Friendly helpful people here in a very modern and very well-appointed facility. The layout is organized and laid out very well which makes it easy to understand. Animals appear to be well cared for and clean though labels on their cages are not always completely correct. When my wife and I visited they had a lot of dogs and cats as I expected they would but they also had a few rabbits, birds and guinea pigs. Most of the animals were available for adoption but there is also a section where animals are quarantined due to law enforcement considerations. Our most recent visit was to look for our lost Basset Hound which ran from her caretaker while we were out of state for the Thanksgiving holiday. Unfortunately we did not find our pet but the staff was very helpful in our search at the shelter. They were able to offer advice for our continued search which was appreciated. One thing I've noticed is that the volunteer staff is exceptional, consistently friendly and helpful. At the same time the paid staff can be hit or miss. Some are professional and helpful while others can be dismissive and not much interested in exerting a lot of effort. I debated a three-star rating but ultimately decided the volunteers make up for the shortcomings of the paid employees and overall the facility provides an important and valuable service to the community. One last note, our story has a happy ending. Though we did not find our beloved Basset Hound at the shelter we were able to successfully locate and secure her after five days on the run. We are very happy to have her back and she's very happy to be back with us. read more

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Every time I go in there I feel like I'm intruding! They are so unfriendly and act like you are bothering them. They need to realize why people go there! To open their homes to an animal! They should be greeting people at the door with a smile and thanking them for coming in. Someone needs to teach them customer service skills! I don't go to that shelter anymore and don't recommend it! read more

We are told online to leave a message, and they will call back, and they never ever do call back after days and days of waiting for a return call....so what is the use??? read more

I am off put by these reviews from people who have interacted with the staff at this facility. Some say they are happy and satisfied with their experience. Resulting in a successful adoption for a dog or cat. That is an awesome thing to happen for any animal housed in a shelter. I thank the staff involved in these positive reviews and all that you do to help these fur babies day to day. I get not everyone can be satisfied and there will be a bad review now and again. I read all that was posted here and my jaw dropped in disbelief of how many potential homes for your residents were thrown away. What is a reasonable excuse for any staffing belonging to any kind of organization that could justify snappy responses to customers, any hint of rudeness, impatient with visitors, ignoring them and making them feel unwanted or in the way. This is not the face this facility desires, deserves, or wants to be known as having attitude. The price to be paid for the ignorance of a few is high and how many will pay for it? Lack of donations, adoptions, attention from the public, good staff will go elsewhere, once given a bad reputation the weight it brings will always be carried by the business and by any associates. This needs to be rectified faster than it has been ignored. This facility was funded, built and put into works to ease a burden. I apologize to those who are giving themselves to these animals who so desperately just want to be loved and wanted. I appreciate you and all you do for these beautiful critters. Why is it being tarnished? Someone that has the authority; please take a stand and rectify the cause of these bad experiences. These furry guys desirve the chance to exist. Crudely put; These little guys have had a rough go at owning a human. Last thing they need is something in the way and 'F'-ing up their chances to exist! read more

In October we adopted a dog, Farley, from here. He was one of the staff members favorites and we were told he was a "chill dog." And he is just that. A chill dog. The process it took to get our dog was quick and easy. We signed the papers, he got neutered, and within a couple days we brought him home. The amount of kindness from the staff and volunteers is great. We appreciated every bit of information they gave us on all the dogs we looked at. They were so gentle and patient to the more hyper active dogs, which I enjoyed seeing. You can really see the care and compassion they have for them. We will continue to support, donate, and adopt from this shelter. Thank you to all the staff for you do! read more

Chesapeake Animal Services - Our rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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The facility is nice. However, the customer service is unprofessional. The workers are very rude and unhelpful. I picked a dog, that I was very interested in, and was willing to undergo whatever process to get the dog. However, I only asked to pull the dog to test his personality around me out the kennel, to only get the run around. I was told to get paperwork and plenty of information or statements to vouch for the dog and did that, to get told my paperwork wasn't good enough. I hope all the dogs there find a loving home disregarding the workers over them who've probably missed their opportunity with finding a perfect home because of them. read more

Very clean and well run environment. The floor staff is very busy caring for the animals, as they should be, but are very helpful when you need assistance. Exactly how a true shelter should be run! read more

