Kid-Friendly Dogs for Adoption in Lynchburg, VA: 16 Dogs Good with Children
Rescues and shelters within 25 miles of Lynchburg have 16 kid-friendly dogs up for adoption. Here are all 16, each with photos, their story and how to reach the rescue looking after them.
Every dog on this page has been marked by their rescue as good with children, usually because they've lived with kids in a foster home.
Not in Lynchburg? Find dogs near your zip code.
1. Lacey
☀️Lacey is a Super Star☀️
Lacey is one of those very special souls that lights up a room and brings joy just by being in her presence.
Lacey is cuddly, snuggly, and oh so sweet! She is a 5 year old boxer mix, housebroken, crate trained, about 45 pounds, spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped.
She is good with other dogs, as always we do require a meet and greet with other dogs in the home.
When taken into the cat room at the animal shelter, Lacey was intimidated by the hissing kitties and backed away. We feel that is a good indicator that she may be able to live harmoniously live with cats.
Read more about Lacey
Don’t miss out on this awesome little ray of sunshine!☀️☀️☀️☀️
*Lacey is in foster care NOT at the Bedford County Animal Shelter
For more information please email fobcasfriends@gmail.com.. To be preapproved to adopt, please fill out an application in the link provided https://friendsofbedfordcountyanimalshelter.rescuegroups.org/forms/form?formid=4144
To view all available shelter pets please click on this link https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/va/bedford/bedford-county-animal-shelter-va482/
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- House-trained
2. Joy
Meet Joy! This mellow and beautiful senior lab/ Sharpei mix. She is about 11 years old, spayed, vaccinated, housebroken, crate-trained,and heartworm negative. Joy gets along with most dogs she has met, but as always, we require a meet and greet with other canines in the home. She is not a candidate for a home with cats. She is incredibly sweet and loves to give kisses. She walks beautifully on a leash. She has been in foster care for a very long time searching for a forever home.
*Joy is NOT at the Bedford County Animal Shelter. If you are interested in Joy, please email fobcasfriends@gmail.com.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- No cats
- House-trained
3. Diablo
They call it puppy LOVE!
please note that Diablo is not at the animal shelter and is not a sponsored adoption. He is in foster care with our Rescue group.
Diablo is a 3 month old, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, mixed breed puppy, adoptable through Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter. He has a huge personality and has loved everyone he’s met. We’ve learned he loves toys - tennis balls, stuffed animals, tug of war, squeaky toys. He isn’t picky, he just loves to play. He’s working on potty training but seems to be a quick learner. He is dog friendly and has a ton of puppy energy.
Read more about Diablo
For more information please email Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter at fobcasfriends@gmail.com.. To be preapproved to adopt, please fill out an application in the link provided https://friendsofbedfordcountyanimalshelter.rescuegroups.org/forms/form?formid=4144
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- House-trained
4. Loretta
Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? You really should look at Campbell County animal control and shelter, and see what friends of animal control has to offer! We are tiny, but mighty! We have the best Dogs ever, and Loretta is one of them!
Read more about Loretta
She is not a baby, and she is no longer a challenging teen. Instead, she is a beautiful adult, house trained, fantastic with cats, sleeps through the night, puts herself into a crate, and is the best company ever. She has completed heartworm treatment, and has been spayed. We truly cannot imagine anyone giving up all of these traits for a 45 pound beauty like Loretta! Her foster mom is devoted to her, and sings her praises! So do we! We found out she adores kids too! Apply to adopt this gorgeous girl, and we will be happy to arrange a meeting for you.
https://www.friendsofcampbellcounty.org/info/adoption
*
Loretta has declared that she is ready to find a home! Her heartworm positive status has been rectified, after two very manageable treatments at a vet office, and she is scheduled to be spayed, and happy to be in her foster home with other active hounds and beagles. Loretta is five years old, house trained, and has decided that couch potato fits her just fine! This beautiful girl has been waiting for months to be heartworm free so that a family would be happy to consider her for their next adventure dog companion. She loves children, does absolutely fine with cats, and as far as size: perfect. Not too big not too small. Please let Loretta come into your heart the way she comes into ours! She is absolutely stupendously perfect!
