All About Fairfax County Animal Shelter's Pet Resource Center
 The Pet Resource Center (PRC) at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter is dedicated to strengthening the bond between residents and their pets, ensuring families remain united and pets receive the care they need. We are committed to supporting pet guardians in our community, providing resources and services to help keep animal companions safe and happy.
The PRC offers a variety of services, including:
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Vaccine and Microchip Clinics: Held monthly at both campuses, providing accessible and affordable options for pet guardians.
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Pet Pantry: Supplies essential pet food and items to residents facing hardship.
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PetHaven Program: Offers discreet, short-term care for pets of individuals affected by domestic violence.
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Spay/Neuter Voucher Program: Partners with local veterinary practices to provide low-cost spay/neuter vouchers for income-eligible residents.
When additional support is needed, our team works to connect pet guardians to other helpful programs and services in our area. We also maintain a list of resources on our website, including pet medical care help and low-cost spay/neuter resources.
Now more than ever, Fairfax County residents rely on our services to keep their pets healthy and by their side. 2024 has been a year of tremendous growth for the PRC, with an estimated 250% increase in pets served compared to the same period in 2023. We are excited to share our progress so far and continue making a positive impact on our community.
Meet the Pet Resource Center Team
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Lauren Krzywicki, Manager, Pet Resource Center
What is your favorite part of your job?
I have enjoyed collaborating with other human social service organizations to bring companion animal resources to the families they serve. These organizations understand the dynamics of how Fairfax County families are impacted by stressors such as food insecurity and caregiver burdens. Through these collaborations, the PRC helps to bridge the gap between human and animal support services, allowing for families and animals to have options for care and resources.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the creation and launch of the PRC's Spay/Neuter Voucher Program, making Fairfax County the only governmental agency in Virginia with a program of this kind.
Our Spay/Neuter Voucher Program is unique in including core vaccinations and microchipping, supporting the Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s role in protecting public health, and reducing barriers for pet families needing access to services.
I am incredibly thankful for our veterinary partners, without whom this program would be impossible. Thank you Columbia Pike Animal Hospital and Emergency Center, Fairfax Animal Hospital and Caring Hands Animal Hospital - Merrifield for recognizing the importance of this need and supporting our community together!
Do you have any pets at home?
Yes! Three dogs—all ladies! Lee who is 10, Stella who is 6 and Dorothy "Dot" who is 3.
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Rocio Albarracin, Coordinator, Pet Resource Center
What is your favorite part of your job?
I think my favorite part of the job is that every day is different! Our week may consist of running around outside during a Vaccine and Microchip Clinic, hosting a community event, being crafty and setting up a resource table, putting together giveaway bags or prepping for our high-volume events. I get to use a variety of my skills every single day!
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I think what I am most proud of is how successful we (our fabulous team of two) have been at increasing our reach into communities. At every new community event the PRC attends, there is always someone who says, “I didn’t know about your program, but this will be a huge help to our family.” I am confident that our reach will continue to grow as we expand our program offerings, and I am excited to witness all of our future accomplishments.
Do you have any pets at home?
Yes, I have four kitties, each with a personality of their own! Their names are Louie, Tora, Smoky and Scott.
Separately, they are calm and peaceful, but together, they cause trouble. My newest addition, Scott, who is a Fairfax County Animal Shelter foster fail, keeps us all on our toes!
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Meeting the Needs of Our Community
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From lack of transportation to costly veterinary care, pet guardians nationwide are facing significant barriers to caring for and keeping their pets.
According to surveys conducted at each PRC off-site event, Fairfax County residents identify the top needs for their pets as basic necessities, including pet food, supplies and vaccines. When asked about barriers to accessing these services, the most common response was financial strain.
To meet these growing needs, we have significantly expanded our Pet Pantry and Vaccine and Microchip Clinics. So far this year, we have distributed 17,461 pounds of pet food—a 192% increase compared to the same time period last year. Additionally, we have focused on bringing supplies directly into our community through our pop-up pet pantries, with the goal of meeting people where they are.
We have also grown our Vaccine and Microchip Clinics in 2024, offering more opportunities for pet guardians to ensure their pets are protected. With 12 clinics held so far this year, we have served 1,353 pets, marking a 266% increase compared to the same time period in 2023.
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Making Pet Care More Accessible: Ryker’s Story
When Ryker (left) needed a series of booster shots, his mom attended our Vaccine and Microchip Clinics, which made a big difference for her. She shared, "As a recent college graduate living on my own for the first time, having access to these clinics was a game-changer. It allowed me to ensure Ryker received all the care he needed without adding financial stress."
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Pet Resource Center's New Initiatives
The PRC is continually evolving to better serve our community. This year, we introduced several new initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being of pets and their families.
Spay/Neuter Voucher Program
In late March 2024, the PRC launched the Spay/Neuter Voucher Program in collaboration with three private veterinary clinics. Income-eligible Fairfax County residents can apply to purchase a voucher to redeem at a local veterinary partner. Vouchers also encompass additional services, including core vaccinations and microchipping.
