Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter, Pet Adoption & Control
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter — usually called PRAS — is the public regional shelter at 5843 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23605. It shelters animals for Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County and is managed by the City of Newport News on behalf of those four jurisdictions.
If you want to adopt, reclaim a missing pet, bring in a found animal or discuss owner surrender, PRAS is the shelter route. If you need an officer for cruelty, a dangerous animal, a loose animal, a bite or another enforcement problem, the correct Animal Control number depends on which city or county the incident occurred in.
What Do You Need Help With?
Meet a pet at PRAS
Walk-in adoption is available during adoption-lobby hours. Start early because new questionnaires stop at 3:30 PM.
Your pet is missing
Use the Lost/Found lobby, submit photos and physically check animals because breed descriptions are not always exact.
You need an officer
Call the jurisdiction where the animal or incident is located. Newport News, Hampton and York County use different dispatch routes.
You may need to surrender
Owner surrender is managed admission and normally requires advance contact and an appointment.
Is Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter a Government Shelter?
Yes — PRAS is government-operated
PRAS is a collaborative public shelter supported by Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County. The City of Newport News manages and operates the facility on behalf of the four participating jurisdictions.
Its core jobs include adoption, housing stray animals, reuniting pets with owners and receiving owner-surrendered pets.
PRAS is not the Peninsula SPCA
The Peninsula SPCA at J. Clyde Morris Boulevard is a separate nonprofit organization. It no longer serves as the regional impound facility for stray animals.
Stray animals for the participating PRAS jurisdictions are handled through PRAS and the appropriate local Animal Control agency.
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter Hours
PRAS has two public lobbies with different purposes and different hours. A common mistake is arriving during Intake/Reunite hours and assuming the Adoption lobby follows the same schedule.
| Day | Adoption Lobby | Intake / Reunite |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12 PM–5 PM | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 12 PM–5 PM | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 12 PM–5 PM | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 12 PM–5 PM | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–5 PM | 10 AM–5 PM |
| Sunday | 12 PM–5 PM | 10 AM–5 PM |
How to Adopt From Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter
You do not need a normal appointment to visit PRAS for adoption. Animals are handled on a first-available basis, and submitting the online questionnaire does not place an animal on hold.
Check the current adoption page
Start with the official PRAS Adopt a Pet page . Review the current pet information and any temporary adoption events before leaving home.
Choose backup pets, not just one profile
Availability can change during the day because another adopter, foster placement or owner reclaim may occur. PRAS adoption placements are first available, not held by an online survey.
Complete the Animal Interest Questionnaire
You can complete the questionnaire at the front desk or use the official online questionnaire linked from the adoption page. An online form starts preparation but does not reserve the animal.
Arrive well before the cutoff
PRAS recommends arriving when the Adoption Center first opens if you are serious about completing a same-day adoption. New questionnaires stop at 3:30 PM.
Check in at the Adoption lobby
The Adoption lobby is the first entrance on the left. Its direct phone number is 757-933-8916.
Select up to two pets for the meet-and-greet
PRAS currently allows adopters to choose up to two animals during each meet-and-greet. An Adoption Specialist reviews the animal’s known history and helps you evaluate the match.
Allow 30–45 minutes or longer
PRAS says a typical adoption takes approximately 30–45 minutes. It may take longer when the shelter is busy or only one Adoption Specialist is available.
Finalize the contract and collect records
If you and the Adoption Specialist agree the animal is a good match, Guest Services completes the adoption contract and provides the animal’s available records.
PRAS Adoption Fees
These are the current regular fees published by Newport News Parks & Recreation. Temporary adoption events may reduce them, so use the official adoption page for any live promotion.
| Animal | Current published fee | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| Dog over 30 lb | $50 | Standard adult/large dog fee on the current adoption page. |
| Dog under 30 lb | $100 | Current smaller-dog fee. |
| Puppy under 1 year | $100 | Published puppy fee. |
| Adult cat | $50 | Standard cat fee. |
| Kitten | $60 | Current kitten fee. |
| Working barn cat | $25 | Separate working-cat category. |
| Rabbit | $65 | Confirm enclosure and long-term care before adopting. |
| Guinea pig | $10 | Published small-animal fee. |
| Rat / mouse / hamster | $5 | Published small-animal fee. |
| Ferret |
$40 $60 bonded pair |
Current published ferret pricing. |
| Small bird | $20 | Published bird fee. |
| Large bird | $50 | Published bird fee. |
| Reptile | $20 | Published reptile fee. |
| Pot-bellied pig / goat | $25 | Check your local zoning before adopting. |
| Senior animal 8+ | No fee | Applies to the current senior-animal category. |
What to Prepare Before an Adoption Visit
Have more than one option
Save the name or identifying information for a few pets. Online availability and actual same-day availability may differ.
Plan a safe trip home
Bring or arrange an appropriate carrier, leash, harness or secure vehicle setup for the type and size of animal you plan to adopt.