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- Good with cats
- House-trained
5. Rico
Heartwarming and touching—senior dog Rico needed something to soften his bones, and sometimes a blanket just doesn’t do it. We are so grateful for the donation of this beautiful lavender fluffy bed today, just in time to share with Rico! Rico came to us with a unpleasant skin infection, lots of hair loss, infected eyes, and infected ears. He’s getting the works as far as medication, but we don’t want to stop there: we want to give him love and attention and anything else he might need to recover and be a glorious pet! He is around 40 pounds, neutered. housetrained, and fine with other dogs and cats. Is he the kind of dog that might fit beautifully in your home as a foster dog while we get his skin straightened out? We hope so! Please let us know if you would like to help us out by taking them in! His mom is having some medical issues and had to give him up so she could treat herself.
Read more about Rico
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- Good with cats
- House-trained
- Special needs
6. Claire
Claire is one of our favorites!
Read more about Claire
Following her stray hold, we took her to the vet to get her checked out, and discovered she was not only heartworm positive, but also positive for two tickborne diseases, and had horrible ear infections in both of her ears. This girl must have been in such misery, and yet she maintained her good attitude, her playfulness, and wanted everyone to pay attention to her. Claire is about six years old, (best guess), and is spayed, as we can see her green tattoo from the Spay/Neuter Clinic showing clearly on her belly when she flops to the grass, rolls over, and asks for belly rubs! This girl is amazing, smart, (does a great sit!) and housetrained. She is surely missed by her family! We have discovered Claire has no patience with many dogs, and is going to be very selective about who she lives with. She is fabulous with toddlers and children, but needs no other animals in her home. She is heartworm positive and is being treated for them via the "slowkill" heartworm treatment method. She also has badly inflamed ears, due to chronic ear infections and we are helping her find great relief from that pain, too. We know there’s a home for her somewhere! Apply to adopt and let’s get her into a home!
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Only dog
- House-trained
- Special needs
7. Biscuit
Biscuit arrived as a stray, healthy and social, but without leash-walking skills, and we had hoped he would be home by now! He appears to be housetrained, and he loves having humans around to show him attention. He has learned that the only way to get outside for fun and exercise is to wait patiently for a volunteer to come to his kennel run with a leash in hand so he can enjoy not only human presence, but also enjoy the landscape and smells all around. We think that Biscuit will be a fun companion, and are enjoying getting to know him.
Read more about Biscuit
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- House-trained
8. Emma
Update: it’s hard to imagine all that this little dog has gone through in her short lifespan, but being abandoned, hit by a car, then left for dead for two weeks without anyone looking for her has given her the right to be distrustful of the human race. And yet newly renamed “Emma” Has nothing but love and licks for the humans who are caring for her, seeing her through not only two surgeries, but extensive medical care following those surgeries. Emma has such a story she could tell us, but she prefers to look ahead rather than back, and remains optimistic that she will heal completely and find a wonderful home. (Emma suffered broken bones and at the end of August received FHO surgery on her left leg, and a rod and pins placed in her right leg during extensive surgery in Charlottesville at Virginia Veterinary Specialists. follow up surgery was done just a couple weeks later because one of the pin placements was irritating her incision.) We feel she is now on the road to full recovery, although she now faces weekly rehab appointments to help her regain strength in her legs. Emma has been cared for by our community, including a volunteer who drives her to Virginia Vet for her appointments. There, a local Vet Hospital, who adore her, and foster families who are willing to give up their time to see her through her daily requirements. Emma weighs under 50 pounds, is house trained, Gets along with every dog she has met, and feels cats are just an extension of her own family. She has been gentle at every corner of her journey, grateful for everything being done for her, and willing to do whatever is asked of her. It’s been a rough road for her. But we want to see her through it. Let us know if you would like to be part of her family, and make her an extension of yours.
