4pm Wednesday 8am - 4pm Friday 8am - 4pm Saturday 8am - 4pm

Orange County Virginia Animal Shelter

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Orange County Virginia Animal Shelter

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The Orange County Animal Shelter is responsible for providing humane care to unwanted, lost or abandoned animals Would you like to join them?
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The Orange County Animal Shelter provides safe haven and vet care for hundreds of animals of all ages and descriptions each year. Happily, we have had great success promoting our animals on Petfinder and at Petsmart adoption events. Dozens of animals have been adopted by people who have come from many other states. If so, please let us know! The greater our reach the more homes we will find for the animals in our care. Although we are about 1.5 hours away from the Washington, D.C. metro area, it is an easy drive. You can even make a day of it and stop off at country stores, Civil War battlefield sites and a huge mall complex in Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg. And after all, what is a few hours in drive time when you will be meeting your new best friend? If you need help getting here, call us for directions.

11/02/2026

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month!

First of all, we'd like a word with whoever decided dogs of a certain age should be called seniors.

Excuse us?! SENIORS?!

Age is just a number, and every dog is a puppy at heart! Some just have a little gray around the muzzle and a few extra years of experience causing trouble.

There's something wonderful about adopting an adult dog. They have personalities, preferences, funny habits, and opinions. Oh, do they have opinions!

Some are professional couch potatoes. Others are convinced they're Olympic athletes. Some have impeccable manners, while others apparently skipped that chapter of the instruction manual.

And while puppies get plenty of attention, let's not overlook the grown-ups. They've got just as much love, laughter, and mischief to offer.

A little gray doesn't mean the fun is over. It just means they've had more practice!

This November, remember to give an older puppy 🐶 a second look. Your perfect partner in crime might already have a few years under their collar!

https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/va/orange/orange-county-animal-shelter-va123/

11/02/2026

MONDAY HAS GONE TO THE DOGS!

It's International Doge Day, and Jeff is here to kick off a little Monday fun!

SHOW US YOUR PUPPIES!

Big puppies, little puppies, senior puppies, couch potatoes, professional troublemakers, and those who haven't had a single thought since breakfast. We want to see them ALL!

Jeff is kicking things off with his handsome face and a little Monday attitude. This boy knows how to make an entrance, and he's pretty sure your dogs have some competition!

Drop a picture of your four-legged troublemaker in the comments. Let's fill this Monday with wagging tails, ridiculous expressions, and dogs being dogs!

Jeff says bonus points for ears with absolutely no sense of direction.

11/02/2026

**National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week**

From our unofficial director, Spike, and all of us at Orange County Animal Shelter, we'd like to take a moment to recognize the people who make animal welfare possible.

There is nothing easy about this work. It takes patience, compassion, resilience, and sometimes a pretty thick skin. There are long days, difficult decisions, heartbreaking circumstances, and moments that follow you home. Not every story has a happy ending, and much of the work happens without recognition.

To those who have chosen to work in animal welfare, despite the challenges and emotional toll, **we say thank you.**

To the animal control officers who investigate cruelty and neglect, respond to emergencies, and face situations most people never see, **we say thank you.**

To anyone who has made that difficult phone call to report suspected abuse or neglect instead of looking the other way, **we say thank you.**

To the foster families who open their homes and hearts to animals needing extra care, patience, and a safe place to land, **we say thank you.**

To the adopters who have welcomed shelter animals into their families, **we say thank you.**

To the volunteers, rescue partners, donors, and community members who give their time, resources, and support, **we say thank you.**

Animal welfare doesn't begin or end at the shelter doors. It takes an entire community willing to speak up, lend a hand, and care when it matters.

There are victories worth celebrating and losses that are difficult to accept. Through it all, the work continues because the animals depend on us.

**This week, we recognize every person who has made a difference, whether their contribution was large, small, public, or quietly made behind the scenes.**

From Spike and the entire shelter team, thank you for being part of that effort.

10/31/2026

TRICK OR TREAT!

Austin votes TREAT. Every. Single. Time.

At 12 years young, this handsome goofball has life pretty well figured out. Find a good sunspot, claim a picnic table, soak up some attention, and never miss an opportunity for a snack!

But there's one thing Austin hasn't found yet — a family to share all those sunny afternoons and snuggles with.

Come on, somebody! This boy has places to lounge and people to charm!

https://www.petfinder.com/dog/austin-3e0f6852-5d70-46c9-bd00-9f694f3ad5c7/va/orange/orange-county-animal-shelter-va123/details/

10/30/2026

Okay, we need your help!! Go to the Orange County Parks and Rec page and vote for “WHERE’S WALDO?”
***All you need to do is LIKE our pic to vote!!

