Richmond SPCA

This is the most unattentive, unprofessional, and unknowledgeable group of «veterinarians and vet techs» i have ever seen… and just trying to get them on the phone is a nightmare. Do yourself a favor and take your furbaby someplace that actually cares.

Amazing place! I adopted both of my babies (a dog and a cat) from here. The adoption counselors are very knowledgeable and love what they do. It’s also a great place to go to even if you aren’t looking to adopt. Everyone is welcome to walk around and visit with all the animals. They also love getting updates on your pets & always respond to update emails!

If you are looking for something interesting to do for a kids birthday this is great and it is something different. There is a nice big room upstairs where the birthday was held.
The birthday party we went to was for a 5 year old. The kids got to decorate a box and were given a small stuffed animal. They left with a souvenir of an adopted stuffed animal. Then we went to the main rooms where the kids spent some time with a room of cats. Then they were able to give treats to some dogs. The dogs were kept inside rooms that the kids could see and slide treats under the door.
After checking out the animals we returned upstairs where we sang Happy Birthday and had cake. I’m not sure if that was provided or if it was brought in. At the end it kids left with a small goodie bag, again not sure if it was provided.
Definitely worth it.

Stopped by today after eating lunch at a nearby restaurant. Wonderful people and awesome animals. Wish I could take them all. They have a lot of black and grey kittens at cats as most people don’t adopt black ones (crazy). I highly recommend coming here and getting an animal verses getting a puppy from a breeder. All my animals have been rescues or mutts and have been some of the best animals in the world. Come get your «Forever buddy» today!

I’m not a huge dog person and even I’m giving this a 5 star review. My boyfriend wanted to go play with some puppies yesterday, so we went and the employees very graciously let us spend some time with all of the pets we wanted to see. The man we worked with provided us a full run down of each dog and then let us spend some time with each of them. We played with three dogs and all of them were so well cared for and you can tell the SPCA spends a lot of money and time on them before they are up for adoption. I highly suggest going to the Richmond SPCA if you’re ever in the market for a new cat or dog.

I volunteered here over the summer working with cats and dogs and have to say this has got to be the best animal facility in va. They take excellent care of the animals and staff is passionate about the mission of protecting and placing them with the right owners. If you’re looking to adopt, I’d start and end my search right here.

I adopted my cat from the SPCA a month ago. I visited a couple times before and several times since. I love their personality matching system, and the adoption was easy. It is also super convenient having the gift shop right there. You also get access to the low cost vet, which is awesome. Everyone there is super friendly and helpful.

I’d never been to Richmond SPCA until yesterday when I went during Maddie’s free pet adoption days. This was a wonderful event! It began at 11 a.m., and when I arrived at about 11:20 a.m., the place was packed! There was nowhere to park.
The process wasn’t very clear — you should sign in as soon as you get there, then look around because it takes a while to be called and by that time you will have been able to decide which animal you want to see instead of looking around first then waiting around to be called like I did :-(
Anyhow, I got to see two cats in a private room. The first had a personality that just would not have worked. The second was perfect. We loved each other instantly! The staff person went over her history and care with me, and she now has a new home.
I couldn’t recommend SPCA more when it comes to getting a pet. It was really heartwarming to see all kinds of families leaving with animals and kids so excited to have them. Forget fancy pet stores. There are all kinds of beautiful, healthy dogs and cats at SPCA that make excellent pets.
The staff is thorough about care and products are less expensive to purchase at SPCA than at other stores.
I could not be more impressed with Richmond SPCA’s personal care and post adoption follow-​up!

Really amazing facility. Great knowledgeable staff. Even though I didn’t find a match for me, I was able to meet with several candidates and I was really impressed by the organization and friendliness of the pet meet & greet process. I recommend the Richmond SPCA for anyone looking to adopt!