I wanted to do the Snout and About program for some time now, after looking through the reviews I was kind of off put, but decided screw it I'll just go and see what happens. Because of the other reviews I walked in ready to fight but I was greeted with a smile and redirected to where the Snout and About check out/ in was. The woman who was working there was very nice and seemed to genuinely care about the dogs. I got everything I needed for the day and then some. I particularly liked the seatbelt - especially for a dog that wants to be in your lap (which is adorable unless you're driving). As a college student I can't own a dog right now, so I was expecting to be heart broken when I dropped him off, but the way he ran right in and up to the lady at the counter, I knew they could care for him much better than I could and knew he was in good hands. I look forward to coming back to take part in this program again! read more

Chesapeake Animal Services - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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Doesn't look as bad in the inside as outside under construction. Had to do one of the hardest thing in life..put my dog of 12 yrs to sleep. The facility is very nice inside..didn't take any pic to emotional at the time. The where very polite and sympathy when I had to drop her off..explained the vfc procedure to me and I was very comfortable. Advised that I did get two opinions,before making my decision. Oh my ,I was so emotional and they supplied tissues and words of comfort. I would advise anyone that has to put your animal down to seek their services..the also have a service to preserve the ashes. read more

Chesapeake Animal Services - All patch up .... Has a mass. In her chest and heart murmur.... - Animal Shelters Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

The one star is for the volunteer workers. Not the receptionist lady who works up front. Whoever the older blonde lady is working as a receptionist is extremely rude and unprofessional. I NEVER write reviews but had to for this one. The dog I wanted ended up getting adopted, which is completely fine! Another receptionist broke the news to me but seemed at least empathetic while telling me. I'm sure the dog ended up with a great family and I am genuinely happy for them. However, as someone who has worked in customer service for the majority of their life, the point of customer service is to be understanding, polite, and informational. This was the opposite. The initial receptionist seemed upset that I didn't know their specific adoption process already and seemed irritated whenever I had any questions (to preface I had never adopted from here before). It's extremely validating to know that others feel the same way on here. This place would do SO much better and I'm sure have more business if the workers who are the FIRST and LAST interactions you have at the facility were more friendly and changed their tone of voice. read more

RUDE RUDE RUDE! The staff women at the front desk were nasty. They were extremely unfriendly. Who actually gave them 5 stars. Yelp should create a Zero just for them. It had to be a family member that gave them a 5. They should close this place and give all of the animals to other shelters that care. This beautiful facility sucks! The staff have nasty attitudes. I even followed up with a complaint to the supervisor. Well the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Just as nasty. I see where they get it from. I left and got my kittens from Norfolk SPSA. They were super nice and helpful. read more

Please do not adopt from this place. I feel bad for all the animal they take care of. The staff is not kind at all. We adopted an 8 year old cat who we believed to be healthy and they said he was clean and ready to go, when we brought him home we found out he had tapeworm. In his medical records it was said that he was treated a little over a month prior for worms but that he's clear now. I called the center back and they rudely snapped that now that I signed the adoption papers it was my problem. They don't guarantee the health of their animals, but apparently can run tests and do surgeries for them. The staff acts like they don't want to be there. When we asked to hold a kitten they're like ugh well I guess I can do that for you. read more

City employees are very RUDE!!!! Asked about a young dog that showed she could be adopted and we were told "She's not available " very rudely! And she kept repeating it. I feel sorry for those dogs. I hope that baby finds a good home. Going to the Virginia Beach shelter where the employees are not rude! I'm embarrassed to say I live in Chesapeake if that is how government employees act!!! Update: So Amanda from Chesapeake Shelter sent me a message for me to call her. I called twice and she never bothered to return my call! That's okay we went to Hope for Life and adopted a puppy. We even gave them more than they wanted! From no on tgey will get all of my donations! And Amanda with you not returning my call just shows you really don't care if your employees are RUDE!!! read more

Adopted a puppy from here and was very quick and easy and nice people. But while waiting to get him neutered we went in a few times to visit and the lady there was so rude and said "oh your gonna wish you didn't get the dog. I've worked here 8 years and a dog never bothered me but I want to kill that dog. He barks way to much". And for the record the puppy was only surrendered and brought it on Monday and we got him in Monday. So of course he's gonna bark, he's never been in a shelter. Then we got him Friday and they told us no biting records and he's super sweet. He's attacked us twice since having him (only for 3 days). Also we got his records and they told us he was 6 months and turns out he turns one in 10 days. read more

