The Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection serves the City of Roanoke, the Counties of Botetourt and Roanoke, and the Town of Vinton, and is an “open intake facility”.  The Regional Center primarily handles stray animals picked up by the Animal Control Officers employed by the municipalities, but also accepts strays found, and animals owned, by citizens of the municipalities.  Each year the Regional Center receives between 6,000 and 7,500 animals.