Today the Richmond SPCA hosted my 8 year old daughter’s birthday party. Three members of staff greeted us at the exploratorium (a large party area, with lots of seating for the kids). They had some music playing, and some games to keep the children entertained while we waited for everyone to arrive (they supply the cake, paper plates, utensils, some balloons, party favors, invitations, etc).
The staff ran us through what the kids would be doing. They were great at explaining everything and giving the kids instructions while letting them have fun.
First, we sat to eat, then the kids got to stuff a cuddly toy dog (good quality), the partiers especially liked placing the dog’s «star» inside and then sealing it up, naming the dog, and then decorating its dog carrier. Each child also got a personalized «adoption» certificate for their pup.
Next they got to do a scavenger trivia hunt around the facility and got to interact with other staff, see the animals waiting to be adopted, ask questions and learn about the Richmond SPCA. We even saw a cat get adopted!
There was also a tour of the kennels to see the dogs and cats, can I say that this not what I imagined a kennel to be this facility is outstanding, you’ve got to see the track and training center! While the party was all about fun, the kids also got to learn some important things about caring for animals and how the Richmond SPCA helps the community.
After that we sang the birthday song and cut the cake provided by Richmond SPCA from Ukrop’s Bakery (optional add on), and got a special visit from Balto, a beautiful white, partially deaf dog with an amazing personality. Hope he’s adopted soon!
If you are looking for party ideas for your child’s birthday I would highly recommend the Richmond SPCA. We had the Deluxe Party. Other options are available and they tailor the party for the child’s age and the age range of the kid guests.

We adopted our new dog today from this facility. The service was impeccable. The staff was kind, patient, and knowledgeable. Jessica helped us yesterday and we did most of the paperwork then. We put the dog on hold and came back today to do a meet and greet for our older dog. My husband and I could not believe how the place looked and smelled! It was very very well maintained. No nasty smells there! (maybe a bit of dog breath) Also a variety of ages/​sex/​breeds. It was nice to see so much variety, I’m sure that changes but I loved that we had choices.
Oh and the woman that helped us today also helped us fit both our dogs’ collars. They go above and beyond.

By far one of the best animal shelters I have ever come across. The facility is comfortable and very clean. The staff is super friendly and actually take time out to get to know each individual animal. They like to match the animal up with the proper owner and let you know of their personalities and characteristics. I had the pleasure of working with Matt who was fun and truly cared about the animals. He made the adoption process fun and painless. They make sure the pets are going to a great home and truly care about the animals. If I decided to adopt again this is my go to shelter.

4 years after losing our beloved Sparky, it was time to let a new four-​legged tail waggger into our hearts. What better place to find a furry friend than the RVA SPCA? None. Hands down the absolute best shelter I have ever been to. The most useful service they provide is to actually spend time with the animals in their loving care to provide personality information about each one. I found a large, very handsome, older german shepherd mix on their website gallery who had a «Couch Potato» personality (what can I say, we’re kinda lazy) & fell in love the moment we visited. HalJordan (Green Lantern for this sector of Mechanicsville) is absolutely awesome & sure enough, spends a lot of time «patrolling» the sofa.
As everyone else has said, the facility is amazingly clean, spacious, and friendly. The multitude of services the SPCA provides is phenomenal: We use the clinic affordable veterinary care, they offer training for dogs (& owners) for everything from basic manners to agility competition, as well as classes on becoming visiting therapy teams for nursing homes, children’s hospitals, etc. Children enjoy birthday parties, summer camps, and even some of the best volunteer opportunities around. Far beyond just cage cleaning and feeding, adult volunteers can choose to go jogging with a four-​legged coach, foster tiny baby kittens and puppies (they even watch them for you while you’re at work), help at some of the coolest special events in town… they even make washing giant bags of laundry fun!
The point is, RVA SPCA is the total package when it comes to compassionate care for both animals and their humans.

So you want a pet, but aren’t sure where to start. Or you know exactly what you want and just need to find it. Either way, the Richmond SPCA is the place to go. First of all, the facility itself is gorgeous — no sad shelter feeling at all. You can just tell the animals are loved. Families bring their kids to visit and even have birthday parties and such — it’s that happy a place! Secondly, the staff is phenomenal. The kennel staff keeps the place glowing. The adoption staff work with you one on one. They’ll chat with you to get a sense of what you’re looking for and help you find potential matches. They even have a neat system for matching your personality with the pets’ — you should give it a try. All pets are checked out and cared for by their in-​house vets, spayed/​neutered, microchipped, and up to date on shots. The pets also come with a month of free pet insurance. When you adopt from the Richmond SPCA, you automatically become a client of their vet clinic, which is super affordable and provides great care. They have tons of resources like training classes and a behavior helpline to help your new and/​or existing pets with anything you can think of — their team knows a ton. They also have a gift store right inside with all the supplies you could ever need. Basically, it’s a full-​service, one-​stop shop, if you will, so if you’re looking for a place to go to adopt a pet or entertain the one you already have, check them out. Surely beats any breeder or pet store. The Richmond SPCA will not only be with you through the process of finding a good match for your family, but they remain a resource for your new life together. Although I’ve now moved to DC after living in Richmond all my life, I’d drive down in a heartbeat to adopt another animal from this shelter. (You don’t have to be local to adopt a pet!) They will always have my support. Even if you’re not looking for a pet, still stop by for a visit, look into volunteering, or consider donating. This is a great, great organization that works to improve Richmond in many ways. In turn, there are many ways for us to give back.

