Welcome to the Lee County Animal Pound information page. Located at 944 Bus Shop Road, Jonesville, VA, 24263, we serve the community by providing shelter and care for stray dogs in Lee County, Virginia. You can reach us by phone at 276-346-7710. If we don’t answer, please follow the voicemail instructions carefully to leave your name and phone number. Note that we do not respond to messages via Facebook. Our office hours for visits and inquiries are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The shelter is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Many people search for Lee County Animal Shelter Photos to see the dogs currently available, and you can find information on viewing adoptable pets further down this page. The pet featured in the photo at the top right of the original source page is seeking a home; clicking it provides more details.
Lost and found pets are often featured on the Friends of Lee County VA Animal Shelter Facebook Page.
Important Coyote Mating Season Warning
Please be extra vigilant during January and February, as this is peak coyote mating season. Coyotes, being related to dogs, may view your pet as a mate, a rival, or prey. It is crucial not to let your dogs out unsupervised and to keep outdoor cats from roaming freely. While common in rural areas, coyotes are increasingly present in suburban and urban environments.
Breeding usually peaks in late February/early March, with a gestation period of 58-63 days. Male coyotes can become more aggressive during this time. Coyotes always pose a risk to small pets, and this risk heightens during mating season. Spaying or neutering your pets is essential. Coyotes can be attracted to and mate with intact domestic dogs. Unspayed females in heat attract male coyotes, while intact male dogs might be lured by a female coyote’s scent and potentially attacked by competing male coyotes.
Coyotes are intelligent and learn human routines. If you have a set schedule for letting your dog out, a coyote might anticipate this. Vary your routine, always walk your dog on a leash close to you, and remain watchful. For more details on coexisting safely during this period, please refer to resources like Reconnect With Nature.
About Lee County Animal Pound
Lee County Animal Pound is a small, rural facility located in Southwest Virginia. We are actively working towards becoming a no-kill shelter, a goal we pursue daily. With only 16 kennels, we are mandated to accept stray dogs found within the county. Unfortunately, when the shelter is full, euthanasia may be necessary to make space for incoming strays. You can find detailed 2024 intake statistics below.
To reach us from Highway 58, turn south onto State Route 70, then take an immediate left onto Bus Shop Road. Follow the signs directing you to the Pound. Additional information can be found on the official Lee County Animal Control website.
2024 Intake Statistics
Lee County VA Animal Shelter intake statistics chart for 2024 showing dog intake numbers
The data above reflects the Lee County VA Animal Shelter’s intake for 2024. A total of 717 dogs entered the shelter during the year. Thanks primarily to our dedicated rescue partners, 704 of these dogs made it out alive. We currently only accept dogs; no other types of animals are admitted. The facility operates with 16 kennels. Notably, the number of dogs surrendered by their owners exceeded the number brought in as strays.
How You Can Help Save Lives
Many are aware that PAWS of SWVA has been instrumental in pulling dogs from the Lee County Shelter and networking them for rescue over the past year. The Animal Control Officers have been cooperative and supportive of these efforts. We also extend our gratitude to the Wise County Animal Rescue Coalition for their partnership in transporting dogs tagged by larger rescue organizations, saving numerous lives. Our rescue partners have been invaluable.
However, this reliance on external partners is not a long-term solution. We urgently need YOUR help to continue saving these dogs. A critical need is establishing direct transport from Lee County to Staunton, VA. If enough volunteers commit, we might secure a donated transport vehicle and create a sustainable schedule, distributing the workload.
Help is needed in various forms:
- Transporters: Driving dogs to rescue partners or vet appointments.
- Overnight Hosts/Fosters: Providing temporary safe havens.
- Vet Visit Assistance: Helping get dogs to necessary appointments.
- Fundraising: Supporting medical care, transport costs, and shelter needs.
This life-saving work cannot continue without community involvement. If you want to be part of the solution, please email pawsofswva@yahoo.com or call/text Jo Anne at 276-202-1198. Volunteers from neighboring counties are also welcome. Please note: We do not respond to inquiries via Facebook posts.
We deeply appreciate everyone who shares our posts and helps find homes for the animals in our care.
Shelter Operations and Contact Information
Lee County operates with only two Animal Control Officers covering the entire county. These officers are also responsible for cleaning the shelter and caring for the animals. We do not have dedicated secretarial or shelter staff.
