HENRY COUNTY, Va. (Romero Report) — The Henry County Animal Shelter issued a warning on July 9 via Facebook about individuals impersonating animal control officers from their facility.

These scammers claim to have found people’s pets and request money for their return.

In the post, the shelter clarified their official process for handling found animals:

• If an animal has a collar, microchip, or shows signs of having worn a collar, it is held for a 10-day stray period before becoming the shelter’s property.
• Animals without identification are held for a 7-day stray period.
• To reclaim an animal, owners must provide proof of ownership, such as a photo or vet records.
• The reclaim fee is $40 plus $7 per day the animal is at the shelter, payable directly to the treasurer’s office, not to any individual.

The shelter emphasized that any direct request for money by individuals claiming to have found a pet is a scam.

They urge anyone encountering such a situation to call dispatch at 276-638-8751 to report it.

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