I had a horrible experience with a member of the front staff. I went in to adopt a dog, making it very clear that there would be children wanting to help walk the dog, that I walked a lot with my current dog, etc. The dog I ended up taking home was great in the house, but when I walked on the street with him, he lunged, barking and thrashing and growling, to get at every single other dog he saw - so much so that neighbors came out of their house just to tell me I had no business walking such a 'dangerous dog' where there were other people and dogs. I took him back to the shelter where I was told 'well, we never had a problem with him', and 'his chart says he gets excited around other dogs'. I said first that no one had told me that when I was adopting him, and second that he was not excited - he was being aggressive to a point where I almost couldn't handle him. I was told that if I was going to say that about him, I was basically condemning him to be put down. I was then told I couldn't adopt from them for a year since I was surrendering a dog (which I was told if he didn't work out I could bring him back). She then said that 'most people give the dog a chance before they just bring them back', and I left sobbing. As absolutely horrible as I'd already felt, I wasn't going to let something happen to the kids or my other dog before I decided a dog aggressive pet wasn't for my situation. I can't help but notice that he's back up for adoption with the phrase that he gets excited about seeing other dogs....so, just a matter of time before it happens again...it should read that he just needs to be in a home with no other dogs, and no contact with other dogs. To sum it up: I was told that my being unable to control a dog that was lunging, barking, and growling at other dogs meant that he would likely be put down, and that it was my fault for bringing him back...and that meant I was not suitable for giving another dog a home. Traumatizing and completely inappropriate. read more

Rude, unprofessional, and unknowledgable. I walked up to the counter to ask a question about a dog I saw on the website the lady behind the counter continued to type and ignore me as well the lady next to her. I had to clear my throat to gain attention. Asked about the animal and she just said it was adopted and I asked about a few others I saw and she said they weren't there. I went and looked on my own and all of them were there. As a military member I pride on professionalism and I expect that from city governememt employees as a representative of their city. Chesapeake should be embarrassed of the people they hire. It's not the first time I've dealt with rude city employees. read more

After my most recent experience I truly feel bad for the animals at this facility! The front desk staff is very rude and have this demeanor towards people coming in that is not welcoming or helpful! It truly makes me question if they truly want to find homes for the animals there. I came in with my family we looked at a few dogs It went well with my family and children. We decoded to come back to introduce our dog. Having a ton of experience with rescue dogs I can tell you the way they go about introducing dogs to potential adopters dogs is not how it should be done! Introducing then through the fence is fine but they expect no level of stress or anxiety. The dogs in the shelter are stuck in kennels and are very excited coming out. adopters dogs are scared and nervous about coming up to the shelter outdoor kennels They refuse to work with potential adopters and their pets to truly see if it will work out. It's a huge disservice to the dogs there looking for homes! Today they refused to try another meet and greet b/c it was sprinkling outside! Seriously you won't do a meet and greet due to a few rain drops! it was 75 degrees outside snd when I came back out it wasn't even raining. All I can say is they definitely need help and they need people who truly want to find homes for the dogs that are there! I truly hope the dog I wanted to try another meet snd greet with who's been there since July (it's now October) finds a loving home! read more

I've have nothing but positive reviews. I just adopted my second pit from here. Both times they've neutered them and the process was fast. Rudeness has never been a problem here and if they are short it may be the customer and not the workers. read more

The workers here are very rude, I went to look a dog they had available and the lady snapped when I said I was interested in her " we'll have you even visited her yet" ( very rudely), then kind of turned to talk to the other staff about something totally different mean while me and my nephew are standing there. She then turns around are in a rude voice again tells me to stand by the cage to get her out so I go and stand but the cage but no one ended coming, so I took my nephew to the car with my mom and talked to her about how they were acting. My mom went in and ask them about the adoption process and explain to them that I haven't ever spotted before so I might just need alittle more help in understanding the process. All the lady says back to my mom is " is that the only kid she has?". My mom said " that's her nephew, she doesn't have kids" and the lady didn't say anything. My question however is; if he was my kid were they not going to allow me to adopt? read more

Found the staff very cold and uninterested. Went there to see a dog I had seen on their website. Tried phoning to ask questions but told they were too busy to talk to me. Ask if I could see the dog and I gave her the name off the site and she snapped and said we don't go by names what is the number. They do nothing to encourage people to adopt. They are not good ambassadors and perhaps a smile and politeness and an enthusiasm in the work they do would be beneficial. read more