10/30/2026

♥XENA♥

On October 3, Xena was seized, and ownership was subsequently awarded to Orange County Animal Shelter. At approximately one year old, this Cane Corso weighed JUST 39 POUNDS. She had been confined in a space too small for her growing body to develop properly. Her legs and joints were affected, making even standing and walking difficult.

There is something both heartbreaking and infuriating about seeing a dog so young struggle with things that should come naturally. Xena should have spent her first year growing, running, playing, and discovering the world. Instead, AT ONE YEAR OLD, SHE WAS STRUGGLING JUST TO STAND AND WALK. So much of her suffering could have been prevented.

Over the last four weeks, Xena has made encouraging progress. On October 14, she weighed 55 pounds. As of Wednesday, October 28, she weighs 67 POUNDS — A GAIN OF 28 POUNDS! She's growing stronger, moving better, and showing more of her playful personality.

What humbles us most is her resilience. After everything Xena has endured at the hands of people, SHE STILL CHOOSES TO TRUST THEM. She still seeks affection and offers love so freely. That willingness to trust again, despite all she's been through, is nothing short of astounding.

But XENA IS STILL RECOVERING. She continues to receive pain medication and joint supplements, and concerns remain about her mobility and long-term comfort. Weight gain cannot undo the effects of her previous living conditions overnight.

Xena remains in a foster home, receiving the care and patience she needs. SHE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AT THIS TIME.

We share stories like Xena's because animal neglect needs to be seen and understood. These aren't simply before-and-after photos. Behind every improvement is real suffering, and recovery takes more than food and shelter. Speaking up when an animal's welfare is at risk matters.

We don't know exactly what lies ahead for Xena. For now, we're celebrating every improvement and giving her the chance to grow, move, play, and simply be a dog.

10/28/2026

**ADOPTION UPDATE: RISA (FORMERLY CAMILLA)!**

Sometimes the best adoption updates are about the little things that took a long time to happen.

Risa's family shared that she played with her buddy Raiden for a whole TWO minutes this morning before apparently deciding she'd had enough exercise for one day!

It took Risa nearly **10 months to fully decompress** in her new home, and hearing how comfortable and confident she's become makes us incredibly happy.

And apparently, this girl has found her voice! Risa LOVES to sing to her family and demand treats, and they happily encourage every performance.

Ten months of patience, understanding, and allowing Risa to settle in at her own pace. Now she's singing, playing, and making her opinions known!

We're grateful to Risa's family for giving her the time and space she needed, and for sharing this wonderful update with us.

**Keep singing, Risa!**

10/28/2026

**MEET OUR LITTLE NORSE GODS AND GODDESSES!**

These five little warriors have already conquered their first battle! Found as strays on someone's property, they arrived covered in ringworm. After weeks of treatment, they're healthy, fully vetted, and ready for their next adventure!

At approximately 4 months old, they're still a little shy, but their sweet personalities are beginning to shine!

**Runa & Saga** — Our two beautiful white girls. A little timid initially, but sweet as can be once they're comfortable.

**Freya** — Our lovely black-and-tan tabby girl, a little shy at first but full of sweetness.

**Valkyrie** — Our black-and-white boy who absolutely LOVES being held!

**Odin** — Our handsome white boy and the most reserved of the bunch. He's still working on his confidence.

And yes, you're seeing triple! Three white kittens, each with their own personality!

Their names may come from Norse mythology, but their greatest adventures are just beginning. A little patience, some playtime, and plenty of affection will go a long way with this crew!

https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/va/orange/orange-county-animal-shelter-va123/

10/28/2026

**A LITTLE GOOD JUJU FOR OUR GIRLS!**

Two of our lovely ladies, **Cheese and Lyra**, are headed off today to one of our spay partners to complete the final step before they're ready for adoption!

We're sending them off with lots of good wishes for smooth procedures and speedy recoveries!

**Beginning Friday, you're welcome to visit Cheese and Lyra during regular shelter hours!** If you're interested in adopting, an approved pre-adoption application is required before an adoption can take place. Meet-and-greets with resident dogs and all household members will also be required to ensure the right fit for everyone.

Interested in either of these girls? Visit our **Petfinder page** to learn more about them and all of our available animals, and submit a pre-adoption application.

Let's send Cheese and Lyra some good juju today!

https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/va/orange/orange-county-animal-shelter-va123/

Address

11362 Porter Road
Orange, VA
22960

Opening Hours

Tuesday	8am - 4pm
Wednesday	8am - 4pm
Friday	8am - 4pm
Saturday	8am - 4pm

Website

http://orangecountyva.gov/158/Animal-Shelter, https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/va/orange/orange-county-animal-shelter

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