Hampton Roads Home-Based Animal Rescue Organizatons

With the passage of SB-950 by the Virginia General Assembly and the bill having been signed into law by then-governor Mark Warner, the concept of "Home-Based" animal rescue groups became a reality in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

A "Home-Based" animal rescue is exactly what it's name implies-an animal rescue that is operated out of a person's home, and while these groups must meet many of the same requirements for record keeping and animal care that animal shelters, humane societies and SPCA's must meet, they may have vastly different individual admission and adoption policies.

While some Home-Based animal rescue groups work with all animals, others may focus on dogs, cats or specific breeds or species of animals such as birds or reptiles.

Home-Based animal rescue groups play an important part in the animal welfare picture in Hampton Roads, often work closely with shelters to take in animals when the shelter is overcrowded and it is estimated that these groups are responsible for accepting 10% of the animals from Virginia animal shelters.