Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA Blog

Your voice matters -- Oppose SB 610

2012-01-22T09:50:00.032-05:00

SB610 includes the following language:

"Agricultural animal" or "livestock" means any domestic animal raised, herded, or farmed as an agricultural product or associated with agriculture, including equids, cows, calves, yearlings, bulls, oxen, sheep, goats, lambs, kids, hogs, pigs, poultry, gamefowl, fowl, hunting dogs, working dogs, and show dogs.

The Department occupies the entire field of regulation of the care, control, and handling of agricultural animals. No political subdivision, locality, or humane society shall regulate the care and handling of agricultural animals.

So, you ask, what does this mean?

First -- Hunting, working and show dogs would no longer have the protection afforded companion animals under the law. They basically would be treated like herd animals or animals that we eat (and let's face it, we all know the standard of care for those animals is not high).

Second -- This bill seeks to take away all authority from our local Animal Control Officers to investigate complaints regarding the care of these dogs and ALL agriculture animals in general. Right now -- it is our Animal Control Officers that are the ones helping these animals, often saving them from starvation and ensuring that they get adequate veterinary attention. They are the only ones on the front line doing this. What this bill seeks to do is to rip authority away from those officers -- leaving essentially no oversight at all. The "Department" is the "Department of Agriculture" which does not have the resources to enforce these regulations; thereby resulting in NO PROTECTION at all for these animals.

Remember the case just a couple of years ago in Orange County, Virginia -- After receiving complaints, local deputies and animal control officers investigated the care of some horses. What they found: 20 dead horses on the property and others "in dire need of assistance." Read news story here. In King and Queen County, VA, it was again local police and animal control officers that saved the lives of the horses at one property by confiscating 33 of them from a couple charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty -- Read this story.

What can you do?

Send an email today to the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee and tell them that you OPPOSE SB 610. Below is an example of a response:

Dear Members of the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources:

Please Oppose SB 610.

Hunting Dogs, Show Dogs and Working Dogs are NOT agricultural animals. It is not uncommon for some hunting dogs to be treated poorly by irresponsible owners. Legalizing irresponsible dog ownership is not the answer. Local governments (and local tax dollars) are already burdened with the care of these hunting dogs, as Virginia animal shelters are packed with hounds and hunting dogs. Additionally, these hunting dogs often come into the shelters emaciated, injured, neglected and inevitably are not reclaimed placing the cost of care for these dogs on the localities. Lowering the standard of care for these dogs is tantamount to legalizing animal neglect for hunting, show and working dogs which will only make this existing problem worse, place an unreasonable cost on local governments to care for these dogs, and further the high euthanasia rate for these dogs in our local shelters. We expect that as our State legislators, you should be trying to solve these problems not make these problems worse.

Taking authority from local governments to address issues of animal neglect and cruelty in their own backyard is just another step backwards. It is the local police and animal control officers that are in the best position to investigate and bring charges of cruelty and neglect. The Department does not have local resources to investigate local claims of failure to care for Agricultural animals. You should oppose this subtle attempt to essentially eliminate oversight for the care of Agricultural animals.

As a citizen of Virginia the care of animals in our Commonwealth is important to me, and I ask you to strongly Oppose SB610.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

district24@senate.virginia.gov
district10@senate.virginia.gov
district38@senate.virginia.gov 
district15@senate.virginia.gov
district14@senate.virginia.gov 
district26@senate.virginia.gov
district09@senate.virginia.gov 
district34@senate.virginia.gov 
district06@senate.virginia.gov 
district28@senate.virginia.gov 
district37@senate.virginia.gov
district20@senate.virginia.gov 
district13@senate.virginia.gov
district01@senate.virginia.gov 
district30@senate.virginia.gov

Over 30% of the Dogs at the SPCA are hound dogs.

Some are shut down and scared of people.

Others are in bad condition (examples below) when they enter the SPCA.

Take action today to help these sweet dogs.

2011-12-28T21:17:00.040-05:00

During the month of December we will be sharing twelve stories about animals that needed the SPCA's help this year. These stories exemplify our commitment to maintaining Charlottesville-Albemarle as a No Kill community. All of these stories have a happy ending because of the commitment of our SPCA and the generosity of our community.

The Video below is a summary of the Twelve Saves of Christmas. Hope you enjoy it!!!

2011-12-23T20:28:00.052-05:00

... And the Twelfth Save of Christmas is Mable.

It was a Tuesday evening, when a woman walked in with a small dog wrapped in a blanket. She was helping a friend move into a new residence in Greene County, when they found a dog lying in deplorable conditions inside a shed. She immediately drove the dog (who staff would later name Mable) to the SPCA. Mable was brought directly to the clinic, where Dr. Beichel and clinic staff immediately came to examine her. With Mable's sweet face looking up, they pulled the blanket back to assess her condition. And then every staff member in the room began to cry.

They could not believe their eyes. Mable lie there, her fur matted about 5 inches thick saturated in urine and feces, a rancid smell filled the room. They looked at each other in disbelief. They all thought the same thing -- there was no way they could let her die like this.

So despite the unbearable smell, staff slowly and carefully removed her matted fur. They soon discovered Mable had urine scald over her entire body, her skin reddened and painful. She had several open wounds, one particularly large wound over her right hip. Maggots were present in the wound areas. She was only 14lbs., one-third of her estimated normal weight, with severe muscle wasting, no fat on her entire body. Dr. Beichel said that Mable was one of the most severely neglected and emaciated animals she had ever seen. It was truly a miracle that Mable was alive.

Mable was not stable enough to place under anesthesia, so she was given pain meds, fluids and antibiotics. Her prognosis was guarded, at best, as the long-term effects of starvation on her internal organs was still unknown. Nonetheless, Mable's will to live brought her this far, and at least now she had a fighting chance.

It would take weeks before Mable would eventually stand up, but as she ate and drank more each day, everyone rejoiced. Each day she would try to pull herself up. Finally she regained her strength to walk again -- Oh Happy Day!! After many weeks in the SPCA clinic, everyone had grown quite attached to Mable, but no one as much as Dr. Beichel. Dr. Beichel has a huge heart, especially for the older or special needs animals, her home filled with a clan of geriatrics. So when she decided to foster Mable one day, we all knew -- Mable had found her forever home.

Mable's first steps outside again.

Meeting a new friend.

Back for a visit at the SPCA.

A Happy Family Portrait.

With this last Save of Christmas, I am humbled by and thankful for our dedicated staff and our supportive community. Because without all of you, we could not celebrate the Twelve Saves of Christmas.

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Susanne Kogut, Executive Director

2011-12-23T11:05:00.003-05:00

... And the Eleventh Save of Christmas is Snuggle.

When Jennessa first heard the awful sound coming from her dryer she expected a huge repair bill, not the tiny critically injured kitten she found lodged in the dryer vent. Horrified at her discovery, she brought the kitten to the SPCA for help.

Snuggle was just a pound when she arrived at the SPCA with open wounds on her head and ears, and a severely injured leg. No one was sure if she would live. SPCA Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Beichel immediately sedated the kitten, closed her open wounds and started her on pain medication and antibiotics. Over the course of the next two weeks, clinic staff monitored the kitten’s condition, encouraged her to eat and waited to see if her leg could be saved. Soon Snuggle was putting on weight and the wounds onher head and ears had begun to heal, but despite these improvements her leg proved too badly damaged to be saved. Dr. Beichel amputated Snuggle’s leg and she went to recover with Pete Crawford, a long-time SPCA foster. Pete reported that it didn’t take Snuggle any time at all for her to learn to get around onher remaining legs, “she loved running head first into my older cats, and she was faster than them, too!"

Shortly after Snuggle returned to the SPCA, the Robinson Family adopted her and another kitten named Elena (who is blind in one eye). The Robinsons report that “Elena and Snuggle are the perfect playmates. Snuggle is doing great--she climbs up legs and can jump onto your shoulder. They are both very playful and love to snuggle…we love them both very much...we couldn’t be happier.”

2011-12-22T07:50:00.006-05:00

... And the Tenth Save of Christmas is Anna Livia.

Our Tenth Save of Christmas is a tribute to Moms. Momma dogs, momma cats, they are amazing. Anna Livia was brought to the SPCA after a citizen reported a dog had given birth in his shed. Upon arriving, the animal control officer found Anna Livia, with six pups, their eyes still closed, only about a week old. Two other dogs were also with her. The man had seen the dogs hanging around and set up his shed with some nice bedding so the dogs

had a warm place at night. Anna Livia, her pups, and the other two dogs were brought to the SPCA. After clinic staff assessed them and took care of some basic care, they immediately focused their efforts on finding them a foster home. The Bridges family stepped forward, even building a welping box, and brought Anna Livia and her pups home.

Anna Livia was such a sweet, gentle soul but first and foremost, she was a good mom. She cared for her pups and provided them daily nourishment and attention. She cleaned them and taught them proper puppy manners. So in all the cuteness of the puppies and kittens, this is a reminder to us all -- we should never forget the moms that raised these little ones.

Momma cats and momma dogs --

remember them, applaud them, adopt them.

Anna Livia is now a permanent member of the Diamond Family!

Thank you to the entire Bridges Family, an incredibly dedicated foster family, for helping Anna Livia raise a great group of pups.

2011-12-21T12:41:00.008-05:00

... And the Ninth Save of Christmas is Dudley.

Lost, scared and hurt on the side of 250 in Keswick certainly was not the way for a kitten to spend the day after Thanksgiving. And yet, that’s the exact predicament little two-pound Dudley was in when he was found by a Good Samaritan. Dudley was in obvious distress so the Good Samaritan rushed him to VETSS. The veterinarians at VETSS suspected Dudley’sleft leg had been fractured. He received pain management and was kept stable overnight until he could be transferred to the SPCA.

X-rays done at the SPCA confirmed that Dudley’s leg was indeed fractured. X-rays also showed that Dudley’s tail had been fractured as well. Neither of these fractures could be surgically repaired so Director of Veterinarian Services, Dr. Beichel, made the decision to amputate Dudley’s leg and part of his tail.

After spending a few days being monitored in the SPCA’s vet clinic Dudley was placed in a loving foster home to recover from his surgery. While in foster care Dudley will learn how to maneuver on three legs and soon this little tiger will be ready to pounce into a new home.

2011-12-18T23:14:00.022-05:00

... And the Eighth Save of Christmas is Pickle.

Pickle's story is told in the video below. Please click on the picture to see why Pickle is our Eighth Save of Christmas.

2011-12-18T01:28:00.005-05:00

... And the Seventh Save of Christmas is Romeo.

Romeo, like many cats at the SPCA, was a stray who was never claimed by his owner. To make matters worse, he had the misfortune of an FIV-Positive diagnosis. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a lentivirus or “slow virus” that can affect a cat’s immune system over a period of years. FIV is similar to HIV, but is not transmissible to species other than felines.

Cats with FIV have it tough. An FIV-Positive diagnosis often translates to a death sentence for shelter cats, but it's not the virus that kills them. If fact, most FIV-Positive cats can live long, healthy lives. However, because FIV is often misunderstood, adoption rates for FIV-Positive cats across the country are dismal.

Romeo is the ambassador cat for a program we hope can help begin to change this sad fact. This past spring the SPCA launched a program in partnership with the AIDS/HIV Services Group of Charlottesville (ASG) called Pawsitive Partnership. This partnership aims to match cats living with FIV to people living with or affected by HIV or AIDS.

As the Pawsitive Partnership ambassadors, Romeo and FIV-Positive pal Matty, went to live in the ASG office. It turns out that this program has not only been wonderful for Romeo and Matty, who love greeting ASG clients, lounging on office couches, and attending board meetings, but having them in the office has had some other, maybe not so unexpected benefits.

