Scott County Animal Shelter
186 Single Tree Rd,
Gate City,
VA, 24251

Phone: 276-452-1325
E-mail: jdougherty@scottcountyva.com

Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am-1pm
Saturday: 1pm-5pm
Closed Sunday and Holidays
NOTE: you MUST call and make an appointment prior to visiting the dogs in our shelter. Our number is (276) 452-1325 - leave a message on the voicemail.

The pet in the photo (top right) is looking for a home. Click on the picture for more information about it.

Lost and Found Pets are featured on our Facebook Page

Who we are
Scott County Animal Shelter is a small rural facility in the southwest of Virginia. While Scott County Animal Shelter is not yet a no-kill facility, this is a goal we strive to achieve each and every day. We are also fortunate enough to work with some amazing rescue groups and dedicated individuals who help us move animals to safety each and every week. For more information see the Scott County Animal Control website.

Wellness Plan and Shelter Fees
Animals will be vaccinated upon intake and a record kept of these vaccinations. This record will travel with the dog when it leaves the shelter on adoption or being returned to its owner. We hope that this promotes a lifetime of proper care for the animal. Due to this new wellness plan, there will now be fees associated with adoption and an initial increase in fees for those returned to their owner. These fees are in place to cover the costs of vaccinations and for housing the animal in the shelter.

Adoption fee for a dog is $30 (cash only), and we require that all dogs adopted from us are spayed/neutered, and vaccinated within 30 days of adoption (or once animal is of age). Dogs that are adopted to out of state residents must be spayed/neutered prior to leaving Virginia. If the dog is not of age (puppy) to be spayed/neutered then it will not be adopted to individuals that live outside of Virginia.

Lost your dog?
Stray dogs without identication are kept for 5 days before being put up for adoption. Dogs with identication are kept for 10 days before being put up for adoption. Contact the shelter to check whether your pet is there. Some of the stray dogs are featured on the Scott County Animal Services Facebook Page but not all are put here so contact the shelter if you have lost your dog. Return to Owner Fee: $13 (cash only) the first day, then $3.00 each day afterwards.

Adopting a dog?
Scott County Animal Shelter will keep a dog for 7-10 days so that the owner can claim it before we can put the dog up for adoption. If you are interested in a particular dog before its available date please phone us on 276-452-1325. Make sure to include your name and phone number so that we can return your call if needed. Messages are checked daily (Monday-Friday). We will not ’hold’ a dog in response to a message on Facebook. We log names on a ’first come, first served basis’ and go in order down the list. Once you place a hold on a particular dog, you will have FOUR DAYS once the stray hold ends to adopt the dog before we move along to the next name on our list. We would like a dog to go to a new home or rescue as soon as possible after its ’available’ date. Please let us know if you decide not to adopt a dog.

• Adoption fee for a dog is $30 (cash only), and we require that all dogs adopted from us are spayed/neutered, and vaccinated within 30 days of adoption (or once animal is of age).
• You will be required to provide us with documentation from your veterinarian’s office within the 30 day time period to prove the dog is spayed/neutered and vaccinated.
• Dogs that are adopted to out of state residents must be spayed/neutered prior to leaving Virginia (this includes Kingsport and Bristol, TN residents). If the dog is not of age (puppy) to be spayed/neutered then it will not be adopted to individuals that live outside of Virginia.
• Rescues are not charged a ‘pull fee’ to rescue a dog but may be required to pay a vaccination fee. We welcome your inquiries and will work with you any way we can.
• State law requires that adopted dogs be sterilized within 30 days of adoption.
• State law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for rabies.

All dogs kept in Scott County must have a license. Dog licenses can be obtained at the Treasurer’s Office located in the Scott County Courthouse and participating veterinarians. You must have proof of rabies vaccination to purchase a dog license.

If you have any questions about adopting a dog, please call the shelter and speak with a member of our shelter staff who has daily interaction with our dogs. You can reach us at 276-452-1325. If it is after hours, please leave us a voicemail or you may send us a private message on our Facebook page and we will gladly relay all messages to our ACO. If you are interested in a particular dog please phone us on 276-452-1325 as we cannot ’hold’ a dog without speaking to you first.

Find the right dog for you
When looking for that new family member please remember to really think about the things you and your family want and need in a pet that fits the family lifestyle. Get to know your breeds! Some breeds require more space, exercise and circumstances than others. Even if you are going to adopt a mixed breed, look into what it's primary breed needs in a home, environment and exercise. Your new family member needs to be wanted by everyone in the family and included in your daily lives to be truly happy. Click here for more information on how to find the right dog.

Please Donate to Help the Dogs
We need towels, blankets, hard and soft dog food, basic cleaning supplies and dog beds. We also have an Amazon Wishlist. See our Donation Page for other items we can use. You can also donate to our Spay/Neuter Fund. For more information about how you can donate, see our Donation Page. On behalf of the dogs thank you.

No Squeeky Toys Please
Toys that make a noise when you squeeze them can encourage some dogs to be aggressive towards young children because they squeek too. The device that makes the noise is usually small and can be harmful if swallowed. Some toys of this type contain a small battery which is poisonous if the dog eats it. The best toys are tuggers, tennis balls and hard chew toys that cannot be ripped apart.

Changes to Dog Tethering Law From July 1, 2020, there are changes to dog tethering laws across the state of Virginia. The legislation expanded the definition of 'adequate shelter' for family dogs. It is illegal to leave tethered dogs outside when temperatures are below 32°F or above 85°F or when the weather service issues warnings for hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather. The legislation also increases the minimum length of a tether from 10 feet to 15 feet. Additionally, dogs must be provided adequate shelter during hot weather that is properly shaded and does not readily conduct heat. During cold weather, the shelter must have a windbreak at its entrance and provide bedding material (such as straw, cedar shavings, or similar) that is sufficient to protect the animal from cold and promote the retention of body heat. Adequate Shelter Virgina Code 3.2-6500 Click here for more information

Visiting Scott County Animal Shelter
Please phone us on 276-452-1325 to check that the dog you want to visit is still available.
Location Map of Gate City, VA