Officers are typically in the office Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, unless responding to an emergency. We aim to update the answering machine message if unavailable during these hours. We are happy to schedule appointments outside these standard hours.
Due to extremely high call volumes, calls are prioritized as follows:
- Emergency situations, cruelty cases (domestic and agricultural animals), and dangerous animal reports.
- Stray animal pick-ups.
- Owner surrenders.
If you need to surrender your dog, we strongly advise bringing the animal to the facility during our opening hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM).
Found a Dog? Legal Requirements
We receive 30-40 calls weekly regarding missing or stolen dogs, and frequently see social media posts about found dogs being given away. According to Virginia Code 3.2-6551, if you find a dog (remove it from a roadway, contain it on your property, or transport it in your vehicle), you MUST notify Lee County Animal Control at 276-346-7710 within 48 hours. Leave your name, phone number, and address. If the office is closed, we will return your call on the next business day.
You are not permitted to rehome a ‘found’ animal yourself or pass it to anyone other than an authorized Lee County Animal Control officer. Doing so can result in charges for failure to report or even larceny. Not all loose animals are strays; many owners do not use collars or tags despite requirements. Our aim is to reunite lost pets with owners or hold accountable those who abandon animals.
Lost Your Dog?
Stray dogs arriving at the shelter without identification (collar, tag, microchip) are held for 5 days before becoming available for adoption. Dogs with identification are held for 10 days.
If your dog is missing, please contact the shelter directly at 276-346-7710 to check if it has been brought in. While some strays are featured on the Friends of Lee County VA Animal Shelter Facebook Page, not all are posted online. Direct contact is essential.
Adopting a Dog from Lee County
Adoptions from Lee County Animal Pound are free to the public. However, adopters must sign:
- An Adoption Agreement.
- A Spay/Neuter Agreement, legally obligating you to sterilize the animal within a timeframe determined by its age.
Key points regarding adoption:
- Holding Periods: By state law, animals must complete a holding period before adoption. Strays without ID are held for 5 days; strays with ID are held for 10 days (post-custody day). Owner-surrendered dogs have no mandatory holding period.
- Sterilization: Virginia law mandates adopted dogs be spayed or neutered within 30 days of adoption.
- Vaccination: State law requires all dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies.
- Out-of-State Adoptions: Animals adopted to residents outside Virginia must be spayed or neutered before leaving the state.
- Adoption Fees: There are no fees to adopt.
- Pick-Up: Please be prepared to take your adopted dog home on the day its ‘available’ period ends. We cannot hold dogs beyond their availability date.
You can often find Lee County Animal Shelter Photos of adoptable dogs online.
Click here to see dogs currently needing homes
Illustration emphasizing keeping your adopted dog as part of the family
What To Do If You Find a Dog
If you encounter a stray dog, while you aren’t obligated to take it to the pound, you are legally required to report it to Lee County Animal Control (276-346-7710).
Should you decide to take the stray dog into your care temporarily, Virginia Code Section 3.2-6551 details your responsibilities. This applies if you provide “care or safekeeping” or control the animal’s movements. Within 48 hours, you must:
- Make a reasonable effort to locate the owner (check tags, licenses, collars, tattoos, etc.).
- Notify Lee County Animal Control, providing your name/phone number, where the dog was found, a description of the dog, and any identifying information found.
For helpful guidance on handling stray animals, consult resources like the Humane Society of the United States.
Safety is paramount – for both you and the animal. Strays are often scared, potentially sick, or injured. Exercise caution, especially near traffic. Remember, taking in a stray means assuming responsibility for its adequate care, including potential veterinary costs.
Think lost, not stray. Do everything possible to reunite the pet with its owner. This is why violating Section 3.2-6551 incurs a civil penalty (up to $50 per animal). Try attaching a long lead and encouraging the dog to “go home.” Post large “Found Dog” signs in the area. Take the dog to Animal Control or a vet clinic to scan for a microchip. Best Friends Animal Society also offers valuable advice.
Visiting Lee County Animal Pound
Before visiting, please call us at 276-346-7710 to confirm the dog you are interested in is still available for adoption. You can find our location using this Map of Jonesville, VA.
Additional Resources
This website is funded, operated, and maintained by The Dog Rescues Network as a community service. This website has no official connection with Lee County Animal Pound. No payment has been received or is required for this service. For website-related inquiries, email: webmaster@dogrescues.net