Any cat owner can attest to the relaxing benefits of petting a cat--it can lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, and provide comfort in stressful times. After a few weeks, ASG staff discovered that Romeo isn’t just any ordinary orange tabby cat--he has a special gift. Romeo seems to understand his role as a comforter in the ASG office. ASG Operations Manager Penny Goldman calls Romeo their "office superstar.” “If anyone is having a particularly bad or stressful day, Romeo always seems to know when and where he's needed and will spend a few extra moments lifting spirits,” Penny explains, “it’s hard not to have a smile on your face when he's around.”

Clients often ask for Romeo when they come in for counseling or groups. Penny recalls a client who arrived in a very anxious, depressed state,“When our caseworker found out the client was an animal lover, she was asked if she would like to meet Romeo. Romeo was brought into the room and almost immediately the client's demeanor changed. They ended up having one of her best sessions and she left in a more peaceful state. Now she always asks have Romeo join her in session whenever she visits.”

It is our hope that programs like the Pawsitive Partnership will help educate the public about FIV and give more FIV-Positive cats like Romeo the chance to find a forever home. Romeo and other FIV-Positive cats are available for adoption and foster to ASG clients and community members. For more information on FIV and the Pawsitive Partnership, please email llane@caspca.org.

2011-12-15T16:05:00.041-05:00

... And the Sixth Save of Christmas is Stella.

Stella was abandoned right before the Thanksgiving holiday in 2010, when her owner moved and decided to leave her behind.

Stella had two strikes against her that made the chance of a quick adoption unlikely – 1. being a pitbull and 2. being an older dog. Christmas came and went, then New Year’s, and Stella was still waiting for a new home. During her stay, however, staff and volunteers came to realize that Stella was very talented. She possessed a willingness to learn and an incredible determination to please. So in early 2011, for the SPCA's Pit Stop promotion, Stella was renamed Montreal and was featured in a Pit Stop video, a video that would change Stella’s life forever.

Hany, who would soon become Stella’s new owner, said “it was the video that caused me to jump out of my seat, make a phone call and drive 2 hours (from Roanoke) to meet Stella. Because I have been around dogs all my life, I knew from the video I was looking at a very worthy dog. More than worthy! I knew she was a dog that would match up well with my family’s lifestyle.”

Hany admits “I had a very neutral opinion of pit bulls, or to be more accurate, I think I can say that I basically didn’t trust them. But my family and I evaluated Stella as a dog, not as a pit bull. Kinda the way we should evaluate people. She won us over. We loved her and when we were asked whether or not we wanted to see other dogs, we said no way. We didn’t want a dog. We wanted "this" dog! We loved her on first sight."

Hany and his family exercise Stella regularly. She goes on hikes, plays fetch, enjoys play time, and accompanies the family on errands and all vacations. She is an essential part of the fabric of their household. Stella has even been featured in the Roanoke Library’s local ad campaign.

Stella is now a great bully representative, with impeccable manners everywhere she goes. Hany takes pride in a comment from someone who met Stella saying she was “the “most educated” dog he had ever seen!”

Stella's adoption will benefit other pit bulls. Because of Stella, Hany explained “I felt a need to help pit bulls in my area. I’ve been volunteering at my local SPCA as well as the animal control facility in my city. I walk dogs, always focusing on the pit bulls, and I do dog photography as well.” Now Hany, his family and Stella work together to support bully breeds and help other pit bulls find great homes, like Stella’s.

2011-12-13T18:49:00.005-05:00

.... and the Fifth Save of Christmas is Tigger

"It smells like a good idea!" That's what Tigger, a handsome orange tiger cat from a local feral colony, may have said to himself just before he jumped onto a hot barbeque grill to check out the sizzling meat. His subsequent “meow” emphasized the “OW,” since he had badly burned his front paw pads. A woman who knew Tigger noticed he was losing weight and that his paws were becoming infected. Things were looking grim for the curious little guy.

Fortunately, she contacted a cat-loving volunteer from Voices for Animals, a local feral cat non-profit, and they immediately brought him into the SPCA for treatment. SPCA veterinarian, Dr. Beichel found Tigger's pads to be severely swollen and the underlying skin tissue gone. She knew this must be extremely painful for poor Tigger. So Tigger underwent surgery to repair his paws (and she also neutered Tigger). Tigger would then stay at the SPCA for further treatment of antibiotics and pain medication. An SPCA vet tech took Tigger home every night for some extra TLC, as he also had a nasty upper respiratory infection.

In 2011, more than 1,500 feral cats
have been fixed in the SPCA Clinic.

Tigger would spend weeks recovering at the SPCA. During this time, SPCA staff worked with residents and cat caretakers in Tigger’s neighborhood to trap, spay or neuter, and return another seven cats living in the colony. Once recovered, a Voice's volunteer reunited Tigger with his colony where his caretaker is ensuring he regains any lost weight by providing his favorite treat of cheese omelets.

So, thanks to the efforts of the SPCA, Voices for Animals, and a concerned caretaker, Tigger has recovered and is back to prowling and pouncing around the neighborhood. Hopefully, he’ll avoid hot grills and burning coals from now on!

Click to read all Twelve Saves of Christmas

2011-12-11T10:49:00.035-05:00

And the Fourth Save of Christmas is Herman
A rat abandoned on the side of a busy road right off of Route 29, left alone in his cage to fend for himself with just some dirty food and water. SPCA staff named him, Herman.

It was immediately evident, Herman was an incredibly sweet, affectionate rat. SPCA staff were determined to find him someone special. That someone turned out to be Bethany. With no absences all semester long, Bethany decided she was long overdue for a day out -- so she grabbed a friend and set off to spend the day petting kittens and puppies at the SPCA. But Herman caught her eye immediately. He struck her as the friendliest, most well behaved creature she'd ever met. Although adoption was really not what she came for that day, on her way out she asked for more information about Herman. Cute and even free (two things Bethany genuinely appreciates in life), Herman had found his someone.

Herman now lives frolicking freely and inquisitively in a room filled with Rat toys (although his favorite toy is Bethany's earrings). He loves his RatCat Play Dates with friend Amaretto. He also has an important job, being a Study Buddy, a job he performs incredibly well. Bethany says that Herman is "fantastically entertaining and almost intimidatingly clean. The other day I came home to find that'd he'd folded my laundry and vacuumed!" More importantly, Herman is no longer alone on a busy street with no one to feed him and care for him. He has a new loving owner. He is even going home with Bethany over the upcoming winter break. Bethany and Herman now have each other and a companionship that helps both of them get through each day.

Click to read all Twelve Saves of Christmas

2011-12-07T22:02:00.006-05:00

...And The Third Save of Christmas is Maxine

Approximately 1,200 kittens make their way to the SPCA yearly--they are the lucky ones. Maxine was just 4oz. when Joan's dog found her abandoned in a pile of leaves. The kitten's body was cold and Joan couldn't just leave her to die, but she had no idea how to save a kitten who was in such obvious distress. It was late in the day, so she tucked the kitten in her shirt and rushed her to the SPCA, hoping we could help. A clinic staff person immediately began warming the kitten with hot water bottles and rubbed Karo's syrup on her gums to help revive her. Not sure Maxine would survive overnight, the clinic staff member took her home to look after her. Maxine began to show signs of improvement and was placed with a surrogate mom in a foster home. While Maxine was thriving with her new family in foster care, Joan had not forgotten about her. She regularly called to check on Maxine and vowed to adopt her when she was old enough. It took a dog, quick thinking staff members, a surrogate mom cat, and a caring foster family to save her.

Joan will tell you it was well worth all the effort. She couldn't be happier with her new companion.

Click to read all Twelve Saves of Christmas

...And The Second Save of Christmas is Harry

2011-12-07T16:22:00.016-05:00

Kathi Brown calls Harry, her new little terrier, a “miracle dog.” She first spotted Harry on the SPCA’s Facebook page early in the fall. The little guy had been hit by a car on 29 North and brought into the SPCA with a fractured pelvis and many other injuries. Kathi followed the saga of Harry (then called Melvin) on Facebook. And when he had healed enough to go into foster care, Kathi offered to take him. She didn’t intend to adopt the scruffy, silent, and gimpy Harry; she already had Sam, a border collie/spaniel mix. But take him home she did, and Harry soon became a permanent member of the family. Kathi reports that he has healed from his surgery, become quite the lively little fellow, charmed big sister Sam, and embraced his new mama. Why the name Harry? Kathi says in part it’s for Harry Houdini, since her new little family member appeared “magically” in her and Sam’s lives.

Click to read all Twelve Saves of Christmas

The Twelve Saves of Christmas: First Save is a dog named "Blue"

2011-12-01T22:46:00.026-05:00

During the month of December we will be sharing twelve stories about animals that needed the SPCA's help this year -- titled "The Twelve Saves of Christmas." These stories exemplify our commitment to maintaining Charlottesville-Albemarle as a No Kill community. Some stories may be about injured or neglected animals in need of life-saving medical attention, others may just be about an animal that simply needs our dedication to find him or her a home. Each story is unique in its own way. All of these stories have a happy ending because of the commitment of our SPCA and our community. And we believe each will make you smile this Holiday Season.

Starting us off today is The First Save of Christmas -- "Blue."

Blue was brought to the SPCA as a stray after spending the evening at Greenbriar Emergency Clinic. Blue was injured and was not using his back leg. Xrays showed a fractured femur. During Blue's surgery to repair the fracture, our Director of Veterinarian Services, Dr. Beichel, found Blue had an infection in his bone which could impact his ability to fully recover. Nonetheless, due to Blue's size (especially the size of his head and his stocky stature) Dr. Beichel wanted to try and save Blue's leg. So she pinned his leg, and then began a wait and see game to determine if Blue would use his leg again. Today although Blue is not fully recovered, you will notice from the video below he has begun to put weight on his leg. We are hopeful Blue will continue using his leg. Blue is available for adoption, but we expect after people view his video, Blue will be Home for the Holidays very soon.

Watch Blue's Video. Blue will definitely make you smile!!!

Click to read all Twelve Saves of Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-11-23T18:54:00.016-05:00

Do you know what it takes to make a No Kill community? YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of You!!!
This video shows why the animals at the SPCA are thankful!!!
Please watch it to the end if you have a few moments.

More than a Calendar Contest ...

2011-11-16T21:31:00.009-05:00

At the SPCA, we currently have our Real HousePets of CVILLE 2012 Pet Photo Calendar Contest going on. When we began this contest, I knew it would be fun to see the pet photos. But I have to admit, I had absolutely no idea just how good it would make me feel to read all of the different stories about how the animals in our community are loved. One of our volunteers Carole McLaughlin Springer posted on Facebook that "Reading about them is great -makes my day!" And Carole is right on.

Sometime working at the SPCA can be difficult, and if I am totally honest, some days it can be heartbreaking. But reading all of the stories about how all of your pets are so loved, well it matters so much. The animals everywhere deserve love, each and every day, and you all are making sure that happens.

So I thank you -- each and everyone of you -- who posted photos and shared your pet's stories. And I hope everyone will continue to do so. Because I am right there with Carole -- your stories make my day.

2011-09-15T18:36:00.042-04:00

Franklins for Franklin is a campaign to raise 16 One hundred dollar bills ($1,600) for a little dog named Franklin.

Franklin is a sweet male Dachshund who came to the SPCA in pain & unable to walk. Dr. Emily Beichel and the SPCA clinic staff cared for Franklin and he is much better; however, x-rays show Franklin needs a specialized surgery because he has Chronic Intervertebral Disc disease.

Franklin's friend Dr. Jason Wheeler at Virginia Veterinary Specialist has offered to help little Franklin, by reducing the cost of surgery from the normal rate of $3,200 down to $1,600.

Franklin is very thankful that Drs. Beichel and Wheeler are on his side, and now he is hoping he can find more friends to help him out. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "There are three faithful friends - an old wife, an old dog, and ready money."

