Colonial Heights Animal Control

💔 Rose is back, and our hearts are broken for her. 💔

In less than two months, Rose has unfortunately found herself back at the shelter. We know she must be confused, and it's incredibly hard to see her back in a kennel when we know how much she loves being with people.

We were very upfront about Rose being an escape artist and flight risk before she was adopted. After she managed to get out of her adopters fenced yard twice, her adopter began using a leash while Rose was outside. Unfortunately, Rose is a very strong girl, and during one outing she pulled hard enough to knock her adopter off her feet, resulting in an injury. Rose wasn't meaning to cause any harm, she's simply powerful and wants to run and play. Because of that injury, and not being strong enough to walk her, her adopter made the difficult decision that they could no longer safely care for her.

She should not be left outside unattended, even in a fenced yard, as she doesn't like being alone. She is also fearful of loud noises such as thunderstorms, fireworks, and gunfire, which can increase her urge to flee. We stress that she will need secure containment and careful management.

This isn't about placing blame—it's about finding the right match for Rose so she can thrive.

Because of what we've learned, Rose will need an adopter who can provide:
🐾 A tall, secure fenced yard (she can clear a 4-foot chain-link fence), or
🐾 A commitment to keeping her safely leashed and providing daily walks and exercise.

Rose should never be allowed to roam freely. She startles easily, and her recall is not reliable when she becomes frightened.

The good news is that her time in a home taught us so much about what a wonderful companion she is:
❤️ House trained
❤️ Great with kids
❤️ Good with other dogs
❤️ Loves to play with canine friends
❤️ Loves to snuggle in bed with her people
❤️ Could use some continued work with leash manners, as she can pull during walks

More than anything, we've learned that Rose does not do well in a shelter environment. She truly wants to be with people and struggles in a kennel. We are hoping to find her forever family—or a rescue that can help her—as quickly as possible so she doesn't have to spend any more time here than necessary.

If you think you can provide the safe, loving home Rose needs, or if you're part of a rescue that may be able to help, please reach out. We'd love to tell you more about this sweet girl and help her finally find the forever home she deserves.

Please share Rose's story. The right home could be just one share away. ❤️

🇺🇸🎆 Happy 4th of July from Colonial Heights Animal Control! 🎆🇺🇸

We hope everyone has a fun, safe, and memorable Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙

As you're making plans for this evening, we have a few friendly reminders to help keep both our community and our pets safe.

🥵 First, the heat. Today's temperatures are dangerously high, with a real feel expected to be between 110°F - 116°F. Even after the sun goes down, it will still be extremely hot. If you're heading out to watch the fireworks, be sure to bring plenty of cold drinks, stay hydrated, and take breaks in your vehicle with the A/C if you need to cool off. A cooler with a few cold, wet washcloths can also make a huge difference for cooling your face and neck.

🐾 Now for our biggest concern, our pets.

Every year after the fireworks, dogs arrive at the shelter because they became frightened and ran away. Sadly, every year we also receive heartbreaking calls about dogs that were struck by vehicles after being spooked by fireworks.

Please help us prevent that from happening tonight.

🐶 Keep your dogs safely indoors whenever possible.
🦮 If they must go outside, keep them on a leash and under your direct control—even if they've never been afraid of fireworks before. Loud noises can surprise even the calmest pets.
🏷️ Make sure your pets are wearing a collar with current ID tags, and that your contact information is up to date.
🏡 Double-check gates, fences, and doors before the fireworks begin.

We'd much rather spend tomorrow seeing your happy photos than welcoming frightened pets through our doors.

Whether you're celebrating at the official fireworks display or with family and friends at home, please be careful on the roads, look out for one another, and help keep every member of your family—two-legged and four-legged—safe.

❤️🤍💙 Have a wonderful 4th of July, everyone! Stay cool, stay hydrated, travel safely, and enjoy the fireworks tonight here in Colonial Heights! 🇺🇸🎇

We are surprised that these three adorable fluff nuggets are still here. 😍😍