This program is not only crucial in reducing barriers for families seeking veterinary care, it is also creating a healthier pet population. Spaying or neutering pets significantly lowers the chances of them developing various life-threatening (and costly) diseases. It also greatly decreases or eliminates roaming behavior, which in turn minimizes the risk of injury or disease contraction.
Since its soft launch in March, 68 spay/neuter vouchers have been distributed!
Free Microchips for Reclaimed Pets
In spring 2024, the PRC introduced a new initiative to help lost pets find their way back home more quickly. When pet guardians come to our shelter to pick up their found dog, cat, rabbit or ferret, our team offers a free microchip. With about 75% of stray animals arriving at our shelters without microchips, this a critical step in reuniting more lost pets with their families.
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Mack is just one of the many pets to receive a free microchip when he was reunited with his family. After escaping from his backyard, his family was relieved to learn he was at our shelter. They were grateful when our team offered to microchip him, particularly because Mack is somewhat of an escape artist!
His incredible reunion story was recently featured by DC News Now! Read the article and check out the video for the full story.
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Impactful Community Partnerships: The Lorton Community Action Center
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Keeping pets and people together is a community-wide effort, and our PRC collaborates with many agencies to connect residents with the services and resources they need for their animal companions.
In January 2024, we joined forces with the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) to offer essential pet supplies alongside their food pantry. These events not only provide pet food, litter, treats and more but also help families learn about our services. So far this year, we have distributed 2,214 pounds of pet food through this partnership.
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To share more about this collaboration and its impact, we spoke with Rob Rutland-Brown, Executive Director of the LCAC:
How did the partnership with the Fairfax County Animal Shelter come about?
One of our food pantry volunteers who also volunteers at the shelter suggested that we connect. At the same time, the shelter reached out to us through a separate recommendation from the community. A primary way that the LCAC advances our mission is through partnerships. We have trust within the Lorton community we serve, and we leverage that relationship to welcome providers of all types who do vital work that benefit clients. We would never be able to engage in shelter-related activities directly, so it’s a natural fit to partner with the new Fairfax County Animal Shelter in Lorton, which is doing phenomenal work within the community.
Why do you think it is important to provide pet resources alongside traditional human services?
We know pets can offer mental health and quality of life benefits to owners. We also believe in pet equity—that income level should not be a barrier to pet ownership. Many of the clients we serve have pets, and they spend a portion of their valuable resources on pet food and pet care. Any in-kind support that we or the shelter can offer to families to offset these costs means more money available for other aspects of life, including rent, childcare and school.
In what ways do you see this partnership growing or evolving in the future?
We would like to continue to welcome the shelter to our food pantry, to interact directly with the community to provide information and resources. We hope that folks interested in these resources will develop a trusted connection directly with the shelter, and our pantry can serve as a conduit for fostering that relationship.
What role do you think social service organizations have in supporting families with pets? How has the community responded to the additional services, such as pet food, litter and flea/tick prevention?
As a social services organization with a broad mission of helping the community, we have always felt that clients know best what they need to support themselves and their families. There has been overwhelming enthusiasm by clients for the resources provided by the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, including the provision of pet food, litter and flea/tick prevention. This level of interest signifies to us that it is a partnership we should lean into. We are grateful for the opportunity to work together!
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Helped by the Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter: Spotlight on TeFiti
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TeFiti arrived at our shelter struggling to breathe due to an obstructed airway. She needed extensive surgery to correct the issue, and thanks to the generous funding provided by the Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter, TeFiti received the life-saving operation.
After recovering from her surgery, she was quickly adopted by her new family! They sent us this adorable update about how she is settling into her new home:
"TeFiti is such a sweet girl. She is fitting in perfectly like a missing piece. She is growing more and more comfortable every day and we fall in love with her again and again. We have mostly housetrained her and she likes all the treats she gets during training.
She is a huge lovebug always up to cuddle, people watch and play. Her lil pig-like snorts are the best! She throws baby tantrums but who doesn't? She has taken a big liking to a fellow dog at her daycare. I call them besties."
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Upcoming Events
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Vaccine and Microchip Clinics
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter offers monthly low-cost vaccination and microchipping services for Fairfax County residents. Clinics are walk-up and there is no pre-registration or appointment required.
Upcoming Clinics:
Friday, Aug. 9, 9 to 11 a.m.
Fairfax County Animal Shelter Lorton Campus
8875 Lorton Road, Lorton, VA 22079
Monday, Aug. 19, 9 to 11 a.m.
Fairfax County Animal Shelter Michael R. Frey Campus
4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Learn More
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Hiss and Make Up: Bringing the Love Back to Your Multi-Cat Household Webinar
This free webinar will cover why cats may not get along and will give you practical tips for easing tension, managing aggression and creating a peaceful home environment.
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Virtual Webinar
Register
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Putting for Pets
Mark your calendars for The Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter's annual Putting for Pets Golf Tournament! There will be a silent auction, prizes, food, drinks and more! It is a fun (and competitive) way to support our shelter pets.
Monday, Sept. 23, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Bull Run Golf Club
15000 Bull Run Estates Drive, Haymarket, VA 20169
Learn More
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