Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center

A successful adoption is deemed to be a good match between adopter and animal with the intention of providing a quality life-long home. It is the policy of Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center to consider known characteristics and animal history and communicate all information to the prospective adopter to maximize the welfare, safety, and compatibility of the animal, the adopters, and the general public. All applicable laws and regulations shall be adhered to. A list of potential adopters will not be taken for any adoptable animal; however, it shall be the responsibility of shelter staff to ensure that every precaution is taken to prevent the euthanasia of a legally available animal that has an interested person considering adoption. Persons interested in adopting a specific animal that is legally available for adoption will submit an adoption questionnaire to shelter staff to initiate the adoption process. Questionnaires will be received on a first-come, first-served basis and potential adopters will have the first right to adopt once all requirements of the adoption process are met. The Animal Care and Adoption Center (ACAC) reserves the right to deny the adoption of an animal into a home based on the needs of the animal compared to the expressed capabilities/intentions/home environment of the interested party (for example denial of placement of animal into a home where the animal has lived inside previously and the interested party, through the adoption process, has indicated animal will reside exclusively outdoors). Denial of a specific animal, based on its individual needs, shall not equate to a denial of adoption in general. If all other adoption criteria are met for adoption eligibility, staff will suggest an appropriate animal/adopter fit based on animal need and adopter capability and/or environment. The Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center reserves the right to consider known patterns of behavior that are incongruent with lifelong pet ownership practices when determining adoption eligibility. In such cases, a shelter operations supervisor and/or shelter manager will review the circumstance and determine whether reliable and verifiable information exists to support the adoption would put the animal at unnecessary risk of harm. The findings will be screened with the Commanding Officer of the Animal Services Bureau who will decide whether to refuse adoption to an individual or household based on the information available. Adoption Screening Criteria will be based on objective criteria and such criteria shall be published for public view. Such criteria shall include: A. Valid ID/License, Provide verification of current Residence location (lease, bills, etc.) B. ADOPTERS shall have no convictions of animal cruelty, failure to provide duties of ownership of animals/failure to provide adequate care, domestic violence related offenses, violent crime convictions, conditions of moral turpitude, history of protective order(s), or history of violent/aggressive behavior. Should the adopter indicate on the application that a conviction exists this will be an automatic disqualifier for adoption. 1. For persons who indicate that no conviction exists, shelter staff will conduct a check via the Court website of the locality in which the interested adopter resides. 2. Should the potential adopter reside in a locality that does not post online public records, shelter staff will conduct the search utilizing the City of Virginia Beach court website. 3. Convictions will be verified via public court website. C. Adopters who indicate that they possess more than 4 adult dogs at the time of adoption shall provide notice of a zoning variance for a kennel license. D. Additional questions shall be asked on the application for the purpose of identifying areas of discussion/education between shelter staff and/or volunteers and adopters.