FAQs
Our frequently asked questions and answers are below. If you don’t see your question and answer, please call us at 757-546-5355 or contact us online.
General FAQs
How can I contact you and what are your hours?
Please visit our contact page for information on contacting CHS and open hours.
How can I help CHS?
Thank you for your interest! We are always looking for volunteers, foster care families, donations and corporate support. You can learn more about how to help, here.
Is the Chesapeake Humane Society a city government agency or Department?
No. The Humane Society is a private non-profit organization that is not part of the City of Chesapeake government. We receive no state or federal funding and are completely supported by donations and low-cost fees collected for services.
What is the difference between the Humane Society and the city shelter?
The city shelter is operated by the City of Chesapeake Animal Services Unit. The unit is the animal control agency for the city and is responsible for enforcing state and city codes related to animals and their ownership. For more information, please visit the unit’s website.
Is Chesapeake Humane Society affiliated with the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States?
Chesapeake Humane Society is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization that receives no tax dollars or portions of donations made to national humane organizations such as the ASPCA or HSUS.
Adoption/Re-homing FAQs
What are your adoption policies and fees?
We have dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, rabbits, birds, and a variety of other small mammals on site. To view a list of adoptable pets, investigate adoption fees, or to fill out an adoption application, please visit our adopt a pet page.
How can I re-home my pet or bring in a stray pet?
Chesapeake Humane Society does not accept owner-surrendered or stray pets into our adoption program. Our shelter pets are transferred to CHS through partnerships with other shelters and rescue organizations.
If you need to surrender your pet:
If you are a Chesapeake resident, please contact Chesapeake Animal Services, the city shelter for Chesapeake, at 757-382-8081.
If you have found a stray pet:
- Take the pet to Chesapeake Animal Services, the city shelter for Chesapeake.
- Check for a microchip at Chesapeake Humane Society. Thanks to our partnership with the Reunite Tonight Project, we offer a free microchip scanning station. Look for the bright orange box on the side of our detached garage, near the raised garden beds. Please note that found pets cannot be left at Chesapeake Humane Society.
- Report the found pet online through Petco Love Lost to help connect the animal with its family.
- Request pickup: If you need a stray pet picked up, please contact the non-emergency police number at 757-382-6161.
What if my pet is lost?
If your pet is lost, we recommend taking several steps to help bring them home:
- Start with Chesapeake Animal Services. All stray pets found within the City of Chesapeake are brought to Chesapeake Animal Services, so we recommend checking there first. Bring a recent photo of your pet and your contact information.
- Report your pet as lost on Petco Love Lost, a free online database that helps connect lost and found pets with their families.
- Check your pet’s microchip registration. If your pet is microchipped, contact the microchip company to make sure your contact information is current and your registration is up to date.
- Check neighboring shelters. If your pet may have traveled outside Chesapeake, contact animal shelters and organizations in surrounding communities as well.
How can I report animal cruelty, neglect, or abandonment?
Thank you for keeping an eye out for animal welfare! Please direct these concerns to Chesapeake Animal Services as their officers are responsible for enforcing animal-related laws and regulations. Their general phone number is 757-382-8080.
Veterinary Care FAQs
What kind of veterinary care does CHS offer and what does it cost?
We offer low-cost spay/neuter procedures, dental procedures, vaccine clinics, wellness exams, heartworm treatment, and soft tissue surgeries. Other surgeries, such as mass removals, are available to those who income qualify. Please click here for pricing information and details on how to qualify for further discounted care.
What if my pet is sick or injured?
We are offer illness exams to concerned pet owners. We are able to see and treat simple dermatologic, ophthalmic, and internal medicine cases. Please note that appointments can be 5-10 days out.
Experiencing an Emergency?
We are not a full 24-hour service facility or emergency clinic. If your pet needs emergency care, please contact The COVE or Bay Beach Veterinary Hospital. If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
How do I schedule an appointment for my pet?
The fastest way to request an appointment for spay/neuter, vaccines, dental exam, or illness exam is through our online form. If you are unable to complete the form online, please call us at 757-546-5355 and we will assist you with scheduling the appointment.
We have a high volume of requests; please be aware that it may take more than five business days to respond.
To request an appointment for soft tissue surgery or heartworm treatment, please email clinic@chesapeakehumane.org.
Questions? Email us at clinic@chesapeakehumane.org
What can I expect at my pet’s surgical appointment?
To prepare for your pet’s surgical appointment, please do not give any food or water after midnight the night before surgery. Dogs must come to CHS on a leash and cats must come in a carrier. Drop-off is between 7:00 and 8:00 am.
Bring your pet’s most recent veterinary records as we are unable to call for records during check-in. You can even complete pre-operative surgical paperwork at home!
Dogs that are 6+ months old must have a negative heartworm test prior to surgery. All animals 5+ years of age must have pre-operative bloodwork to ensure they are healthy enough for surgery. This can be performed at CHS.
We will call when your pet is ready to be picked up, but the latest pick-up is at 3:30 pm. Plan on your pet being at CHS for several hours as our veterinarian must carefully evaluate, sedate, perform surgery, and release each pet. Our staff will review post-op care instructions at pick-up. Dogs must go home with a properly fitted E-collar to prevent licking at the incision.