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

Essex County Health Dept has confirmed that a stray cat tested positive for rabies in the Miller’s Tavern area of Essex County near Route 360. Make sure your pets rabies vaccination is up to date.

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

NEW PETS: Click on a pets name or picture to see more photos and 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