With the Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s Michael Frey campus closed for renovations for the next several months, conditions are getting a little cramped at its Lorton location.
To help more than 60 pets find their forever homes a little more quickly, Fairfax County Animal Services is partnering with the BISSELL Pet Foundation to waive all adoption fees during an “Empty the Shelters” event this weekend, from Friday (Sept. 25) through Sunday (Sept. 27).
The foundation’s involvement allows the shelter to waive fees without taking a financial hit.
“Removing that financial barrier helps more animals move from the shelter into loving homes, opening space for the next pets who need care,” Fairfax County Animal Services Director Reasa Currier told FFXnow in an email.
All pets that find new homes this weekend will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Out of the available pets, 20 are dogs, more than 40 are cats, and a handful are small animals.
Animal Services expects to hold more of these types of promotions while the Fairfax campus on West Ox Road is closed.
Additionally, staff are visiting different locations throughout the community to help the pets find homes.
“At last week’s Tysons Mixed Market event, a long‑stay dog named Bookmark, a staff and volunteer favorite, finally found his home,” Currier wrote. “We’ll be back at the Tysons Mixed Market this Thursday and expect to have more adoption events across the county.”
The Tysons Mixed Market will make its final appearance for this year at The Boro (8350 Broad Street) tomorrow (Sept. 24) from 4-8 p.m. In addition to hosting an adoption event for Fairfax County Animal Services, the event will feature local vendors, live entertainment, and a free cardio and strength class.
The Michael Frey campus in Fairfax temporarily closed in mid-August in order to conduct major HVAC system updates and other building improvements. The closure is expected to last for about six months.
Managing the pet population of a large county in just one shelter has required a lot of careful planning.
“Before the Michael R. Frey campus closed, we focused on finding placements and getting animals adopted so we could make the transition without overcrowding,” Currier wrote. “We also increased our foster capacity so more of our pets are awaiting adoption in a loving foster home. Most importantly, we expanded resources provided to Fairfax residents through our Pet Resource Center – that helps pets stay safe, healthy, and at home whenever possible.”
The Lorton campus is open at 8875 Lorton Road from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
