Essex County Animal Shelter
540 Airport Road,
Tappahannock,
VA, 22560

Phone: 804-443-0726
E-mail: eshifflett@essex-virginia.org

Opening Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday: 11am - 4pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays

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

Announcements and Found Pets are featured on the Helping Homeless Animals In the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula Virginia Facebook Page

Lost and Found Pets are featured on the Tappahannock Facebook Page

WARNING - KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE January and February is mating season for Coyotes and being related to dogs they may regard your dog as a mate or a rival or dinner! Do not let your dogs out alone and do not allow your outdoor cats to roam. Although Coyotes are prevalent in outlying and rural areas, they are also thriving in suburban and urban areas, and smaller towns as well. Coyote breeding typically peaks in late February and early March, the gestation period averages 58 to 63 days. Male Coyotes can become more aggressive during this time of year, the long and short of it all is that Coyotes always pose a risk to your dog (and other small pets). That risk increases during mating season. Spay/neuter your pets. Coyotes are attracted to and can mate with unspayed or unneutered domestic dogs. Unspayed female dogs in season can attract male Coyotes. Entire male dogs can be lured away by the scent of a female Coyote in her ovulation cycle. Additionally, male dogs can be lured by the female Coyotes scent and killed by male Coyotes. You should also be mindful that Coyotes are clever and learn the daily schedules of people and their pets. If you let your dog out every evening at 9 pm, chances are that a Coyote is well aware of your routine. He might be waiting in the shadows at 9 pm to attack your dog. So change your schedule a bit, walk your dog on leash close to you, and keep a close eye on them at all times. Click here for more information

Who we are
Tappahannock Essex County Animal Shelter is a small, county owned facility. Opened in 2008, we are not a 'no kill shelter' but do our best to minimize the need to euthanize animals. In 2022, TECAS had an intake of 400 animals with zero animals euthanised. The animal shelter is located at 540 Airport Road, Tappahannock, Virginia. It is right across the street from the Tappahannock Veterinary Hospital. TECAS does not do same day adoptions. Your application is reviewed for adoption, and we will return a telephone call to the applicant usually within 72 hours to let you know if you have been approved or denied. For more information see the Tappahannock Essex County Animal Control website.

Lost your dog?
Stray dogs without identification are kept for 5 days before being put up for adoption. Dogs with identification 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 Helping Homeless Animals In the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula Virginia Facebook Page but not all are put here so contact the shelter if you have lost your dog.

Some of the found dogs are featured on the Tappahannock Lost and Found Pets page

For more information see the Tappahannock Essex County Animal Control Lost and Found Pets page

Please Donate to Help the Pets
We need basic cleaning supplies, towels, blankets, collars/leashes new or used, and pet carriers. We appreciate any and all donations. Clicking here to see our donation page.
On behalf of the dogs and cats, thank you.

Visiting Essex County Animal Shelter
Please phone us on 804-443-0726 to check that the dog you want to visit is still available.
Location Map of Tappahannock, VA