RVA SPCA is the best! Thanks from our cat renamed Miroku (Momo) who was Titus at the SPCA. Birthday parties were actually kind of cool even for the adults. We went for my niece’s 6^th Bday. Though the poor girl who had to dress up as a dog could have used a little more enthusiasm when directing the games. The kids enjoyed it very much although I was the only one who took a new used pet home. Our adoption agent Miram was exceptional and couldn’t have made it a better experience. Momo is a fat kitty and very happy with us and his friends. SPCA is a great place to go even if your not ready to adopt or already have a full house. Check out the gift shop for cute goodies for your family, or take a tour and give a few fuzzy things a pet. great place to bring out-​of-​towners who haven’t the good experience our local SPCA offers!

I just wanted to add to my previous review to give a glowing recommendation of this place as a shelter. I tried to volunteer here, but simply didn’t have the time. Still, I was very impressed with the care they give the animals there, and I love that you can visit with the cats in «cat-​illions» (living room-​type playrooms for the kitties), which is a great alternative to rows of cages. Happy, healthy animals and happy caregivers. What a great place! :)

If you love puttin’ on the dog, you have to go the annual Fur Ball at the Jefferson Hotel. You and Fido put on your finest and make a grand entrance down the «Gone With the WInd» staircase, and then party with Richmond’s finest in this great benefit for the SPCA. It’s usually in October so put it on your social calendar and start shopping for something fabulous for you and your four-​legged date. Sorry kitties… this fur ball is much nicer than the ones you give us!

I recently adopted a dog from the Richmond SPCA. I was totally impressed with the facilities. The dog I adopted has been a wonderful addition to my family. I highly recommend the Richmond SPCA if you live in the Richmond, Virginia area and are looking to adopt a pet.

Of course I am going to give 5-​stars to such a amazing shelter. I used to volunteer here way back in the day when it was on Chamberlayne. What a difference in the space now! It is so clean, and the animals have so much room. It makes looking for animals so much easier because you really get to enjoy the space and enjoy the animals. The staff is extremely helpful and have no problem answering any questions you may have.
Although I have one cat and don’t have the option of having another, this would be my first choice for adopting in the future. I have been known to go in and just pet the animals and hang for a while. Just writing this post makes me want to go back and volunteer (or maybe just adopt all of the animals?).

Ok. First off, I used to work here, so that that into account in my rating.
When I was there the entire kennel staff took great pride in their jobs. We all knew that our number one goal was the care and love of the animals. Oh, I can’t forget the vets and vet techs. I bugged them a whole lot with my questions and every time they were happy to give me an answer.
I even adopted two dogs while I was there.
One of my dogs came with some ‘issues’. The training staff was very helpful in working them out. (behavior help-​line and online hand-​outs)
I miss it there terribly and wish I could be back. When you stop in, please pet all the critters for me.

This is the nicest animal shelter I’ve ever been to. I wouldn’t even call the SPCA a pound because it is sooo nice and the animals are cared for so well. Its a far cry from the usual pound like the ones in Henrico or Chesterfield that smell and make you feel so bad for the dogs in cramped in the little cages. Oh no, the SPCA is a no kill Humane society and I’ve been told that this location is so nice because it was modeled after the flagship SPCA in San Fransisco.
That means that the place is bright and airy, there are vets on the premises and a pet supply store. Not only that, but all dogs at the Richmond SPCA have their own space to run around in, their own bed and toys galore. Some dogs even have their own rooms that are painted bright colors and have benches. And when you are browsing the dogs you can interact with them and feed them treats through the bars. I don’t have a dog myself so this is where I go to get my doggy fix. If you are really feeling a dog you can ask an adoption counselor to see a dog. The adoption counselors are great. They give you the whole background on the dog and you get to play with the doggy in one of the two visiting rooms. I realize that I’ve forgotten the cats. Yes, there are cats as well for all you cat people out there and their living conditions are just as nice.
The SPCA is definitely the place to get a new four legged friend. I often see purebreds, both young and old and often the cutest friendliest dogs that I want to bring home with me right then and there. The front desk has a sign up sheet where you can write down the type of dog you are looking for and they will call you when one comes in. So go check it out and give a deserving dog or cat a new home.