Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption 2026
Use this page like a Peninsula animal-help dashboard. Pick adoption, lost pet, found pet, reclaim, surrender, Newport News/Poquoson control, Hampton HART, or York County Animal Services.
Best first move: PRAS is the regional intake shelter for Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County. Animal-control calls still go to the correct city/county number.
Choose What You Need
Clickable Peninsula Animal Help Cards
Tap the matching action. This avoids calling the wrong agency or arriving too late for a meet-and-greet.
What PRAS Is — and What It Is Not
PRAS is the regional shelter, not one single city’s animal-control office.
Four-community shelter
PRAS is supported by Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County and is managed by the City of Newport News.
Open-admission shelter
The shelter holds stray animals, reunites lost pets, rehomes owner-surrendered pets and facilitates adoptions.
Full-service shelter clinic
The official PRAS page describes a full-service veterinary clinic for shelter animals and capacity for dogs, cats, pocket pets and small companions.
Who to Call First
Use this before driving to the shelter or reporting an animal-control issue.
| Situation | Call / click | What to say | Next micro-step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt from PRAS | PRAS adoption page or 757-933-8900 | “Is [animal name/ID] still available and can I meet them today?” | Arrive early enough for the 4 PM meet-and-greet cutoff. |
| Lost pet may be at PRAS | 757-933-8900 | “My pet is missing near [location]. Can I file a report and check in person?” | Bring photo, ID and ownership paperwork. |
| Found a pet | Lost & Found page | “I found a pet at [exact location] and can/cannot temporarily hold it.” | Bring found pets to PRAS 10 AM-5 PM if appropriate. |
| Newport News / Poquoson animal services | 757-595-7387 | “I need animal services for [stray/cruelty/animal emergency/legal question].” | Use this for Newport News/Poquoson route. |
| Hampton Animal Response Team | 757-727-6111, option 1 | “I need to report [cruelty/stray/sick animal/vicious animal/dead animal].” | Hampton HART handles Hampton animal-response issues. |
| York County Animal Services | 757-890-3601 | “I need to report [stray dog/cat, suspected neglect, livestock issue, injured small wildlife].” | Use York County route for York jurisdiction issues. |
Adoption Hours, Reunite Lobby and Best Arrival Time
The adoption desk and reunite/intake lobby do not operate exactly the same way.
| Service | Official hours | Best time to arrive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption Center | 12 PM-5 PM most open days | Before 3:15 PM | The last meet and greet is completed by 4 PM and each meet can take up to 45 minutes. |
| Saturday adoptions | 11 AM-5 PM | Before 3:15 PM | Saturday opens earlier but the 4 PM meet-and-greet cutoff still matters. |
| Tuesday adoptions | Closed for adoptions | Do not plan adoption visit | Check pets online instead. |
| Intake/reunite lobby | 10 AM-5 PM daily | Earlier is better | Use for lost/found reports, reclaim and intake/reunite questions. |
PRAS Adoption Fees
These are the official fee categories shown on the PRAS adoption page.
| Animal | Official fee | Before you adopt |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy under 1 year | $100 | Ask about vaccine timing, training needs and first-week setup. |
| Small dog under 30 lbs. | $100 | Ask about kids, other pets, leash behavior and known history. |
| Large dog over 30 lbs. | $50 | Ask about exercise needs, housing rules and meet-and-greet steps. |
| Cat | $50 | Bring a carrier and ask about litter habits and medical notes. |
| Kitten | $60 | Ask about booster timing, kitten-proofing and isolation from resident pets. |
| Working barn cat | $25 | Ask about acclimation space, daily food/water and long-term care. |
| Rabbit | $65 | PRAS lists rabbits as spayed/neutered and microchipped. |
| Guinea pig | $10 | Bring safe transport and ask about diet/housing. |
| Rat, mouse, hamster | $5 | Ask about enclosure, bedding and handling. |
| Chicken or duck | $5 | Check local rules before adopting backyard poultry. |
| Rooster | No fee | Check local rooster restrictions before adopting. |
| Small bird | $20 | Ask about cage size and diet. |
| Large bird | $50 | Ask about noise, space, diet and long-term commitment. |
| Reptile | $20 | Ask about heat, UVB, enclosure and diet. |
| Ferret | $40 / $60 bonded pair | Confirm legal housing and vet care before adopting. |
| Pot-bellied pig or goat | $25 | Verify zoning and outdoor setup first. |
| Non-native turtle | $10 | Ask about enclosure, heat, water and legal ownership. |
| Native turtle | No fee | Confirm placement guidance with PRAS staff. |
| Senior animal 8+ years old | No fee | Ask about medical notes, medication and senior care. |
Adoption Micro-Steps
PRAS says there is no appointment needed, but the process is still first-available and in-person.