Our little Franklin is trying to find 16 "faithful friends" to give their "ready money" so that he can become an "old dog".

If you can help little Franklin just click here to donate and become one of Franklin's Faithful Friends.

To Contract or Not to Contract - that is the question.

2011-09-02T20:57:00.027-04:00

There has been a lot on the news lately surrounding local SPCA's and local governments terminating their long-standing relationships. Augusta County SPCA recently severed contractual ties to operate the "pound" for several local governments.

Now the Fluvanna SPCA and their county government may also be following suit.

I wish there was a quick and easy explanation about what this all means, but unfortunately that is not the case. Often these relationships are complicated. Contractual relationships work best when all the parties work together towards the same goal for the benefit of the community and the animals.

Nonetheless there is often one fundamental issue still at the heart of these relationships -- $Money$.

What is a local government's obligation respecting the lost or abandoned animals in its communities? Do they have a moral obligation to allocate some resources (i.e. money) to attempt to save some of these animals instead of expeditiously killing every animal after a stray hold period?

Let's look at other communities, where the local governments run the pounds. Do they kill every animal or do they provide some resources (again, money) to attempt to save the animals.

- The Madison County shelter adopted out 20% of the animals and transferred another 15% to other animal welfare organization resulting in a save rate of 59%.
- The Louisa shelter adopted out 19% and transferred another 19% resulting in a save rate of 50%.
- The Culpeper shelter adopted out 55% and transferred another 15% resulting in a save rate of 87%.
- The Orange County shelter adopted out 39% and transferred another 9% resulting in a save rate of 85%.

Clearly the Madison, Louisa, Culpeper and Orange communities do not think killing all the animals immediately after a short stray hold period is acceptable.

But another community bordering Fluvanna thinks differently -- the Buckingham County government operates its pound and adopted only 1% of the animals, transferred 5%, resulting in a save rate of only 8% (meaning 92% of the animals brought into the Buckingham shelter were euthanized).

As things change in Augusta County and Fluvanna County, the citizens of these communities must let their local governments know what they believe should happen to the animals. Is it acceptable to kill all the animals entering the government "shelter." Or do County Government shelters have an obligation to allocate some resources to put the animals up for adoption and attempt to save them.

The Fluvanna SPCA has been operating the Fluvanna pound, and under the direction of Tricia Johnson, Fluvanna County has been saving an incredible 92% of the animals. Will the citizens of Fluvanna accept a county government operated pound killing all of the animals directly after the legal hold period? Or will the citizens of Fluvanna speak up to help the animals?

Finally, we must ask ourselves a question, if all the animals are killed, is this really a "shelter" at all?"

When More Than Love Is Needed

2011-06-16T18:24:00.008-04:00

You may not recognize the faces above from the post A Look Inside, but these are the same dogs pictured here. Annabel and Lee have come a long way in the month since a caring citizen found them running in the road and brought them to the SPCA. When they arrived they were emaciated and suffering from a severe case of not only sarcoptic mange, but demodectic mange as well. With daily care from the SPCA Clinic staff, a loving touch and a few extra hot dogs they are putting on weight and are on their way to making a full recovery. Thankfully, Annabel and Lee are no longer contagious and enjoyed a little fresh air and fun in the SPCA's courtyard today.

The SPCA is committed to saving and treating pets like Anabel and Lee but these efforts are not without cost. Please consider making a gift to support their care.

Can Virginia be No Kill State?

2011-06-06T09:04:00.002-04:00

Click here to read for the Virginia Dog Article

The Virginia Dog Magazine recently featured the work of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA in it latest issue. At the end of this article, I stated that "I do not see why Virginia cannot become a No Kill state." Since that time some people have asked me whether I was serious and did I really see that as a possibility. And the Answer is: Unequivocally Yes!!!

How can I make such a claim? Well let's look at the facts.

The "Save Rate" for the Commonwealth of Virginia is currently at 61% (meaning 39% are euthanized). (see footnote* below for how this rate is computed).

Typically a good benchmark of a No Kill community** is a 90% save rate (This is because some animals have medical issues or serious behavior issues that warrant euthanasia. Sometimes depending on circumstances 88% may be No Kill or communities may achieve an even higher save rate, say 93% , but again 90% is a good benchmark).

Seven communities in Virginia are already No Kill or very close to becoming No Kill. This diverse group of communities is currently saving greater than 80% of the animals in their Virginia communities, some close to or greater than 90%.

Charlottesville-Albemarle, Virginia -- has been saving approximately 90% of the animals and has been No Kill since 2006.

Orange County, VA - This county is a diamond in the ruff. Seldom receiving the accolades that they deserve, Orange County, VA has had a five-year average save rate of 87%.

Lynchburg, VA -- The Lynchburg Humane Society (like Charlottesville, Fluvanna and Arlington) contracts as the "pound" and is responsible for all the animals in the community. Last year the Lynchburg community saved 86% of the animals. Since that time, Lynchburg has achieved No Kill every month in 2011 and expects to end the year achieving No Kill.

Fluvanna County, VA -- Another SPCA serving as the pound ended 2010 with a 92% save rate. Just a small under-funded organization doing the best with what they have to save animals in their community. Stand proud Fluvanna.

Nelson County, VA -- In 2010, the Nelson County SPCA and the Nelson County Animal Shelter worked together to save 87% of the animals in their community. Way to go Nelson County!

Richmond, VA has been very close to achieving No Kill for several years and ended 2010 with an 85% save rate. The Richmond SPCA and Richmond Animal Care and Control are model organizations with their partnership working together to achieving Richmond's No Kill goal.

Arlington, VA ended 2010 with a 78% percent save rate. Since then Arlington has substantially improved their save rate and has a goal to save all the animals.

So Virginia we are well on our way to being a No Kill state. Seven communities are leading the charge. What a great start! As I said in the Virginia Dog article, the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA does not want to be special, instead we want saving animals to become the norm. Because it is not about accolades, an organization or a person, it is not about egos. It is about the animals.

Which communities will join this list next? Because we can do this -- we have to do this -- for the sake of the animals in our great Commonwealth.

To learn more about how your community is doing track the combined performance of all organizations in your community at the Virginia Department of Agriculture site.

*This save rate percentage is computed by looking at the total number of animals taken in by all Virginia organizations, and subtracting out the number euthanized -- the rest are viewed as saved. (We have tried not to make this complicated, and we can debate minor details, but let's not. This is a good benchmark of where we are as a state.)

*We use the term "community", and not organization, because some communities have several organizations. One organization may be No Kill and limited admission, while another organization serves as an open-admission facility (where all strays go) and may have a high euthanasia rate. Some communities have only one open-admission organization. A No Kill Community looks at the performance of all animal welfare organizations in the community and combines their results to determine whether they have achieved No Kill.

Good Friends and a Cool Ball.

2011-05-23T21:08:00.020-04:00

It is often the simple things in life that matter most.

The joy of being "Someone"

2011-05-21T09:00:00.003-04:00

It goes like this -- you think, "oh that little one really needs to be in foster, I am sure "someone" will come to get him."

But sometimes the simple fact is that "someone" is you. I learned this recently as I passed by little Dustin (formerly known as Cletus) in his kennel. Dustin is a young, mixed breed dog. When I walked by him, he was curled up looking as sad as could be all pink, covered in scabs with missing fur. He could hardly open his eyes. He just sort of lifted his head and gave me a low growly/groaning "hello." When I called him in a welcoming voice, he wagged his tail and slowly got up to greet me.

I brought Dustin in my office and immediately posted a plea on Facebook that he really needed a foster home, because he would heal faster in a less stressful environment. I knew there was no way I could take him home because I had too many dogs already, and my home was not very calm. Not to worry I thought because certainly someone would come get him. But the day went quickly and by 6:00 pm someone had not arrived. At that moment, I finally came to the realization, that I was "someone."

And truth be told, little Dustin is really not much trouble at all. But the joy he brings me, well it is priceless. To watch this sad little guy come out of his shell and play and run with my dogs. He is absolutely happy as can be. And in the end, there actually are some calm moments ....

Animal Lovers -- WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

2011-05-19T08:42:00.002-04:00

YES, the SPCA is committed to maintaining a No Kill Community. But NO, we cannot do it without YOU.

To all animal lovers, we could really use your help. The first day of Summer may be a month away, but Summer has come early to the SPCA. In the last few days we have taken in over 60 animals. In the past, we have been able to save animals because our foster care program has been one of the most successful in the nation. You are the reason Charlottesville-Albemarle is a No Kill community.

Please come to the SPCA and foster a litter of kittens, a couple of puppies, a special need animal or a senior dog or cat. Encourage your family and friends to do so. Just take a look at these faces -- than ask yourself, CAN I SAVE A LIFE TODAY AND FOSTER AN ANIMAL AT THE SPCA?

If you are a new foster, fill out an application today.

A Look Inside...

2011-05-19T08:08:00.019-04:00

Before we start -- let's just say it -- this should not be happening in our Community. Below are the faces of some dogs that recently came to our SPCA. These medical issues did not happen overnight but resulted from a lack of care for a long period of time. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

All of these dogs came in as strays -- so the owners are unknown and consequently may not be held accountable. The first dog (with demodectic mange) is currently in a foster home (with me!) and is on his way to a recovery. The second two dogs are contagious with sarcoptic mange and are being cared for by the dedicated STAFF at the SPCA.

As Executive Director of the SPCA -- I am so thankful TO THE SPCA STAFF. It will be a long recovery process for all of these dogs, but they will be loved that entire time.

Mason, our 2011 SPCA Mascot, by Susanne Kogut

2011-03-03T15:23:00.005-05:00

Year after year, attendees at our Critter Ball bid in a live auction to crown their pet as the SPCA mascot. Last year SPCA supporter Beth Marcus won the 2011 SPCA Mascot opportunity, and then gifted that recognition to my dog Mason. Beth wanted to acknowledge Mason for his good work helping other animals.

Mason is a twelve year-old pit bull with his Canine Good Citizen certification. After a tough start in life, Mason came to live with me when he was two years old. Since that time, Mason has been the foster brother to hundreds of dogs and puppies. His foster siblings have included a paralyzed Shih Tzu, an aggressive German Shepherd and her 11 puppies, many young adult dogs with behavior problems, dogs terrified of people and litter after litter of puppies. With unruly youngsters, Mason taught discipline and appropriate behavior. With his calm and confident presence, Mason assisted in the rehabilitation of many SPCA dogs and continues this important work even in his senior years. He has even cured a few people of their fear of pit bulls. So I hope you will join me in enthusiastically welcoming Mason as the 2011 SPCA Mascot.

Click here to see what a good foster dad Mason is to a Paralyzed Shih Tzu puppy.

Vote for Mason!!!!

Happy 50th Birthday to Beth McPhee!!!

2011-02-02T14:06:00.004-05:00

Beth McPhee is known throughout our community for her dedicated service to helping the animals of our Charlottesville-Albemarle community. With close to 25 years of service, Beth has been an incredible asset to the animals of our community. Over the year's her responsibilities have increased substantially from the days when she sold feed and did adoptions at the SPCA. Beth recalls one of her first experiences, when SPCA founder Sally Mead asked Beth to clean the squirrel monkey cage. "I think it may have been some sort of initiation. I went to clean up after the monkey, and when I stuck my head into the enclosure the little monkey latched on to my face and bit my nose. Sally had to remove him from me." Beth explained that her and the monkey did become friends after this first meeting.

As an SPCA employee, Beth has certainly seen a lot over the years, and throughout this week, we will share some stories about Beth's time helping the animals in our community.

We hope you will join us this week in wishing Beth the happiest of birthdays. One awesome way to do that is by visiting the SPCA and taking advantage of Beth's Birthday Special by adopting a new friend this week. If you can't adopt consider making a donation in Beth's honor to help us care for all of the animals at the SPCA.

