About Us
The Regional Center for Animal Control & Protection is open to the public Monday-Saturday for pet owners to search for and redeem their lost pet, or to surrender an animal.
Hours of operation are:
Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Phone: 540.344.4922
Fax: 540.342.4906
Email: mail@rcacp.org
The Regional Center serves the City of Roanoke, the Counties of Botetourt and Roanoke, and the Town of Vinton, and is an “open intake facility”. The Regional Center primarily handles stray animals picked up by the Animal Control Officers employed by the municipalities, but also accepts strays that are found, and animals owned, by citizens of the municipalities served. Each year the Regional Center receives between 7,500 and 8,000 animals.
In accordance with Virginia law, stray animals are held for a minimum of ten (10) days if the animal has any form of identification and five (5) days if the animal has no identification. There is no minimum holding period for animals relinquished by owners, but the Regional Center endeavors to hold animals relinquished by owners for a minimum of two (2) days.
While at the Regional Center, animals are evaluated for adoptability. Animals that are not considered to be adoptable are humanely euthanized once the animal has been held for the required length of time. Animals that are considered to be adoptable are, subject to the availability of space, transferred to the Roanoke Valley SPCA or another rescue organization for adoption. If there is not sufficient space at the Roanoke Valley SPCA or another rescue organization, the animal will continue to be held at the Regional Center until space becomes available as long as the animal remains in good health and of good disposition and the Regional Center continues to have space for the animal. Because there are more animals coming to the Regional Center than the amount of available space at the Roanoke Valley SPCA or other rescue organizations, animals that are considered to be adoptable are euthanized at the Regional Center. The Regional Center uses the best available humane method of euthanasia, performed under the best possible conditions by certified euthanasia technicians.