Do not arrive near closing
Because new surveys stop at 3:30 PM and adoptions commonly take 30–45 minutes, arriving early is much safer than planning around the 5 PM door-closing time.
Lost or Found Pet: What to Do at PRAS
PRAS is the intake facility for Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County. Lost-pet searches are time-sensitive because the legal hold period differs depending on whether the animal has identification.
Start with the official Lost & Found page
Use the official PRAS Lost & Found Animals page for current shelter instructions.
Send a photo when reporting
PRAS lists pras-reunite@nnva.gov for missing/found-animal photos and related reunification help.
Visit the Intake / Reunite lobby
The Lost/Found lobby is the second entrance on the left and is open 10 AM–5 PM daily. Direct line: 757-933-8919.
Do not rely only on a breed description
PRAS specifically encourages owners to come look because shelter breed and visual descriptions are not always completely accurate.
If you found a stray before 10 AM, call Animal Control
PRAS directs finders to their city/county Animal Services agency before the Intake/Reunite lobby opens. The correct numbers are listed in the Animal Control section below.
How Long Does PRAS Hold a Stray Pet?
10-day legal hold
PRAS currently states that stray animals arriving with identification are held for 10 days during the legal hold period.
5-day legal hold
PRAS currently states that a stray animal without identification is held for 5 days.
Owner Surrender & Rehoming at PRAS
Since January 2023, PRAS has used a managed-admission process for normal owner surrenders. That means you should contact the shelter before bringing an owned pet.
Only the four participating jurisdictions
PRAS does not accept ordinary stray or owner-surrender animals from outside Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson or York County.
Call ahead for an appointment
Contact PRAS at 757-933-8900 and discuss your situation with staff before bringing the pet.
Review keeping-the-pet resources first
Open the official Resources and Rehoming page . PRAS provides a community resource booklet and a direct-home rehoming option so a shelter surrender may sometimes be avoided.
Call PRAS and explain the actual problem
Be direct about medical needs, behavior, housing loss, financial hardship, bites, aggression or other urgency. This helps staff decide whether resources or intake are appropriate.
Complete the correct surrender questionnaire
PRAS publishes separate dog, cat and pocket-pet surrender questionnaires on its official rehoming page.
Bring residency documentation
For surrender, PRAS requires photo identification showing an address in one of the four participating jurisdictions. If the ID address is outdated, bring proof of current residency such as a bill with your name and address.
Understand what surrender means legally
PRAS states that once an owner relinquishes the pet, legal property rights have been surrendered and the shelter will not provide later information about the animal’s final disposition.
Peninsula Animal Control: Call the Correct Jurisdiction
PRAS houses animals for four localities, but there is no single regional Animal Control dispatch number for every incident. Use the jurisdiction where the animal or incident is physically located.
NN Newport News
Animal Welfare / Animal Control:
757-595-PETS (7387)
Current City information lists patrol hours as 7 AM–7 PM daily and emergency service hours as 7 PM–7 AM daily.
Official route: Newport News Animal Welfare .
HAM Hampton
Hampton Animal Response Team:
757-727-6111,
option 1
HART investigates cruelty, neglect, inadequate care, exposure, vicious animals, sick or injured animals and strays.
Current posted office response: Monday–Friday including holidays, 8 AM–4 PM; weekends on call.
Official route: Hampton Animal Response Team .
POQ Poquoson
Animal Control:
757-595-7387
The City of Poquoson service directory publishes the same Animal Control number that PRAS lists for Newport News/Poquoson.
Official directory: Poquoson Service Phone Numbers .
YRK York County
York County Animal Services:
757-890-3601
Published emergency / 24-hour non-emergency route:
757-890-3621
York Animal Services operates within the Sheriff’s Office and responds to stray animals, neglect, abuse, dangerous animals, unsafe vehicles and related animal-welfare concerns.
Official route: York County Animal Services .
Animal Bites, Rabies & Immediate Danger
| Situation | Best route | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Active attack or immediate danger to a person | 911 | Do not delay emergency help while trying to contact adoption staff. |
| Animal bite in Newport News / Poquoson | 757-595-7387 | Report through the jurisdictional Animal Control route after addressing urgent medical needs. |
| Animal bite in Hampton | 757-727-6111 | Hampton’s official bite guidance directs reports to Animal Control. |
| Animal bite in York County | 757-890-3601 | York County directs bites to Animal Services and local public health. |
| Lower Peninsula public-health rabies / bite guidance | 757-594-7340 | York County’s current official rabies guidance publishes this Virginia Health Department route for Lower Peninsula areas other than Williamsburg. |
Feral Cats: Do Not Trap and Arrive Without Instructions
Coordinate with your local Animal Services agency
PRAS currently states that it is receiving feral cats when they are brought to the shelter by Animal Control. The shelter tells residents to coordinate trapping and transport with the appropriate local Animal Services agency.