Click here to view the SPCA's available pets.

Click here to donate in Beth's honor.

Proposed Legislation -- Not in the best interest of Animals

2011-01-24T19:26:00.011-05:00

A bill has been introduced in the 2011 Virginia legislative session that completely dismantles a series of protections that have been put in place to protect and help animals that are the subject of inadequate care and cruelty. HB 2482, which is presently before the House Agriculture Committee, is a complete overhaul of animal care standards and the enforcement procedures and standards related to animal cruelty,

It is not possible in this forum to describe in detail every aspect of the legislation as it is extremely voluminous. Suffice it to say that all the changes in the proposed legislation are objectionable and not in the best interest of the animals.

The following is a summary of the aspects of the legislation to which we strenuously object:

• This bill allows one charged with not caring for an animal or failing to provide vet care for injured or diseased animals to keep the animal during the time period of the court case. It further states that upon a conviction, the animals may be returned to such owner.
• Currently a court “may” restrict a person charged with animal cruelty from owning animals in the future. Under this bill there is a time limit and such ownership restriction cannot exceed two years.
• If an owner convicted of cruelty is ordered to dispose of animals in his care, he has 90 days to do so, which would mean animals that have already been cruelly treated may be subjected to continued cruelty for 90 additional days.
• By elimination of the bond provision, the bill places the financial burden to care for animals on the local government and thereby the taxpayer and not the person that failed to care for the animals.

You can read the bill in its entirety by clicking below: HB2482

Please take action now by emailing the members of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee. Although personal emails are always best, below is an example email. Please feel free to use this form or simply send a quick email letting the members of the Agriculture Committee know that you DO NOT support HB 2482.

Dear Delegate,

I am writing to you today to ask that you Vote No on HB 2482 regarding animal care standards and the enforcement procedures and standards related to animal cruelty, which is presently before your Committee. After reading the numerous changes in this bill, I find that the bill dismantles a series of protections designed to protect and help animals from the hands of those individuals charged with failing to care for them. The bill further places the financial burden on local jurisdictions and their taxpayers by removing the requirement of a bond to be posted by the accused for the cost of the animal's care, while the accused's case winds through the judicial system. I urge you to vote down this bill in its entirety as its provisions subject animals to inadequate care and cruelty, which I believe is an unacceptable standard for our Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

List of Delegates:

DelBSherwood@house.virginia.gov
DelHMorgan@house.virginia.gov
DelLWare@house.virginia.gov
DelTWright@house.virginia.gov
DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov
DelEScott@house.virginia.gov
DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov
DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
DelDBell@house.virginia.gov
DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov
deltwilt@house.virginia.gov
DelJCox@house.virginia.gov
DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov
DelJShuler@house.virginia.gov
DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov
DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov
DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov
DelMJames@house.virginia.gov
DelDEnglin@house.virginia.gov
DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov

Happy Howloween -- Costume Contest Winners

2010-11-05T20:44:00.016-04:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Doggie Howloween Costume on the Downtown mall. There were 82 contestants all with awesome costumes. Everyone had so much fun, and the contest raised $410 for the SPCA. Special thanks to the 19 downtown businesses participating by passing out treats or donating prizes. Special thanks to contest organizers Dog and Horse Lovers Boutique and Siips Wine and Champagne Bar, and sponsor, Monticello Media.

Special congrats to all of the contest winners below:

Most original 1st Place: Sophie, owned by Nina Davi, was a “Tea Party”

Tied for 2nd Place most original:

Buddy, owned by Lori Pinkey, was a “Stink Bug”

Russell, owned by Raul, was a “Bull rider”

Scariest -- Scout, owned by Deb Lively, was a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"

Prettiest: Dixie, owned by Amee, the “1980’s Prom Queen”

MOST HANDSOME: Jefe, owned by Fred Valencia, was “Michael Jackson”

Best Theme or Group:

1st Place - Buddy, owned by Dana Holler, as Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Watson and wife

2nd Place - Bubba & Boz, owned by Audrey Koid, were ‘Pac Man, Blinky and Pinky”

Funniest - Maddie, owned by Bailey Ocker, was a “Pinata”

Thank you to the following businesses for donating prizes for contest winners: Cha-Cha's Boutique, Dog & Horse Lovers Boutique, Great Scott's Gourmet Popcorn, The Mole Hole, Siips Wine and Champagne Bar, Spring Street Boutique, Tuel Jewelers and Yves de Lorme.

Thank you to the following businesses for passing out dog treats: Alacazam, Blue Light Grill, Blue Ridge Eco Shop, Boutique-Boutique, Cappelino’s Crazy Cakes, Consignment House, Dog & Horse Lovers Boutique, Derriere de Soie, Great Scott’s Gourmet Popcorn, Mazi’s Fashions, The Mole Hole, Pearl, Read It Again Sam, Siips Wine Bar, Spring Street Boutique and Urban Outfitters.

Good news and a beautiful kitty for adoption UPDATE

2010-10-04T20:44:00.005-04:00

Three weeks ago one of our favorite FIV+ cats, Schmidt was adopted. My husband and I had the good fortune to foster him for two weeks and he was a joy to have around. His new Mom has already emailed us several times to let us know he is doing wonderfully and likes to sit on her lap and snuggle as much as possible. Schmidt was very popular with the volunteers and staff thanks to his gentle, sweet personality.

Luckily for adopters, Schmidt was not the only wonderful FIV+ boy looking for a forever home. One of my other favorite FIV+ cats is Tater. He is a gorgeous cat. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was somehow related to the now popular Bengal breed. He has a lot of their personality characteristics too...sleek, athletic and an impressive feather toy hunter. Tater is very fond of toys and is always trying to convince the other cats to wrestle with him. He is also very affectionate and loves people. Tater especially likes to be held so he can snuggle into your shoulder and purr. Tater is a whole lot of fun and would be great in a home with cats, dogs or kids. I love to watch him run and play, then when he's all worn out pick him up and smush him. As you can see, he likes to hang over the back of my shoulder so he can watch the people go by. Tater is really the life of the party, he is so much fun to have around and to play with. He's going to bring a lot of life and laughter to a lucky family's home.

If you or someone you know would like to foster or adopt an FIV kitty please contact the shelter!

UPDATE: TATER WAS ADOPTED! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPREAD THE WORD!

Sunshine's Lucky Day

2010-10-01T14:02:00.000-04:00

Hand's down, the luckiest day of her short life so far.

Yesterday, this cute little 6-week-old kitten was seen and very fortunately rescued from the middle of 5th Street Extended by my co-worker's daughter. Several cars were seen swerving to miss hitting this baby (thank goodness) but one compassionate person stopped to scoop her up out of harm's way.

She was brought to our office soaking wet from the yesterday's downpour, lethargic, and malnourished. But once she arrived, she had plenty of caretakers. We weren't quite sure what to do with her, but after several people volunteered to care for her temporarily until we figured it out, we placed a call down the street to Monticello Animal Hospital, who agreed to keep her for the night and check her out.

This morning, she returned to our office with a good medical report. And between yesterday and today, another one of my co-workers whose cat recently died, decided to give this little girl a permanent, loving home. Her new name (at least temporarily) is Sunshine.

Little Miss Sunshine this morning

Love Somebody -- Samson's Story

2010-07-21T20:37:00.010-04:00

For those of you who like to go to the last page of a good story -- here is the ending -- Samson is now in a wonderful loving home.

But his story had a different beginning. Samson came to the SPCA late one evening in early 2010 brought in by Animal Control Officer Urry who found him alone in the Free Union area. When Officer Urry walked Samson into the SPCA, he could barely stand up for more than a few moments, and he certainly did not even look like a Mastiff. He was severely emaciated and seemed very close to giving up. But his luck would soon change. The SPCA clinic staff gave him food and water and made him comfortable with nice blankets. Over the next few days, the staff continued to care for Samson feeding him small meals about 6 times a day. When SPCA veterinarian Dr. Beichel examined him, she confirmed what staff suspected, Samson was blind. In addition, Samson had an undiagnosed medical issue that prevented him from satisfying his thirst. Nonetheless, he liked the attention, especially from his new potential foster mom.

Here is what she had to say about Samson:
"The first time I saw him at the SPCA my heart went out to him. He was nothing but skin and bones (weighing only 91 lbs), he was blind, could barely stand, and was in desperate need of love and attention. Immediately I knew that I wanted to take him into my home. Given that he was blind and I already had an English Mastiff at home named Delilah, I immediately renamed him Samson. We started out as a foster home for Samson, not knowing how he would get along with our three other dogs. We also had no previous experience with blind dogs. Initially it was tough going addressing his constant need for water and trying to determine if his special needs resulting from his extreme neglect could ever be corrected. With the undying support of Dr. Biechel and the other members of the SPCA Clinic staff, we were able to turn Samson’s story of neglect into a story of triumph. He now weighs 133 lbs, is on medication for his medical condition, loves playing with our other dogs, and has been officially adopted as a member of our family. We love him dearly and sincerely thank everyone at the SPCA for making his recovery a reality."

Dogs like Samson and his life of neglect can really hit hard initially. But it only makes their stories of success that much more uplifting. We are thankful we have a community that cares and supports the work of the SPCA and helps to provide Love to these precious animals. If you would like to donate to help more animals like Samson go to our SPCAFacebookCause.

Fun at this year's Foster/Volunteer Party!!!!!!!

2010-06-22T12:51:00.005-04:00

This year's foster/volunteer party was held at the beautiful home of Dixie Marcus (former SPCA Mascot). With a wonderful pool, lots of games, and great food and friends, it could not have been a more perfect afternoon. Well, maybe the weather could have cooperated just a bit, but the dark and gloomy storm marched out as quickly as it came in, and it was on to grilling after that. For the past three years, Beth Marcus has been an incredible hostess offering up her wonderful home and providing all food, drinks and fun for an afternoon of celebration. Our sincere thanks and gratitude goes out to Beth and her entire family (who year after year help in all the preparation). As a volunteer and foster herself, Beth knows how much the volunteers and fosters mean to the animals at the SPCA. Awards were distributed to recognize some of the outstanding contributions of our volunteers and foster parents.

Good Mews!

2010-06-19T12:22:00.003-04:00

Eureka and Roary were adopted !

We're looking...

2010-06-09T08:03:00.005-04:00

for a forever home.

Hi! I'm Eureka. Aren't I a pretty girl? My favorites things are playing with feathery toys and exploring.

My name is Roary. Mousies are the best toys ever! My foster mom says I'm a fluffy, soft boy.

After a hard day playing with toys I like to sun myself, says Kipper.

We're waiting to meet you at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA

Is there anything cuter than a pile of kittens?

2010-05-14T11:42:00.011-04:00

So many kittens, so much fun!

Eureka, Roary, Kipper, & Tuck (l-r)

Four out of five kittens play and pounce.

Ruby poses for a solo portrait.

Roary in a quiet moment.

Eureka (r) is the ringleader, Roary catnaps in the background.

Kipper (green collar) and Tuck (blue collar) playing

as Ruby watches her brothers.

2010-04-20T21:40:00.003-04:00

Join us at Siips on April 29th from 5:30 pm to 7:30pm, when Executive Director, Susanne Kogut, will shift gears and put her talents to work serving wine to help the animals at the SPCA. You can bring your canine friends (which likely have been adopted from the SPCA, although not required) and sit out in Siips patio area. Join us at the Bar area and share your stories about the special animals in your life. Or just come out for an evening of fun and let's make a toast to the animals at the SPCA.

FIV kitty of the week!

2010-04-20T20:53:00.004-04:00

The CASPCA recently started making FIV+ kitties available for adoption. What is FIV you might ask? Best Friends stated it nicely when they said,

"FIV falls into the same category as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). FIV is a lentivirus, meaning it's species-specific and can't be spread from one species to another. Lentiviruses progress slowly and may take years to produce symptoms.

