Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter
200 Fair St,
Galax,
VA, 24333

Phone: 276-236-8501 - If we are busy the phone may not be answered so leave a message.

Opening Hours:
Tuesday - Thursday 1pm-5pm
Friday - Saturday 1pm-4pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

We are lowering our adoption fee for SPAYED and NEUTERED DOGS UNTIL END OF MAY. Adoption price is $20, includes rabies, parvo/distemper, bordetella vaccines and microchip.

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

The Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter is a regional shelter operated jointly by the three local governments (Galax City, Carroll County and Grayson County) under the requirements of the Code of the Virginia. The shelter accepts animals as required under the Code and works to place animals back with their owners, adopt them to new owners, or place them with other non-profit animal welfare agencies that are able to find them new homes. Animals are adopted on a first come first served basis, so always contact the Shelter to check that the animal you are interested in is still available. If you are interested in becoming an animal welfare agency, please call 276-236-5773.

Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter is a small rural facility in the southwest of Virginia. To be a 'no kill shelter' would be amazing, but since we are a government run facility that must accept any animal in any condition that walks through our doors, we must remain what is deemed a kill shelter. There will always be times when humane euthanasia is the best option for animals that cannot be rehabilitated, are dangerous to the community, are helplessly sick, or court ordered. In all other cases, we promise to do our absolute best to find every adoptable animal a forever home. 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.

THE SHELTER IS FULL - NEW TIME LIMIT FOR DOGS
The Galax-Carroll-Grayson Animal Shelter is an open intake, municipal public shelter. We serve both Carroll and Grayson Counties and the City of Galax. We are required to have space available for dogs that are found as strays, seized by animal control, surrendered by their owner, or require temporary housing due to vehicle accidents, house fires, etc. Our shelter has a finite number of runs to hold these dogs, and unfortunately, it means we are often at or near capacity.

No one who works at the shelter wants to euthanize animals to make space for incoming dogs. All of the shelter staff try very hard to find adopters or rescues to take the animals, so we do not have to get to the point of euthanasia. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. The shelter has ALWAYS had the option to euthanize for space. A private shelter has the luxury of stopping intake when they become full, or picking the dogs they accept. Public animal shelters unfortunately cannot.

The 'last guaranteed day' does not mean the animal will be euthanized the next day. We have quite a few dogs that are currently past that date - find them somewhere to go A.S.A.P. We are now indicating a dogs 'last guaranteed day' to bring awareness that should we reach capacity, these animals could be euthanized for space. The shelter wants to give each adoptable animal the longest opportunity we can to find a loving home or a rescue partner to transfer it to. As long as space is available, we will hold the animals for as long as possible. Many shelters across the state are full and if rescues are all full, unfortunately there is nowhere for the animals to go.

Things the community can do to help reduce the need for space at the kennels:

• Adopt from the shelter
• Spay/Neuter your pets - we have too many puppies and kittens brought to the shelter
• Microchip your pet and keep the contact info current
• Vaccinating to reduce disease - we were unable to adopt out dogs for weeks last year due to infectious dogs being brought to the shelter
• Volunteer at the shelter

If your pet goes missing and is brought to the shelter, please collect it as soon as possible.

Volunteering
Love animals? We need volunteers to help us keep improving! You must be 16 years and older. You can come in anytime Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm. Becky, a shelter volunteer, has made it her passion to care for shelter cats. Here is what she says about volunteering at Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter: "Being a volunteer is wonderful! There are so many different needs in the shelter that each person that volunteers can find a fit for their preferences and the amount of time he/she has to offer. I love interacting with the cats (but I love dogs too) and I am rewarded every time I am there. Kitten/puppy season is coming soon so we need all the help we can get!" If you would like to help please phone or visit us during our opening hours. See our application form here (Word docx).

Lost your dog or cat?
Stray dogs and cats are kept for 5 days before being put up for adoption. Contact the shelter to check whether your pet is there. Some of the stray dogs and cats are featured on our Facebook Page but not all are put here so contact the shelter if you have lost your pet.

The staff do not always have time to answer the phone or check messages on the Facebook page so please visit the shelter during business hours if you have lost your pet. We require a $7 reclaim fee and you must provide proof of your valid dog license.

Almost half of the stray dogs that are brought into GCGAS have collars on them. Sadly, our local average for reclaims by the owner is around 15%. So out of 14 dogs that come into the shelter, only 2 will go back home.

How can you make sure your lost pet is found again - Follow the tips below:

1. The very day your pet goes missing, call your local animal shelter and leave a description of your pet. Better yet, take by a flyer with their picture. Check the shelter with your own eyes. Your blue may be my black. Once the stray hold has expired and the animal has found a new home, chances are slim of you ever getting your pet back.
2. Microchip your pet! It works like a licence tag on a car. Every pet that comes into the shelter is checked for a microchip. Please keep your contact information up to date (phone numbers, address, e-mail address).
3. Keep tags on your pet at all times. County/City Rabies tags must be kept on pets collars at all times. We can use these to get your pet home.
4. Post your missing pet on social media. Every day, pets find their way home without even coming to the shelter. Post them on the Lost & Found Pets of Galax Va.
5. Never take the collar off of your dog. It seems that most pets run off on the rare occasion that the owner takes their collar with ID off.


6. Finally: Check back at the shelter for the weeks following your pets disappearance. We have had dogs reclaimed that had been missing for a year!

Adopting a dog?
Virginia law says that we have to keep a dog for 5 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 contact us. We would like a dog to go to a new home or rescue as soon as possible after its 'available' date.

For animals that have not been spayed or neutered: adoptions are open to residents of Galax, Grayson, Carroll, Patrick, Floyd, Pulaski, Wythe, Smyth and Washington County. If an animal is already spayed or neutered then it is available to be adopted by anyone (even out of state residents). Phone to check that the dog is available and what paperwork is required from you.

Make sure that you are able to take your dog home on the day you adopt it. We will not keep a dog for you after its "available" day.

• Residents of Galax and adjacent counties (Grayson, Carroll, Patrick, Floyd, Pulaski, Wythe, Smyth and Washington County) may adopt pets from Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter with proper identification required.
• To adopt a dog you must be 18 years of age or older.
• You must provide a picture ID with a current address at the time of the adoption.
• Each pet is required to be vaccinated for rabies within seven days of adoption, if it is four months of age or older. Rabies vaccination is required for each pet, upon turning four months of age.
• Every new owner of a pet adopted from Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter shall have the pet sterilized within thirty days of the pet turning six months of age, or within thirty days if the pet is over six months of age.
• Out of state adoptions must be spayed or neutered before leaving Virginia.
• Return of the proper paperwork (sterilization and rabies certificates) is required within seven days of sterilization.
• State law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for rabies.

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 canned cat food, puppy potty pads, canned dog food, kitten chow (canned or hard), puppy chow (canned or hard), basic cleaning supplies, towels, blankets, and dog beds or you may mail a donation to Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter, 200 Fair Street, Galax, VA 24333. On behalf of the animals 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.

Visiting Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter
Please phone us on 276-236-8501 to check that the dog or cat you want to visit is still available. Monday-Thursday: 1pm-5pm, Friday & Saturday: 1pm-4pm. Closed Sunday and Holidays
Location Map of Galax, VA.

Cats Needing Homes
Please take the time to check out all the nice young kittens and cats kittens and cats here. Please contact us for more information about the cats available for adoption.