Read more about Emma
LITTLE DOG has declared that she wants a new name! Her foster dad felt she wants to be called Emma, and be the namesake of the young woman who cared for her while she was at Altavista during her initial two week medical care time. We think it fits her beautifully, and she responds well to it! So everyone, put aside her Little Dog name and let us introduce Emma to you! Emma is about a year-old, and after being hit by a car and totally ignored for what the vet guessed was one to two weeks before treatment was found for her, surgery has been done, and she is now a happy, healthy girl recovering beautifully.
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- Good with cats
- House-trained
9. Buddy
Buddy is such a fun little dude searching for his best friend. He’s silly and playful but also loves some good scratches and a snuggle in a blanket, lap included is even better! He is still learning a lot about the world and how to be the best boy he can, but he is so quick and eager to learn. He loves to be outside and his personality comes out quickly if there’s sunshine and grass involved. Buddy also does really well inside and enjoys crate time. His adoption fee is $250.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- Good with cats
10. Jay
Jay had a great walk yesterday — and we also learned he’s one smart cookie! Heading away from the shelter? Perfect leash manners. Heading back? Not so fast. He let his volunteer know in no uncertain terms that this was not the right direction. Lots of hemming and hawing. Once inside, he put on the brakes at the door too. But Jay’s a good boy — as soon as he spotted the treats waiting, he marched right into his run. Fun, sweet, and clever. Loves toys! Jay keeps us on our toes and makes us laugh.
Read more about Jay
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- House-trained
11. Cowboy
Cowboy is one tall, handsome hound! With those long legs, gorgeous tricolor coat, floppy ears, and soulful eyes, this boy is impossible to overlook. And at around 45 pounds, he’s proof that a little extra legroom can make a whole lot of hound! Those legs go on forever and give him that elegant slim appearance that makes you want to let him out to run and run and run. He smiles constantly, and he can’t wait to play with other dogs. He is social and so much fun!
Read more about Cowboy
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
12. Sugar Not at the shelter
Some dogs are the life of the party. Sugar would rather be the friend who quietly sits beside you, listens without judgment, and is always there when you need her.
At 9 years old, this beautiful White German Shepherd has blossomed from an incredibly shy girl into a gentle, trusting companion. She's not looking for excitement or the spotlight—she's looking for a peaceful home where she can simply be loved.
Sugar is the kind of dog who brings calm wherever she goes. She would be happiest as a companion to another dog who could use a steady, reassuring friend. If your pup needs a kind soul to share life with, Sugar may be the perfect match.
Read more about Sugar Not at the shelter
9 years old
White German Shepherd
Spayed & current on vaccines
70 pounds
Gentle, quiet, and loyal
Looking for a calm home where she can truly belong
Could you be the person she's been waiting for?
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- Good with cats
- House-trained
13. Cash
My Home to Yours: Featuring Cash!
Cash's family is moving and are not able to take him along. He is a nine-year-old beagle, neutered, and said to be current with his vaccines. Cash is not at the shelter, and we hope he does not need to come join us there, but can find a home with our help, directly from his people.
Here is what his family says: "Cash is a 9-year-old male beagle. He is current on all vaccinations and goes to Rustburg Vetenary Clinic for his routine checkups.
Read more about Cash
For the majority of the time we had him, there was another dog in the household and never had any issues with the two of them getting along. He is crate trained. We have small grandchildren and he does extremely well with them and tolerates their antics. We have a fenced in back yard that he spends his time in when not inside."
Apply to adopt, and we will share with his family.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- House-trained
14. Chanel
She’s shy at first, but pure love once she trusts you. This sweet girl is a little hesitant when she’s unsure of expectations, but give her time and she blossoms. She _loves_ to snuggle and if you’re sitting, she’ll happily climb right into your lap for cuddles. She rides beautifully in the car — on her last trip she just laid down and relaxed. New places and the public can make her nervous, but she just needs patience and reassurance to feel safe. She takes treats very gently and is learning that the world isn’t so scary. With a calm home and someone who’ll let her go at her own pace, she’ll be the most devoted lap dog you could ask for.