That means the first phone call should be Newport News/Poquoson, Hampton or York County Animal Control according to the actual location—not the adoption desk.
Does PRAS Have a Veterinary Clinic?
Full-service clinic for shelter animals
The City of Newport News describes PRAS as containing a full-service veterinary clinic for animals in shelter care.
This clinic supports the animals housed by PRAS and is part of the shelter’s internal animal-care operation.
Not published as a public walk-in pet clinic
The current PRAS pages reviewed for this guide do not advertise the shelter clinic as a general public veterinary hospital for privately owned pets.
They also do not publish a current public veterinarian roster, doctor consultation schedule or public appointment-fee table. None is invented here.
Foster, Volunteer & K9 Field Trip Programs
PRAS has ways to help animals even when permanent adoption is not the right commitment today.
Care for a PRAS pet at home
PRAS says its foster program supplies support and supplies for foster families caring for shelter pets.
Help inside the shelter
Activities can include animal enrichment, dog walking, cat socialization, adoption meet-and-greets and other shelter support.
K9 field trips
PRAS also lists K9 Field Trips / Expawditions among its out-of-shelter volunteer opportunities.
Start with the official PRAS Volunteer & Foster page .
Current PRAS Public Contacts
The current City contact page publishes staff names for operational questions. These are not veterinarian listings.
Roger Iles
Listed by the City of Newport News as Shelter Manager.
Amy Burnup
Listed as Superintendent of Operations.
Krista Hendricks
Listed as Adoptions and Events Coordinator and Dog/Pocket Pet Foster Coordinator.
PRAS Map, Address & Which Entrance to Use
5843 Jefferson Avenue
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter
5843 Jefferson Avenue
Newport News, VA 23605
Main phone: 757-933-8900.
Choose the correct entrance
Adoption: first entrance on the left, 757-933-8916.
Owner Surrender / Lost & Found: second entrance on the left, 757-933-8919.
Other Virginia Animal Shelter Guides
If the animal is outside the PRAS service area, use the shelter and Animal Control agency for the actual jurisdiction rather than assuming a Newport News shelter can dispatch officers elsewhere.
Virginia Beach
For shelter and Animal Services help southeast of Newport News, use our Virginia Beach Animal Shelter & Control guide .
Norfolk
For Norfolk Animal Care Center adoption or Animal Protection, see the Norfolk Animal Shelter & Control guide .
Richmond
For Richmond city sheltering and RACC Animal Control, use our Richmond Animal Shelter & Control guide .
Alexandria
For Northern Virginia city shelter and Animal Services routing, see the Alexandria Animal Shelter & Control guide .
Official PRAS & Local Animal-Control Resources
This article summarizes the practical information so you do not have to search multiple websites for basic answers. Use the official pages below for live pet availability, forms, appointments, closures and last-minute policy changes.
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter FAQ
1. Where is Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter located?
PRAS is located at 5843 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23605. The main shelter phone number is 757-933-8900.
2. What cities and counties does PRAS serve?
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter provides sheltering services for Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County. It does not normally accept stray or owner-surrender animals from outside those four participating jurisdictions.
3. What are PRAS adoption hours?
The Adoption lobby is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from noon to 5 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM, and is closed Tuesday. PRAS stops taking new adoption questionnaires at 3:30 PM.
4. Do I need an appointment to adopt from PRAS?
No normal adoption appointment is required. Visit during Adoption lobby hours, complete the Animal Interest Questionnaire and check in with the adoption team. Submitting the questionnaire online does not place the animal on hold.
5. How much does it cost to adopt a dog or cat from PRAS?
Current regular fees are $50 for dogs over 30 pounds, $100 for dogs under 30 pounds, $100 for puppies under one year, $50 for adult cats and $60 for kittens. Senior animals age eight or older currently have no adoption fee.
6. What should I do if my pet is missing?
Contact PRAS, send a photo to pras-reunite@nnva.gov and visit the Intake/Reunite lobby between 10 AM and 5 PM. PRAS encourages owners to look in person because breed and visual descriptions are not always completely accurate.
7. How long does PRAS hold stray animals?
PRAS currently states that a stray animal with identification is held for 10 days and an animal without identification is held for five days during the applicable legal hold period.
8. Can I surrender my pet to Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter?
Yes, if you are a resident of Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson or York County, but normal owner surrender is managed admission and should be arranged with PRAS in advance. Residency documentation is required.
9. What is the Animal Control number for Newport News?
Newport News Animal Welfare / Animal Control can be reached at 757-595-PETS, or 757-595-7387. PRAS and the City of Poquoson also publish that number for Poquoson Animal Control. Hampton and York County use different numbers.
10. Does PRAS have a public veterinary clinic?
PRAS has a full-service veterinary clinic for animals in shelter care. The current official pages reviewed for this guide do not advertise that clinic as a general public walk-in veterinary hospital or publish public veterinarian appointment schedules and examination fees.
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.