Check adoptable animals
Open 24Petconnect and filter to ZIP code 23605 for PRAS animals. Screenshot name, ID and species.
Visit in person
PRAS states online questionnaire submission does not hold the animal. Adopters must visit in person to meet pets they are interested in.
Check in at the front desk
After seeing an animal you want to meet, check in with the front desk team.
Complete the questionnaire
Fill out the Animal Interest Questionnaire at the front desk or online before arriving, then join the meet-and-greet queue.
Meet the adoption specialist
Discuss the animal’s known history, then meet the animal. Same-day adoption may be possible when both sides agree it is a good match.
Finalize records and contract
If adopting, you will finalize the adoption contract and receive the animal’s records.
Lost or Found Pet: What to Do
For lost pets, photos and in-person checks matter because breed and description labels may not be 100% accurate.
If your pet is lost
- Go to PRAS at 5843 Jefferson Avenue during reunite lobby hours.
- Fill out a lost report and look for your animal in person.
- Bring a clear photo, ID and any paperwork such as vet records, license, adoption papers or microchip details.
- Check every few days during the legal hold period.
- Use PRAS lost/found resources, PawBoost, Nextdoor, Craigslist, local Facebook groups, HOA/rental pages and newspaper ads.
- Call the correct animal-control agency if you need to report a stray, cruelty, animal emergency or legal animal question.
If you found a pet
- You can bring a found pet to PRAS Monday-Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
- If able to safely hold the pet while helping find the owner, report the animal to PRAS.
- Have the pet scanned for a microchip.
- If you are interested in adopting the found animal, ask to be listed as an interested finder.
- Do not assume the animal is available for adoption during the legal hold period.
- If it is an emergency or pickup issue, contact the appropriate animal-control agency.
Reclaim Fees, Proof and Documents
Do not wait until the hold period is almost over. Go in person and bring proof.
ID required
Bring a valid photo ID when reclaiming an animal.
Ownership proof
Bring photos, vet records, license, adoption papers or microchip details.
Fees
PRAS lists a $25 impound fee and $15 per day per animal. A second offense within a year is $50 plus $15 per day per animal.
Payment
PRAS says it accepts cash, debit/credit card and checks. Promissory notes may be available upon request.
Hold periods
Animals with ID are held 10 days; animals without ID are held 5 days.
Check repeatedly
If your pet is missing, PRAS recommends checking in person every few days.
Owner Surrender: Consult First
PRAS asks owners to call or come for consultation before bringing an animal for surrender.
| Need | Official route | Bring / prepare | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrender consultation | 757-933-8900 or PRAS-Reunite@nnva.gov | Call or visit daily 8 AM-5 PM for consultation and times. | Consult before bringing the animal. |
| Behavior reason | 757-933-8980 | Ask for animal behaviorist suggestions. | Use before deciding surrender is the only option. |
| Paperwork | Owner surrender forms | Dog, cat or small-animal surrender form; medical paperwork. | Bring any medical records with you. |
| Eligibility proof | Photo ID / address verification | Valid photo ID or address verification for York County, Poquoson, Hampton or Newport News. | Required by the owner-surrender page. |
| Fee | No surrender fee listed | Medical paperwork still requested. | The PRAS owner-surrender page says there is no fee to surrender your pet. |
Animal Control Routes: Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County
Use these routes for animal-control problems, not normal adoption browsing.