Read more about Chanel
PLEASE NOTE: This pet has been posted by Friends of Campbell County Animal Control, Rustburg, VA. For questions about the pet, please email us at FOACinfo@gmail.com. All adoptions begin with an application, found under the Adoption Application heading on our website, friendsofcampbellcounty.org. *Unaltered babies under the age of six months can be adopted only to residents of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, and counties touching Campbell County. *Unaltered adult pets six months or older will need to be sterilized before they can be adopted outside our local area of Campbell County, the City of Lynchburg, or counties touching Campbell. *We do not promote dog adoptions to homes where an invisible fence is the fencing of choice. *We do not permit cats or kittens to be declawed following adoption. We reserve the right to deny adoptions.
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- Good with cats
- House-trained
15. Pasta
Pasta is a sweet, curious young dog with a big heart and boundless puppy energy. He mixes the friendly, scent-driven nature of a hound with the smart, loyal drive of a shepherd — so he’s playful, eager to learn, and loves exploring with his nose. Pasta is affectionate and attentive to his people and enjoys cuddles after playtime. He was placed in a loving family as a young puppy but he is very insistent on play and attention with other dogs, and their other dog was less than receptive to his in-your-face play style. They gave him a fantastic foundation with training and general manners. He does not jump, walks nicely on a leash with minimal corrections.
Read more about Pasta
Personality & Skills:
Very social and enjoys meeting new people
Playful and active — needs regular exercise and mental stimulation
Food-motivated and quick to learn basic commands
Crate and House Trained
Loves toys, sniffing adventures, and short hikes/walks
Good fit for:
Active individuals or families who can provide daily exercise and training
Homes open to continued socialization and training classes
Families with older children over 10
Would do well with a confident dog playmate
Health & Care:
Up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccinations and deworming
Microchipped and neutered, does not mark
Will benefit from ongoing positive-reinforcement training and socialization
Adoption Fee: $250
Adoption info: If you’re ready to give Pasta a loving, active home and help him grow into a well-trained companion, the first step is filling out an application
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- House-trained
16. Sybbie aka Sybil
Five year old Sybbie is a mini-Australian Shepherd mix whose family was not equipped to handle her high energy needs after two toddlers joined the family. Sybbie is in a foster home where her foster mom observed: “
Sybbie wants to be your loyal companion. This high energy girl will fetch a tennis ball and drop it at your feet. She's learning to not try to attack cars that pass or the vaccuum. Her instincts to protect and herd moving objects away from her human jump in. Sybbie should not be with cats, as she is too rough when trying to corral them. But she enjoys playing with the other dogs in her foster home.”
- Good with kids
- Good with dogs
- No cats
- Special needs
Adopting a dog with children in Lynchburg
Bring the whole family to meet the dog before you adopt, and ask the rescue how the dog behaves around children your kids' ages.
Teach children to let the dog come to them, to stroke gently, and to leave the dog alone while it's eating or sleeping. Give the dog a bed or crate of their own to retreat to, and always supervise young children with a new dog.
Relaxed adult dogs are often a better match for young children than puppies, which jump up, nip and chew while they learn.
Rescues with kid-friendly dogs near Lynchburg
- Friends of Campbell County Animal ControlRustburg, VA · 11 kid-friendly dogs above
- Friends Of Bedford County Animal ShelterBedford, VA · 3 kid-friendly dogs above
- Central Virginia Regional RescueForest, VA · 2 kid-friendly dogs above
Questions about adopting kid-friendly dogs in Lynchburg
How many kid-friendly dogs are up for adoption in Lynchburg?
As of November 4, 2026, rescues and shelters within 25 miles of Lynchburg, Virginia, have 16 kid-friendly dogs up for adoption. The list is updated every day.
Where can I adopt a kid-friendly dog in Lynchburg?
The rescues with the most kid-friendly dogs near Lynchburg right now are Friends of Campbell County Animal Control (Rustburg, VA), Friends Of Bedford County Animal Shelter (Bedford, VA) and Central Virginia Regional Rescue (Forest, VA). Each dog above has the rescue's phone number and website.
What kind of dog is best with kids?
A calm, patient dog that the rescue has seen around children. Adult dogs are often easier than puppies with young kids, since their personalities are known and they play less roughly.
Listings are updated daily. Rescues are responsible for their own listings; a dog may have been adopted since this page was updated.