The main phone number for Henrico animal control is (804) 727-8807, which reaches the Henrico County Animal Shelter Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When the shelter is closed, or any time you need to report a stray, loose, or injured animal, call the Henrico Police non-emergency line at (804) 501-5000 to reach an on-duty Animal Protection officer.1Henrico County, Virginia. Pets and Animals If an animal is actively attacking someone or a person has been seriously bitten and needs medical help, call 911.
Which Number to Use
Henrico’s Animal Protection Unit is a division of the Henrico County Police Department, based at the shelter at 10421 Woodman Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060.2Henrico County. Animal Protection Unit and Shelter The unit enforces local and state animal ordinances, investigates cruelty and neglect, and picks up strays and injured animals.3211 Virginia. Animal Protection and Shelter – Glen Allen, Henrico County Police Division
- (804) 727-8807 — shelter line. Call for adoptions, reclaiming a lost pet, surrendering an animal, or general questions. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The shelter runs by appointment only, so use this number to schedule any visit.2Henrico County. Animal Protection Unit and Shelter
- (804) 501-5000 — Henrico Police non-emergency. Use this when the shelter is closed, or any time you’re reporting a stray, loose, or injured animal and need an officer.1Henrico County, Virginia. Pets and Animals
- 911 — for an animal actively attacking a person, a serious bite needing medical care, or a rabid animal posing an immediate threat.
What to Tell the Dispatcher
Clear details get an officer moving faster. Have this ready before you call:
- The exact address or nearest cross-streets where you last saw the animal. Vague locations slow the response.
- Species, breed or best guess, color, size, and whether you can see a collar or tag.
- Behavior: limping, aggressive, foaming at the mouth, disoriented. This affects how the call is prioritized.
- Owner information if you know or suspect it. Henrico County Code Section 5-29 makes it illegal for dogs to run at large, and knowing the owner helps officers follow up.4Henrico County. Henrico County Code Chapter 5 – Animals
Dispatchers triage on danger to people first, then on how badly the animal needs help. A dog chasing children moves ahead of a stray cat under a porch. Reports of ongoing neglect are still worth making even when nothing is happening in the moment, because officers build case files over time.
What Happens After You Call
Once dispatched, an Animal Protection officer patrols the reported area. If the animal is found, officers scan for a microchip to try to reunite it with its owner. Animals without identification are transported to the shelter at 10421 Woodman Road.1Henrico County, Virginia. Pets and Animals
For a dog found running loose, the owner faces a Class 4 misdemeanor under Henrico County Code Section 5-29. Dogs running loose in a group trigger an additional $100 civil penalty per dog on top of the criminal charge.4Henrico County. Henrico County Code Chapter 5 – Animals
If your pet was picked up and is now at the shelter, call (804) 727-8807 to schedule its release. Reclaiming involves impoundment and boarding fees; the county doesn’t publish a current fee schedule online, so ask on the phone what to bring.
Calling About a Dog Bite
If a dog bit a person, expect a quarantine. Under Virginia law, the local health director can order any animal that may have exposed a person to rabies to be confined and observed for 10 days at the owner’s expense. This applies even if the dog is vaccinated, because vaccine failures occasionally occur.5Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 3.2-6522 – Rabid Animals The animal shouldn’t be vaccinated during observation, because vaccine side effects could mask rabies symptoms.6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information for Veterinarians
For a serious bite, the officer may also pursue a dangerous dog investigation. Under Virginia Code Section 3.2-6540, an officer who believes a dog is dangerous can apply for a summons requiring the owner to appear in general district court. The evidentiary hearing must happen within 30 days or as soon as practicable. A court will declare a dog dangerous if the evidence shows it killed or seriously injured another dog or cat, or directly caused serious injury to a person, including lacerations, broken bones, or deep puncture wounds.7Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 3.2-6540 – Dangerous Dogs; Investigation, Summons, and Hearing
Not every nip qualifies. Officers won’t pursue a dangerous dog summons if the injury was a single bite that produced only a scratch or minor abrasion, or if the incident happened on the dog owner’s own property between animals owned by the same person.7Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 3.2-6540 – Dangerous Dogs; Investigation, Summons, and Hearing