FIV is a relatively hard virus to transmit because it can't exist for more than a few seconds in open air. The most common forms of transmission are through severe bite wounds and through an infected mother cat giving birth to kittens. The virus attacks the T-cells, the white blood cells specific to support of the immune system. Evidence of the virus may be detected within four to six weeks of infection through a blood test.

Common secondary infections associated with FIV include stomatitis, which is an inflammation of the mucous lining of the mouth; upper respiratory infections; and skin diseases. "None of these are life threatening," says Dix. "Non-FIV cats are susceptible to the same conditions, even with healthy immune systems." "

The biggest problem related to FIV? Stigma. Unfortunately many wonderful pet owners are not aware of the recent research and still consider FIV to be big, bad and scary. Which means that these wonderful kitties (and believe me, the ones the CASPCA has are beyond wonderful) sit in their cages waiting for their families. They told me all that waiting gets pretty boring and a little discouraging. In reality FIV cats can live long, happy healthy lives and make wonderful companions. They just need a few special people willing to look past the stigma and appreciate them for all of their kitty cat awesomeness. For those who can't adopt the FIV kitties please take the time to stop by the shelter to snuggle and play with them, the front desk staff can point you in the right direction.

Without any further ado, please meet the FIV kitty of the week, Bowzer. Bowzer has been at the shelter since November and has been very patiently waiting for just the right person to come along.

Everyone who has ever met Bowzer loves him, he is a gorgeous cat with the personality of a dog. Bowzer is far and away one of the sweetest, most affectionate cats in the shelter. He loves to be held, will put his paws on your shoulders to give you a kitty cat hug and rub his head under your chin. Bowzer also likes to be kissed on the top of his head. Bowzer is a happy, confident cat but nothing makes him as happy as being held. When he isn't snuggling, Bowzer loves to play with other cats and chase his toys. He has lots of playful energy and would be a great companion for another cat or an enthusiastic mouser. He'd also be great in a house with kids and dogs. If you're looking for an outgoing, affectionate cat who makes friends with everyone he meets please visit Bowzer at the main shelter.

Wrigley

2010-03-01T20:30:00.001-05:00

The following letter was received from Jeremy & Kerry Stockwell from Falls Church, VA

I came across the CASPCA blog today and thought I'd send along an update on Jack, whom we adopted in January 2009. We found him on Petfinder.com and immediately fell in love with his big-headed, short-legged little brown self. We re-named him Wrigley - originally because Jeremy is a Chicago Cubs fan, but as we came to learn, his entire doggy body tends to "Wriggle" when he's really happy. It's quite adorable and just one of the many things we love about him.

We really can't imagine life without Wrigley. He recently learned to roll over -- now it's the only trick he ever wants to do (I think he likes the treat AND belly rub combination reward). He goes running with Jeremy often, and we take him to the dog park a few days each week. He is obsessed with swimming - in the warmer months he'll stay in the water for a couple hours, like a little kid at the swimming pool.

When we're at home he loves to lounge on the couch. If we're also sitting on the couch, he insists on being in our laps. When my husband is sitting at his desk working on the computer, Wrigley will climb into his lap. And while he's technically not allowed to sleep in our bed, he has a sneaky habit of waiting until we are asleep, and then when we wake up in the morning, he's curled up at our feet. Notice a pattern? We have a 50 lb. lap dog!

We feel incredibly lucky to have Wrigley in our family. We are so grateful to the wonderful staff and volunteers at CASPCA who took such loving care of our sweet dog before we met him.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jeremy & Kerry Stockwell
Falls Church, VA

Isis enjoying life with her foster family!

2010-02-24T20:54:00.002-05:00

Isis' Story

2010-02-20T18:26:00.005-05:00

Isis’ story is about a young pitbull that so many caring people throughout Virginia have come together to save. Isis came to our SPCA after we received a call from the Director Tom Koenig of the Loudoun County Animal shelter asking us if we could help this sweet girl. Isis is the subject of an animal cruelty case in Loudoun. She had a shattered hip (likely due to being kicked) and needed surgery. But surgery was expensive and could not be done in our clinic. To the rescue came two more Virginians, Dr. Hay of Airport Animal Hospital, who agreed to do the surgery for a very reasonable rate, and Evelyn Krippendorf, a lawyer from Roanoke, who agreed to pay for her surgery. Evelyn has a big heart and her support for Isis was in memory of her beloved White Standard Poodle named Ch. Pinafore Paloma, a rehome whose owner responsibly decided not to breed her after testing revealed hip dysplasia, and her American Pit Bull Terrier named Red Dog Krippendorf, who she rescued after he escaped from his back yard chain and was hit by a bus which resulted in his losing one of his front legs.

So after all the snow storms, a Loudoun county employee drove Isis all the way to Charlottesville. The minute Isis walked in our doors, we were so happy that we decided to help this little girl. Isis was just a love, despite not having received much love up to this point in her life. She just went up to everyone and gave them kisses. Shortly after she got here, Isis went to Dr. Hay for surgery, and Dr. Hay reported that the hip was in fact badly shattered but that the surgery went very well. Isis came back to the SPCA to begin her recovery at the SPCA. That is until the Green family from Charlottesville came to visit Isis and decided to take her home and foster her until she recovered from her injury. Now Isis is in an absolutely wonderful foster home and she is getting all the love she rightly deserves. So keep tuned into our Facebook page for updates on Isis’ progress. We are very hopeful that this story will have a wonderful ending for little Isis.

SPCA In The Community

2010-02-17T11:23:00.005-05:00

These great shots are courtesy of Melissa, one of our very helpful volunteers. We had a wonderful adoption and fundraising day at Belk in Fashion Square Mall on January 23rd. The dogs and kittens were charming and greeted their many fans with enthusiam and the occasional nap. We hope we can go again - the hounds really want to make a trip to the food court! They proimise to bring ice cream back for the kittens.....
We had several adoptions and the staff and customers of Belk helped us raise almost $300 and we received many useful in kind donations. Posey, the sweet tan and white hound, is still available for adoption, if you want a dog who is good with lots of people and crazy new situations! And who doesn't??
Thanks to the management of Belk for inviting us to their store - it was a super event!

No Kill Conference

2010-01-11T19:53:00.005-05:00

Last year’s No Kill Conference brought to you by the No Kill Advocacy Center was the sold out, must attend conference of the year. And it is happening again!

The No Kill Advocacy Center is teaming up with the Animal Law program at George Washington University Law School, Maddie’s Fund, and Friends of Animals to bring together the nation’s most successful shelter directors and the nation’s top animal lawyers. They will show you how to create a No Kill community and teach you how to use the legal system to save the lives of animals.

Join No Kill advocates nationwide at this ground-breaking event. A No Kill nation is within our reach!
What: No Kill Conference 2010
When: July 31-August 1, 2010 
Where: Washington DC
More Information/Register: No Kill Conference

Being so close to our community, this is a great opportunity to hear from experts around the country at a location so close to home. I have the pleasure of representing our Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA at this conference once again. It is so important for us to share information about the life-saving programs that have worked in our community, so lives can be saved through out the nation.

Please note: Last year’s conference sold out months in advance. If you are considering attending, do not delay. Once sold out, there are no waiting lists and no exceptions.

New Year's Resolutions from the SPCA

2010-01-04T10:42:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year to everyone! For all pet owners, new or old, we’d like to offer some resolutions to consider:

1. Teach your pet of any age a new trick or two. They will enjoy the mental exercise, and it is good bonding time.

2. Walk or run with your dog everyday. This helps build your relationship as the pack leader and keeps both you and your pet in good physical and mental shape.

3. Take more fun pictures and video – and share them with the SPCA on our Facebook site.

4. Make sure your pet has updated identification, whether it is a tag on his or her collar, a City and County license or a microchip. Remember to renew your dog license each year.

5. Make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccines and other preventative medications, like heartworm preventative. Call your vet to schedule that annual exam.

6. Update your toy box and set aside some extra time each day to play with your cat.

7. Don’t forget about the animals at the SPCA. Take in a foster pet for a week or so, donate or volunteer at your local animal welfare facility and give back to other animals in need.

8. Spay or Neuter your pet!

9. Consider adopting a new member of the household.

10.Be grateful every day for the pets in your life and try to be as happy with life as they are.

Puppies!

2010-01-03T21:39:00.005-05:00

I've been blessed with 7 foster puppies for the last several weeks. They apparently had ringworm but looked well on their way to recovery even before I brought them home. They are all brindle with black muzzles and are as cute as they can be.

I think they will be going back soon, but they have been a lot of fun to have around. I've had puppies before, of course, but each time feels like a new experience because I forget how active, playful, and energetic puppies can be.

These guys are eating a lot and playing hard. They love being picked up and snuggled.

Next Orientation for Junior Volunteers

2010-01-01T11:22:00.002-05:00

Junior volunteers are individuals age 14 – 17 who are not seeking to fulfill school required community service requirements. We ask interested potential junior volunteers to complete an orientation and then give us four volunteer hours per month for four consecutive months (January -April, March - August, and September – December.).

In 2009, over 2500 junior volunteer hours were given to our needy animals. Please join the upcoming Junior Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, January 16th from 9am – 11am and get trained to help our SPCA animals and staff.

Call Nancy Cranwell, Humane Educator at 964-3327 for details or just complete and return a Junior Volunteer Application form available at the SPCA facility or on-line at www.caspca.org. It’s hard work, a lot of cleaning, but it’s also fun! Thanks for wanting to help!

It's Bowl Season at the SPCA!

2009-12-28T11:50:00.001-05:00

Planning to spend some holiday time watching the Bowl Games? Well visit the SPCA and participate in some Bowl Games with the animals at the SPCA. Beginning Saturday, December 26th, each day from 12pm – 6pm the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA will host 13 “Bowl Games”, going through January 7th. Every Bowl brings another adoption special and New Year pricing for the animals at the SPCA, who are playing for a new home. In honor of our inaugural Bowl Game, the “Litter Bowl”, we ask the public to bring in bags of clay litter during all 13 days of the SPCA’s Bowl Season to help us celebrate. Why are we football crazy? Because dogs love to play football, or chase you while you do, and cats love to sit on your lap while you watch the gridiron action.
Here are the Bowl games that remain:
• December 28th – Injured Reserve Bowl: Adopt a rehabilitated cat or dog for $20.10.
• December 29th – Orange Bowl: Adopt an orange cat for $20.10.
• December 30th – Heavyweight Bowl : Adopt a big or “fat” cat or dog for half-price.
• December 31st – Tuxedo Bowl: Adopt a “tuxedo” black and white cat or dog for $20.10 and ring in the New Year!
• New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1st – Rose Bowl: Adopt a female cat for $20.10. We also invite the media out to report on the first SPCA animal adopted in 2010!!!
• January 2nd – Champagne Bowl: Adopt a senior cat or dog for $20.10.
• January 3rd – Beagle Bowl: Adopt a beagle or hound for half-price.
• January 4th – Resolution Bowl: Adopt a dog walking buddy for half-price to help you keep your New Year’s resolution to keep in shape.
• January 5th – Independence (“Sable”) Bowl: Adopt “free agent” Sable the cat and the adoption fee will be waived.
• January 6th – Luv-a-Bull Bowl: Adopt a pitbull for half-price.
• January 7th – Foster Bowl Championship: Adopt any animal that you “Fostered for the Holidays”, and we will waive the adoption fee.

