Animal Shelter

"To promote a safer community through responsible animal ownership and humane care."Puppy

About Us

The Middlesex County Animal Shelter is Middlesex County’s only open-access municipal shelter.  We take in stray animals in need, owner surrendered canines when the owner is no longer willing or able to care for them, and animals who have been seized or taken into custody by Animal Control. 

We accept all canines from Middlesex County who are in need of care, regardless of health, age, temperament, or history. Middlesex County Animal Shelter does not euthanize for space or length of time, and all adoptable animals are given every opportunity for a new home and family. We have an incredibly compassionate staff, and we also have vibrant and active volunteer and foster programs. We know that every animal who enters our shelter will be given the best care and shown boundless love while they are in our care, and while they wait for their forever family to adopt them. We are very proud that, since 2010, our positive release rate has been over 90% each year!

Adopt

You can view our animals ready for adoption.  Learn more information about adoption at Petfinder.

Online Animal Adoption Form

Volunteer Opportunities

Get your Volunteer Application (PDF) and be sure to view the Volunteer Guidelines (PDF). Return completed applications by mail, fax, or email to the Animal Shelter, or bring it in person!  

No more squeaky toys.   Thank you all for your past donations to our shelter.  However, due to multiple incidents in the past week, effective immediately, stuffed dog toys and toys with squeakers can no longer be used by Middlesex County Animal Shelter.  Any item that can be a choking hazard, including any leather type item like rawhide, cannot be accepted.  Our dogs will only be able to play with Kong-type toys, and we welcome them as donations.  

Can't volunteer, but still want to help? Check out our amazon and Chewy wish list.  

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/owner-view/11Y5TT2KQSQI4?ref_=list_d_gl_lfu_nav


https://www.chewy.com/g/middlesex-pet-friends-for-life_b69164680#wish-list&wishlistsortby=DEFAULT


BEFORE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOU TO SURRENDER YOUR PET, WE WILL ASK:

Have you tried rehoming your pet on your own?

    • This is beneficial because you know your pet best, and you know what type of new home they would do best in, and it allows you to be part of the process of finding a new family for your pet. Plus, your pet will not need to enter the Shelter, which is helpful as we work to maintain a humane capacity within the Shelter.

Did you originally adopt your pet from another shelter or rescue organization?

    • If yes, please contact that shelter or rescue organization to return the pet there. Responsible rescue organizations and other shelters such as ours usually require that any pet adopted from their organization be returned to them and will take the pet back if the owner can no longer keep them. Please give the shelter or rescue at least a few days to respond – they’re busy, too! 
    • You may also contact the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society.  They also accept owner sign-overs from Middlesex County.  Call 804 693 5520, they may be able to help you if they have room.
    • If you have exhausted all options and find that you still need to surrender your pet to our Shelter, please email us at adoptmiddlesex@gmail.com  schedule an appointment.

         We are receiving more surrender          requests than usual, and we         schedule appointments based on the       order residents contact us and based on capacity within the Shelter.

  • Please be patient. You will hear from Shelter staff within 48 hours to start the surrender process.
  • If you have already emailed, you do not need to call to request an appointment; if you emailed an appointment request, we will respond, and if you’ve received a response via email, you do not need to call. This will not speed up the process.
  • Email is the preferred method for communicating a need to surrender your pet: adoptmiddlesex@gmail.com

 


We currently have a very high population of dogs, due to a higher-than-usual number of surrender requests and strays combined with a lower-than-usual number of adoptions. This is occurring in shelters across the country right now. If you can delay surrendering your dog, or if you are able to rehome your dog to a new family on your own, please do so!