| Jurisdiction | Number | Use for | Official clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport News / Poquoson | 757-595-7387 | Strays before shelter opens, animal-control questions, local animal services route. | Listed by PRAS for Newport News/Poquoson. |
| Hampton Animal Response Team | 757-727-6111, option 1 | Cruelty, neglect, inadequate care, animal exposures, vicious animals, sick/injured animals, strays and dead animals from city streets. | Hampton lists HART hours Monday-Friday 8 AM-4 PM, including holidays, with weekends on call. |
| York County Animal Services | 757-890-3601 | Stray cats and dogs, suspected neglect or abuse of livestock/domestic animals, injured small wildlife such as raccoons or opossums. | York County Animal Control operates within the Sheriff’s Office. |
| Emergency | 911 | Immediate human safety emergency. | Use emergency services first when people are in danger. |
Before You Leave Home
Animal screenshot, ID, payment, household approval, rental/military housing rules.
Clear photo, vet records, license, microchip info, collar/tag details, exact last-seen location.
Photos, found location, safe transport, microchip-scan plan, ability to temporarily hold.
Consultation, ID/address proof, medical paperwork, behavior notes, surrender form.
Copy/Paste Call Scripts
Adoption
Hi, I am interested in [animal name/ID]. Is this animal still available, and can I come today before the 4 PM meet-and-greet cutoff?Lost pet
Hi, my [dog/cat] is missing near [cross streets]. I have photos and paperwork. Can I file a lost report and check whether my pet is at PRAS?Found pet
Hi, I found a [dog/cat] near [exact location]. The animal is [safe/injured/aggressive]. I can/cannot hold it. Should I bring it to PRAS or call animal control?Surrender
Hi, I need to discuss possible surrender for my [pet]. I live in [city/county]. I have medical records and behavior notes. What consultation time or forms do I need?Map: Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter
Use this map for PRAS adoption, lost/found and reunite visits. For stray pickup or animal-control problems, call the correct jurisdiction first.
Official Peninsula Animal Links
The key details are summarized above. Use these official pages for live verification, forms and final action.
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter FAQ
What is Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter?
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter is the regional intake shelter for Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County. It holds stray animals, reunites lost pets, rehomes owner-surrendered pets and facilitates adoptions.
Where is Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter located?
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter is located at 5843 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23605.
What is the PRAS phone number?
The main Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter phone number is 757-933-8900.
What are PRAS adoption hours?
PRAS lists adoption hours as 12 PM to 5 PM most open days, Saturday 11 AM to 5 PM, and closed Tuesday for adoptions.
What time is the last PRAS meet and greet?
PRAS says the last meet and greet is completed by 4 PM. Each meet and greet can take up to 45 minutes, so arrive well before the cutoff.
Does an online Animal Interest Questionnaire hold an animal?
No. PRAS says completing the online survey or questionnaire does not place an animal on hold. Adoptions are on a first-available basis and adopters must visit in person.
How much are PRAS dog and cat adoption fees?
PRAS lists puppies under 1 year at $100, small dogs under 30 pounds at $100, large dogs over 30 pounds at $50, cats at $50 and kittens at $60.
How long does PRAS hold stray animals?
PRAS says stray animals are held 10 days with identification and 5 days without identification before the animal becomes property of the shelter and is processed accordingly.
What do I need to reclaim a pet from PRAS?
Bring proof of ownership and ID. PRAS also lists a $25 impound fee and $15 per day per animal; a second offense within a year is $50 plus $15 per day per animal.
Can I surrender a pet to PRAS?
Yes, but PRAS asks owners to contact a shelter representative for consultation and surrender times before bringing the animal. Bring medical paperwork and valid photo ID or address verification for York County, Poquoson, Hampton or Newport News.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.