The holidays are a time when we may spend more time at home. This can be a great opportunity to acclimate a new SPCA family member to your life. So please visit the SPCA at our Berkmar Drive facility from 12pm–6pm through January 7th or visit the cats at our other locations at the SPCA Rummage Store, Purrin at Pantops, and PetSmart. You can keep up to date on all our activities by visiting our blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts at caspca.org.

happy christmas ~

2009-12-24T09:00:00.002-05:00

With wishes of a wonderful Christmas for all the loveable animals and all the caring, kind people,

greetings from Sweden and one loaf doggie extraordinaire ~

Shop, Give, Celebrate for the Holidays and Support the SPCA!!!

2009-12-02T16:26:00.001-05:00

Top Ten Ways to Shop, Give and Celebrate for the Holidays and Support the SPCA!!

10. Shop at the SPCA Retail store – great selection and prices for all your pet needs.

9. Make a donation to the SPCA in honor of that pet lover in your family.

8. Adopt a pet and have him/her delivered to your door by Santa Claus.

7. Throw a Holiday Party and ask for donations to the SPCA in lieu of hostess gifts
(we have invitation cards and other items to make this easier).

6. Shop at the SPCA Rummage Store – variety for anyone on your shopping list.

5. Shop at Barnes and Noble on December 19, 20, 23 and 24 and have your presents Gift Wrapped (proceeds to the SPCA).

4. Purchase an SPCA gift certificate good at any of our locations for any items in our Retail store, SPCA Rummage Store or towards a pet adoption.

3. Treat yourself or someone else to the Gift of Love with a
“Love Somebody - Pet Adoption Package” (see what the package includes below).

2. Help reduce animal overpopulation and give that pet lover on your shopping list a Spay/Neuter Gift Certificate!

1. Participate in our new giving program for you or the animal lover on your list with the
“Get Us Home for the Holidays!” sponsorship opportunity.

For more information on these ways to finish your holiday shopping while supporting the SPCA, please stop by the SPCA or contact Chris Roberson by email at croberson@caspca.org or by phone at 964-3305.

Love Somebody - Cat Adoption Gift Package!

2009-12-02T16:25:00.000-05:00

You can give the gift of love to the cat lover on your shopping list with the SPCA Cat Adoption Gift Package.

$150: Cat Adoption Package – Cat or Kitten that has been examined by a vet and is fully vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed/neutered; ID Tags; cat food, collar, cat toys, litter box and carrier.

Love Somebody Dog and Puppy Adoption Packages!

2009-12-02T16:24:00.001-05:00

You can give the gift of love to the dog lover on your shopping list with the SPCA Dog and Puppy Adoption Gift Packages.

$200 Dog Adoption Package: dog that has been examined by a vet and is fully vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed/neutered; County/City License and ID Tags; dog food, collar or harness, dog toy/bone, and dog obedience class (add crate $250).

$250 Puppy Adoption Package: puppy that has been examined by a vet and is fully vaccinated, dewormed, and spayed/neutered; ID Tags; puppyfood, collar or harness, puppy toy/bone, and puppy obedience class (add crate $300).

One More Way to Shop and Support the SPCA!!!

2009-12-02T16:23:00.001-05:00

Foster for the Holidays!!!

2009-11-28T17:32:00.001-05:00

The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is excited to be participating in the national “Foster a Pet for the Holidays” program, sponsored by Petfinder.com. Across the country, over 13,000 pet rescue organizations are trying to empty their kennels for Christmas, encouraging everyone to invite a pet home for the holidays. While we know that’s a huge goal, we’d love to simply place as many wonderful cats and dogs into homes for the holidays as possible.

So do you think you can make the holidays brighter for an animal at the SPCA? The process is easy. First, simply fill out a foster application at click here . On the application give us information about what type of pet would be best this holiday season in your home. For instance, need a dog who can get along with Aunt Lucy’s terrier? Tell us about Lucy and we can get the perfect playmate for her. Want a cat who enjoys other pets? We’ve got you covered there, too. Or just need a couch potato who can lounge around with you after all those holiday parties? Just let us know your needs, and we’ll match you up with a great furry friend who will enhance your holiday spirit. What a way to share the love of the season!

After we receive your foster application, we will give you a call, go over some additional information and set up a pick-up time for you. Additionally, you can also attend a group orientation and matching session on either December 20th at 3pm or 22nd at 5pm.

Still have some questions, give us a call at 434-973-5959 or email us at
customerservice@caspca.org and we will get back with you. We’ll cover all the details with you, and make it as easy as possible.

Below are just some of the dogs and cats hoping to go Home (or to a Foster Home) for the Holidays!!

Consider some of these dogs to Foster for the Holidays!

2009-11-28T17:31:00.004-05:00

Sheeba, Lilly, Kipper, Sammy Hagar, Emmie and Atticus are just some of the dogs that would love to spend their Holidays in your Home!!!

Consider some of these cats to Foster for the Holidays!!!

2009-11-28T17:30:00.003-05:00

It would not take much to make Boston, Ms. Butterworth, Gretal, Chong, Cream Puff and Smokey happy this holiday season. Just spending the holidays in your home is all they want.

Love a Parade!

2009-11-23T11:11:00.007-05:00

We love a parade here at the SPCA!

Last Saturday, November 21st, Charlottesville's favorite thrift store, the SPCA Rummage Store, had a float and our main facility sent some great adoptable dgos (namely Besty, Little Bear and Roscoe below, who all loved being the center of attention)to walk the parade route on the Downtown Mall.

Thanks to Jan Cubbage from the SPCA Rummage Store and our other great volutneers and the parade organizers for a great time. Undoubtedly the exposure helped us have such a great adoption weekend!

Happy Adoption Stories

2009-11-19T11:53:00.004-05:00

We live for happy adoption stories around here, and here are two that just have to be shared!

Becky, one of our great volunteers and a big supporter of the SPCA, told me a happy adoption story about a sweet little orange cat named Gloria. Gloria is a rare girl - only 5% of orange cats are female. But she was not proud of her status, rather this girl was shy and scared, essentially a broken down cat. Becky and other volunteers worked hard with her, but she wouldn't come out of her shell. Then we re-located her to our facility at Purrin at Pantops and she started to come around enough to enchant her new mom, Maggie, who adopted her after a few visits 4 weeks ago. In her own words:
"I re-named her Mallory and I think she already knows her new name. She’s really smart, and she is blossoming! When I met her, she was sitting in the window at Purrin’, looking very dejected and depressed. She now has a sparkle in her eye, is roaming around the house, and loves to play with the many toys that Becky brought over for her! She’s getting verbal and is less and less afraid. It’s been really fun watching her discover things…the TV set, the dryer, etc. I am delighted with my little Mallory, and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to watch this girl discover a wonderful world of comfort where she is safe and loved!"
Many happy returns to Maggie and Mallory!

A very special dog was adopted last week. Jonathan came to us covered in horse manure and a little scared. The one thing he did well was wag his entire body, which quickly made him a staff and volunteer favorite. But after a few months here, you could tell he was starting to wonder when he would find a home. He seemed to be losing some of his zest for life and was getting frustrated. Then came Jonathan's knight in shining armour, a human named Jonathan! Here's what the proud new papa has to say: "You will be happy to know that Jonathan is settling in very nicely here in Baltimore. My family and friends all love him, and he's doing exceptionally well with my mother's dogs and friends' dogs. However, he is not appreciating the construction next door, due to an entire new house being built, almost as much as we don't! But he's playing well and learning new tricks - sit, down, stay, and leave it - and not to use his mouth to get what he wants. He loves to snuggle constantly, under the covers and pillows and on the couch. He loves his toys, and he's not toy or food aggressive in the least, and seems as happy as I am!"

What a match made in heaven between this terrific young man and a grateful dog! Here at the SPCA, we're always happiest facilitating these connections. Share your stories or come find your own match made in heaven.

Best wishes to Maggie and Mallory and Jonathan and Jonathan!

SPCA Dogs at Dog Jog

2009-11-16T11:57:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, November 14th, four great volunteers took 10 great dogs to Walnut Creek Park to participate in the 5k Dog Jog through the lovely trails there. The dogs had a blast and were very well behaved according to all reports! The top three SPCA dog finishers are below. First are two gorgeous and happy hounds - Alice (on right) and Higgins were first and second, respectively.

Then third was Little Bear, shown below with Carl, a regular volunteer who happened to be racing.

Congratulations to all the canine and human participants! And if you need your own walking or running buddy, we can find you a great one......

The SPCA in the Community

2009-11-16T11:53:00.002-05:00

Last week, the Charlottesville city schools' after-school program participants gathered at Pen Park to hear a lesson from our humane educator, Nancy Cranwell, on taking good care of animals. Several of the children had also baked animal treats for our SPCA critters. So a big THANK YOU to the children from us and the dogs and cats who are enjoying the treats.

November Adoption Specials!

2009-11-07T11:38:00.003-05:00

Get em while they're hot! All senior pets are free:

And all adult cats are $20. (Kittens are 2 for 1; we have lots of kittens and aren't they more fun in pairs?)

You can adopt a loving family member and have a little cash left over!

Happy New Home, Van

2009-11-05T16:46:00.002-05:00

Longtime SPCA resident Van was adopted! Thanks to his new family and to his foster family for helping Van shine. We have lots of other wonderful hounds who need homes too. Come see them!

Feral Cat Clinic Huge Success

2009-11-05T16:00:00.002-05:00

The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA hosted its first feral cat clinic of the season last Saturday, Oct. 31st. The event is co-sponsored by Voices for Animals and their huge volunteer effort made it possible to spay or neuter 87 cats! This reduces the amount of unwanted kittens and greatly improves the quality of life for these animals. We'll host six more in the coming months. Stay tuned and thanks to everyone for helping.

It's Raining Cats and Kittens

2009-10-31T11:47:00.004-04:00

We have umpteen zillion cats and kittens in care at the SPCA as of this writing! Yikes! Could you give them a treat this Halloween by giving them a home? Today at our adoptathon, all cats and kittens are 2 for 1. Happy Meowl-o-ween!

Halloween Adopt-a-thon at the SPCA Oct. 31st.

2009-10-28T10:23:00.002-04:00

The SPCA will be hosting Howl-o-Ween, a Halloween themed adopt-a-thon on Saturday, October 31st, from noon – 6pm. Come enjoy some Halloween fun with the pets at the SPCA facility at 3355 Berkmar Dr. or at Purrin at Pantops, in the Pantops shopping center, and take advantage of several adoption specials.

Susanne Kogut, Executive Director, says of the event: “We love Howl-o-Ween because it allows us to “treat” our great community to deals on our amazing animals. Halloween brings out the kid in all of us, and we are decorated to the hilt here at the SPCA. Animals don’t care about costumes, even though they look awfully cute in them, but they do care about doing tricks for treats, so please come by and find someone you can add to your home. Make it a Halloween to remember!”

The biggest trick we could think of is to find home for all our animals, and you’ll get the treat of a new friend for life! So to make that happen, our adoption specials are as follows: All cats and kittens are two for the price of one. Two adult cats would be $75 and two kittens would be $95. All adult dogs are half price at $50. We also encourage everyone to bring treats to donate for the dogs and cats. We’ll have some human treats for the kids, too. Bring the family out for a safe, fun-filled, spooky time! You’re welcome to come in costume, too.

Doggie Howl-o-Ween on the Downtown Mall

2009-10-24T10:53:00.004-04:00

Join the SPCA dogs for a grand time! We’ll have lots of adoptable dogs strutting their stuff at the 2nd Annual Doggie Howl-o-ween on the Downtown Mall!!

When: Friday, October 30, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Dress up your dog in their best costume and bring them Trick-or-Treating (for doggie treats) at participating businesses on the downtown mall! Then march in the doggie costume parade through the mall that is followed by a doggie costume contest. Contest entries must pre-register by contacting sharon@dogandhorse.com .Contest is limited to the first 100 entrants. The categories are: Prettiest; Most Handsome; Scariest; Funniest; Best Theme.

Schedule of events:

5:30 Check in at the Dog & Horse Lovers Boutique and pick up your trick-or-treat bag and map for trick-or-treating
5:30-6:30 Trick-or-treating at participating stores (map provided when check in)
6:30 Costume parade--Line up in front of the pavilion
7:00 Costume contest at Central Place
For more information: www.dogandhorse.com

It Takes A Village!

2009-10-19T10:03:00.003-04:00

Karen Quillen of All Things Pawssible donated her time and expertise to help one of our adopters a few weeks ago. Henry adopted sweet, shy Emmie Lou. Henry just needed some ideas for helping Emmie Lou out of her shell. She had bonded to him very quickly, but she still lacked confidence on walks. Via e-mail, Karen gave him some wonderful advice as a favor to us. Dog and owner are doing well now thanks to Karen. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of professional help. Karen can't donate to everyone, nor would I ask her to. But if you think you could use a little advice, please seek her out. Her rates are reasonable, her results are great! Thanks again, Karen, for helping us make a good match!

Some Special Adoptions

2009-10-07T13:28:00.005-04:00

Some great adoptions to report on:

Little Mo

Elton John, aka Boomer

and Emmie Lou, a sweet shy hound who had been in foster care.

A big thanks to all these special people who brought these unique dogs into their lives and to those who fostered, volunteered with and worked for these great dogs until they found homes.

We've got lots more special dogs (and cats, too) waiting for special people!

The Dogs and Cats are Cheering!

2009-10-06T13:47:00.006-04:00

The SPCA's Stayin Alive Critter Disco Ball was a HUGE success. The Dancing with the Charlottesville Stars competition provided great entertainment for everyone and the dancers were just awesome.

Check out Dan Schutte, one of our dancers willing to bust a move for our animals. And stay tuned for more information and photos of highlights from the Critter Disco Ball from our executive director, Susanne Kogut. (They'll be better than this one, taken with a volunteer before the event!)

Thanks to all who attended, donated, voted, supported, volunteered, etc!

Sunday's Daily Progress Articles

2009-10-05T11:02:00.004-04:00

Sunday's Daily Progress had two great articles on the SPCA. The main article focused on what we do now, and this one gave a historical perspective. Read and enjoy...and check out the great photos!

Like all of David Maurer's articles, it was heartfelt, well researched and beautifully written. Thanks to David and our local paper for recognizing the passionate hard work that the staff and volunteers do here at our wonderful SPCA.

Please help us keep up the good work!

A Pair of Amazing Cats at the SPCA Rummage Store

2009-10-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

Oriental Short Hair Cats, Medium, Males, Pet ID: 39437 & Pet ID: 39438. We are Owen and Dexter . . . Please adopt us together at the SPCA Rummage Store on Preston Ave., ask for Jan.

If you hadn't noticed by now, we are quite the lookers. I bet you haven't seen cats like us before. We are very loving and affectionate cats.

From the foster mom: If you don't want these boys to sleep with you, then please consider other cats, as they want to sleep with you and on you.

They love to play. They are brothers who love each other dearly and cannot be separated even for hours in a day. They sleep together, play together and groom each other.

In all my years of fostering and the many animals that I have fostered, there have never been any like these two cats. They should go to a quiet home where they will be loved because they have a lot of love to share.

They are nine years old so the Free-to-Seniors special applies, which means adopters who are aged 50 and up can adopt Owen & Dexter for free, and they might also be eligible for free vet care.

Owen & Dexter are both neutered.

Owen: Primary Color: Brown, Weight: 11.25, Age: 9 years

Dexter: Primary Color: Grey, Weight: 13.9375, Age: 9 years

Shasta Thanks -- Creatures Great and Small!!!

2009-09-29T21:12:00.006-04:00

Shasta was a stray brought into the SPCA by an Animal Control officer. He was pretty matted, so much so that he was probably not feeling great. Severe matting can be very uncomfortable for a dog. You can tell just by the pictures that Shasta is a much happier dog. The SPCA and Shasta send our thanks to Louise and Katie at Creatures Great & Small for once again helping out the SPCA animals. This is not the first time Katie and Louise have helped out. Time after time, Katie and Louise have helped out the SPCA by grooming some of our most difficult cases. One time we had two dogs that came to us in such bad shape that they worked four hours on each dog, cleaning, shaving, bathing, etc... Katie and Louise are great friends of the SPCA and we are so thankful for what they have done for SPCA animals in need. THANK YOU!!! Creatures Great and Small is a dog boarding and grooming establishment right down the street from the SPCA on Berkmar Drive.

Rabies Clinic Was a Big Success!

2009-09-28T10:17:00.002-04:00

On Sunday, September 27th, the SPCA hosted its annual rabies vaccine clinic, for the first time at our facility. It was a spectacular success thanks to our great staff and volunteers. They administered a total of 270 vaccines to our community's dogs and cats.

This Must Be What A Barn Raising Feels Like!

2009-09-25T11:24:00.002-04:00

Thanks to the United Way Day of Caring on Wednesday, September 23rd, volunteers from organizations all over town came to help out the animals at the SPCA. It was amazing - we had 10 groups here doing 13 projects and over 100 people. They accomplished so much with such amazing attitudes! They donated time and energy and in some cases money for the materials for their projects. A big, heartfelt thank you to each of the following organizations and their wonderful employees:

The UVA Recreation Department improved our trails 1,000%.

The State Farm Fur Brigade did some major inside cleanup and decorated our cat areas.

Blue Ridge ESOP Associates painted some very tired looking walls.

The UVA Health System Development Office built us some gorgeous garbage cans and signs and cleaned and organized our dog harnesses and collars.

The UVA Heath System Transplant Center created and installed poop bag dispensers.

The Virginia Transportation Research Council spared some people for the day to make videos of the day and help us create instructional videos on dog walking.

The Darden School folks spruced up the SPCA Rummage Store.

Union Bank and Trust gave our cats some much needed attention.

State Farms Paws for Cause walked some very happy dogs and did some landscaping.

Sperry Marine brought their engineering skills and strong backs to fixing and organizing our animal crates and landscaping around the area.

And stay tuned for the video! Seriously....

31 Adoptions on Saturday and Sunday!

2009-09-21T13:16:00.003-04:00

We're doing backflips at the SPCA! Well, we would if we could. Most of us aren't that limber. But we are happy - 31 adoptions on Saturday and Sunday alone! Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens all found great homes.

We still have lots to choose from here and many cats and kittens are available for fostering.

A big thanks to our community for opening their hearts to our wonderful animals this weekend, and to the staff and volunteers who made it happen.

Dogs of All Breeds at Foods of All Nations

2009-09-16T09:54:00.006-04:00

This Sunday, September 20th, we'll be at Foods of All Nations. (Directions at www.foodsofallnations.com) They are hosting a festival of foods from 11am - 3pm where vendors and departments of the store showcase new and special products and offer samples. We'll have a couple of adoptable dogs there and we'll be raffling off a donated Victoria Dye photograph. Please join us for this fun event. And you can head over to the SPCA afterwards to see some great cats and kittens! (We're open 12-6pm Sunday and every day.)

The Story of Little Mo

2009-09-12T11:24:00.010-04:00

When Little Mo (officially named Morgan) came to the SPCA about a month ago as a stray, he was so wild and scared he tried to bite everyone who came near him. He was covered in ticks too. He was too scared to be walked on a leash, and he growled if you came near him. We thought he might be feral, his mistrust of people was so deep. But, after a few weeks of patient love and a lot of hot dogs, he learned people aren't so bad. Each day he got better and better. In the beginning, if you did anything new to him, he still wanted to bite. But he finally warmed up and became a sweet, fun, normal dog. He had just had a really hard time of it for a while, probably living in the wild and only meeting people who were not so nice to him. He still seemed to fear other dogs, but he was also geting better with that. So today, here's what happened when he met Jules. Little Mo is the darker brown one.

Hope Was Adopted!

2009-09-09T14:43:00.006-04:00

For those of you who have followed Hope's story (her walking, her "wheels", and her arrival at the SPCA), we have big news....Hope was adopted last week! And to a wonderful family who is kind enough to add this post-adoption report by e-mail:

"I thought I'd just send a quick e-mail about Hope and her new family. Like many dogs, she is still getting used to everything; in fact, I think the happiest she has been was when we took her to her first vet appointment! She seemed happy to be around the Veterinarian and his assistant! I think she had a good experience at the SPCA :) Getting her to walk on a leash is tricky, but if we take her somewhere in the car though, that's another story! If we take her to a park, she will leash walk like the best of dogs. But if we just try to get her to go potty and take her through our neighborhood, she is a little stubborn about it. (Well, she is a hound – one of their more loveable traits is that stubbornness, don’t you think?!) Other than that, she seems pretty happy. Slowly but surely the cats are warming to her. We have discovered her habit of "nesting" and find it amusing although a tad destructive :)

Thanks!

Jessica Utley "

Way to go Jessica and a big thanks to her and her husband and all our adopters for giving a happily ever after to Hope and those like her!

Some Action Shots of Our Dogs....

2009-09-07T11:45:00.004-04:00

Thanks to dog walking volunteer Pam and her husband for these great shots of Van, Sammy Hagar and Betsy - three pretty cool hounds who'd love to spend this fall at your house! And every season, come to think of it.....

More from Boscoe Red, an SPCA alum!

2009-09-04T13:28:00.004-04:00

And we continue Boscoe Red's tale....

About a year later, Boscoe (on left in photo) and I received Military Orders as I was still in the Marine Corps at the time. So we packed our bags and moved to southern Virginia. It wasn’t long until we decided to adopt a husband, and it wasn’t long until said husband decided we should adopt a second dog. But we had to be picky about this new sibling; Boscoe Red is quite a character with plenty of personality to boot. I went back to PetFinder.com, and six months later, we found Sue. A scared, skinny, and insecure little female with sky blue eyes, who we believe to be part Whippet; part Australian Shepherd…maybe Border Collie, your guess is as good as any. With Boscoe’s confidence and outgoing personality, it wasn’t long until he brought out the best in Sue, who we renamed Dia Sue. She watches him perform tricks and follows suit; he’s the perfect role model. They are inseparable and our small family is finally complete.
Two years ago, Boscoe Red and Dia Sue (or more commonly known around our house as The Boss and The Princess) and Julian (my husband) and I moved across country and now live in southern California. We enjoy camping several times a year and hiking as often as possible. Boscoe’s learned to be quite the swimmer with those stubby, little legs, and him and Dia Sue still own our bed at night. They have more toys than I have pairs of shoes; some might say they’re spoiled, but in our defense…they’re just well-loved.
As I stated before, I don’t know what inspired me five years ago to “see about a dog”, but I hope my story inspires others to check out their local shelter and humane society for their new pet. Military Orders and cross country moves, along with many other bumps in the road, have never separated me and my boy and never will. Boscoe Red celebrated his sixth birthday on May 1st of this year and I’m hoping to celebrate many, many more with him. He is my best friend and the only living thing I know brave enough to keep my stinky feet warm at night. To the CASPCA Staff and Volunteers; “One million thank yous!” and to Boscoe Red, when you finally learn to read; “I love you, baby boy!”
Sincerely,
Hilary Cisneros, “Proud Purebred Mutt Owner”

P.S. I still carry the CASPCA business card with his ID# D-3-96 in my wallet.

Buy Art and Benefit the SPCA!

2009-09-02T08:51:00.002-04:00

Art Show for SPCA Opens at BozArt this Friday, September 4th

Local artist Ucky Light and BozArt Gallery will present “Surfaces,” an art show to benefit the animals of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. The public is invited to a special opening of “Surfaces” on this Friday, September 4th, at BozArt from 5:00-9:00 p.m. The show remains open to the public throughout the month of September, and from September 4th-27th Light will donate 15% of all proceeds from sales of her paintings to the SPCA. BozArt Gallery is located on the Downtown Mall at 211 W. Main.

To learn more about BozArt and view samples of Ms. Light’s work, please visit www.bozartgallery.com.

And Now, A Word From A Satisfied Customer!

2009-09-01T16:38:00.003-04:00

A story in two parts from Hilary Cisneros:

I have to be honest; I don’t remember what inspired me to get a pet back in 2004. All I remember is discovering PetFinder.com one day. I don’t remember what made me decide to input “Dog” when prompted on the site to “Select Animal”. I didn’t specify the size, breed or gender ... I just clicked “Search” and every day for the next four months, that’s all I did. I searched for hours, looking at pictures of dogs at local shelters and humane societies, reading profiles . . . but so many choices, so many dogs! “Who could decide?!?” I thought. Until I found the one! Short, stocky and with the stubbiest of legs, “Red”, a one year old, red, male Corgi mix. My heart was all a flutter!! I picked up the phone, called the humane society which happened to be this very Charlottesville - Albemarle SPCA... "Hey, I watch Animal Cops, they’re all SPCAs!” and asked if Red was still available and when I could come and meet him.
This was on a Monday and by Tuesday; I was walking up to his kennel. Would you believe I was completely nervous going to meet him for the first time? But once I saw this little furball of energy standing only one foot tall at the withers and jumping high enough to look me in the eye when I’m 5’2”, I had to laugh! The butterflies disappeared. After watching him run around in the play area of the SPCA, the staff person and I walked him back to his kennel and she turned to ask “So what do you think?” I could barely contain myself long enough to reply “When can I take him home?”
It was a Saturday, May 1st, 2004 when I went back at the CASPCA to pick up Red, who I renamed Boscoe Red. On the two hour car ride back home, he laid his little head on my lap and fell asleep.
Skip ahead to the third month of being a new pet owner. Housetraining complete: Check; New toys, bed, crate, water/food dishes, leash and collar to compliment his red coat: Check; Realizing that I no longer own the bed at night: Check; Driving home from work just a little too fast everyday so I can see his Corgi smile and wagging tail greet me at the door: Check! Hey he’s even learned new tricks like Sit, Come, Lay Down, Shake, Roll Over, Stand, Sit Pretty (with front paws in the air), Jump, and Speak (self-taught). What a smart boy I have and PHEW! Pets are a lot of work but they’re worth every second of it. From “Cry on me, Mommy, my fur is super absorbent” to “Bark-Bark-Bark, there’s another cat outside, Bark-Bark-Bark!” to every slobbery, doggie breath kiss on Saturday mornings...they are so worth it.

TO BE CONTINUED.....

Puppies at Play!

2009-08-31T18:44:00.002-04:00

The Sleeping Beauty pups are enjoying the nice weather. With only four left, (five have already gone to their new homes), these pups are absolutely delightful. They all know sit and are as loving as can be. These very special little ones will be available for adoption very soon. The girls are named June and Jules and the boys are Augustus and Mickey. You can send your application in now if you are interested in these pups.

Elton...

2009-08-25T14:48:00.002-04:00

Better known as "EJ". I am having a great time learning about play, toys, cats and big dogs. It was a little scary at first when my new best friend "Bella" came out to greet me...she's such a big ball of fur! I love to roll around and pretend I'm a big boy. My skin condition has really improved and I am enjoying a weekly bath. My foster says I am the best boy ever because I don't complain (bark) or whine when it's time to take a nap.

I hope somebody will see my pictures and ask to meet me soon. I am the sweetest boy.

Coming Soon To A Screen Near You!

2009-08-24T19:33:00.008-04:00

Update and photos of Elton John (now in foster). Stay tuned..... This little guy is blossoming into a very playful and happy puppy.

Last Week's SPCA Media Stars

2009-08-24T10:32:00.005-04:00

These three great SPCA animals were featured in the Daily Progress:

Despite his royal name, Sheik is a very humble and gracious cat. He's a big guy who would loves to spend every waking moment keeping your lap nice and warm. He's calm and patient and gets along nicely with all of his kitty roommates. Sheik has a very laid back personality and a relaxed attitude toward life. If you're looking for the perfect lap cat, you'll love Sheik! He is currently at the SPCA Rummage Store on Preston Ave, so please stop by and visit him today!

Precious is a girl who loves attention! If you'd like to be greeted every morning when you wake up by a friendly furry face, Precious is just the cat for you. She is a great companion kitty: her playful streak will keep you entertained and her sweet personality will always make you feel loved. Please come in and meet Precious today, you'll be thrilled that you did and she'll be ecstatic to find her new forever home.

Gwen is a great dog who has quite a story: when she came to the SPCA Gwen was thin as a rail and starving for nutrition and care. It had been so long since she'd had human contact that at first she wasn't too sure about people. Now she's healthy, happy, and ready for a home that will show her what true love and companionship are all about. She's a sweet girl who's decided that receiving attention is a great thing! She will be a very loving and devoted dog to whoever opens their heart to her. Please consider giving her that second chance and the wonderful home that she deserves so much!

And Lilla made the rounds too - she was on tv last Sunday and made an appearance at the Women's 4 Miler Training Progam at the UVA track. Isn't she darling?

The Sleeping Beauties are sleeping no more!!!

2009-08-22T11:42:00.002-04:00

Remember the Sleeping Beauties. There were nine of them about 3 lbs. each when I started to foster them. In most cases, they would already been living in their new homes. However, some of them had ringworm. All of the pups have been treated since all were exposed, but four of them are now in their new homes. Five are still with me until they finish some final treatments and are ready to be adopted. Although much older now, these little ones are as sweet as can be and very smart. They all are very good and know sit (for a treat that is). Just look at them sitting together and looking up at the camera. Now that is a money shot. Just a week or so more and these guys and gals will be ready for their new home. I really will miss these beauties!!!

Have Fun and Help the Animals!

2009-08-21T08:52:00.002-04:00

The Seventh Annual Tony Fogliani Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit the animals at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA will take place on Sunday, September 20th at Shenandoah Crossing Golf Course in Gordonsville. The tournament is a fun, four-person Captain’s Choice format with special competitions for Closest to Pin, Longest Drive, and Beat the Pro, with the added excitement of a Hole-in-One prize featuring a new car.

Early-bird registration for golfers and teams closes this Sunday, August 23rd, with a fee of only $260/team or $65/person. (After August 23rd, player registration remains a reasonable $300/team or $75/person.) Registration is all-inclusive and includes greens fee, cart rental, a special dinner and awards ceremony, and great raffle prizes provided by generous local businesses. Check-in is at 12:00 noon, with a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. The buffet awards dinner will be at 5:30 p.m.

To register: (1) visit www.caspca.org and download the registration form and instructions, (2) contact Douglas Ponton at (540) 832-7164 or at afogliani@aol.com; or (3) contact Chris Roberson at the SPCA at (434) 964-3305 or croberson@caspca.org.

Thanks, and we hope to see you on the links!

Meet Elton John

2009-08-18T16:20:00.003-04:00

Meet Elton John! He came to us last week as a stray. Isn’t he beautiful and sweet? He is 10 weeks old and suffers from Demodectic mange caused by the Demodex canis mite. Demodectic mange (unlike Sarcoptic mange) is NOT CONTAGIOUS. Nearly all puppies are born with it; they get it from their mother during suckling. But demodex mites are simply not transmitted to people or other dogs except from mother dog to pup as described.

Mites are normal residents of dog skin; it is only in some individual dogs that mites cause problems. When a puppy is not well cared for, these mites can proliferate and cause red skin lesions and hair loss. Demodex can be classified as “localized” meaning the lesions are in isolated areas or Demodex can be “generalized” resulting in widespread lesions. As you can see, poor, sweet Elton John has the generalized version. Another thing we have noticed about him…he doesn’t bark much….probably because he learned early on that barking doesn’t do any good. But his luck is changing now...

Elton John will need about a month in foster care to treat his Demodex and get his fur back and clear up the secondary infection he suffers from as the result of his scratching. Then he will be even more beautiful …and perfectly healthy.

Can you give this little guy with the sweet face a second chance, a new home? Or maybe donate a bit to help with his care and medications?

Sir Elton thanks you and so do we!

SPCA Animals in the Media

2009-08-17T09:38:00.005-04:00

Hope deservedly got most of the attention on WCAV last week
(see the video here if you haven't already: http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/home/headlines/53065037.html), but a few other of our residents got some media coverage too. Sally (black cat), Sasha (tiger cat)and Van (hound):

were all profiled in The Daily Progress. Want to meet these press darlings? Come on by the SPCA or call us at 434-973-5959.

Odette Is Going Home!

2009-08-14T17:20:00.004-04:00

Odette, a truly wonderful and gorgeous cat, has found a truly wonderful home! She is worth noting amid all our adoptions because Odette is FIV positive.

That might have kept her from being noticed were it not for our committed staff and her wonderful new adoptive parents who saw how special she is. A special cat to special people - what a great way to head into the weekend.

To learn more about our wonderful FIV cats, check out this blog post, or better, come by the SPCA and meet them!
http://caspca.blogspot.com/2009/07/theres-no-shame-in-being-fiv-positive.html

Hope is Walking!

2009-08-07T14:54:00.006-04:00

Hope, who came into the SPCA after being hit by a car and suffering two broken legs, is up and at 'em thanks to the great care she received at our vet clinic and a loving foster home. Hope was moping around after having one of her broken legs amputated because it wasn't healing properly. Our vet, Dr. Beichel, got her a cart (see earlier post about Hope for photos) and taught her to use it. Then Bevin, an amazing foster parent and friend of the SPCA, took Hope home for a few days. The change was unbelieveable! Happy Hope found hope, as well as a zest for life.

She gets around on three legs now just fine and is ready to go home with you! Please stop by the SPCA and visit with her. She'll touch your heart!

Without your donations, none of this would have been possible. To care for such a gravely injured dog as Hope takes a lot of money as well as love. Thank you for your donations, and please give more if you can. There are always more Hopes around the corner.

Fosters Needed While We Re-Do Floors

2009-08-04T17:29:00.006-04:00

Hello out there! If you have some space for a week or two or three, we could use your help. We need temporary foster homes while we have our floors re-done to improve the health and safety of our shelter. We started with the left side and have moved a lot of dogs around.

We have a few extra in the lobby, but we could still really use your help. If you are interested, just fill out the foster application on the website and drop it on by and we'll match you with a great dog or two. Thanks!

And Now, A Word From Padre

2009-07-31T08:54:00.003-04:00

Hello great CASPCA fans! This is the first in a series of introductions of some our our special dogs and cats. We thought it would be a way for you to get to know them a little better and give our great shelter a personal face. So many animals come through here, but a few stick with staff and volunteers. Padre, who describes himself below with the aid of transciptionist Faye Brown, a long-time dog walker, is one of the great ones. Hope you enjoy his story and maybe pay him a visit!

Could You Be One of Padre’s ‘Peeps’?

Just to get off on the right paw, let me tell you a little about myself. I’m one good-looking Basenji / pitbull mix looking for a permanent home with the right ‘people’! I’m a male dog, around two years old and in the prime of my life! Like “The Fonz,” while I initially come off as being a little aloof, I’m just one “cool” dog! When we first meet I may act like I’m ignoring you, but I’m really just checking out how “cool” you are and whether you could be one of my ‘peeps.’ After I get to know you a little and assuming no one is looking - as I have a reputation to keep - I’ll sneak in a lick or two.
Typical of my primary breed, as a Basenji (African Bush Dog, “barkless”) I’m relatively silent the majority of the time. I occasionally can make this low “yodel” kind of sound, but that is only when I’m trying to beg, get your attention, or just be cute. Er, I mean be charming and cool! Us Basenji’s are alert, energetic, curious about their surroundings, and reserved with strangers.
I get really excited in the kennel at the shelter when I see some nice CASPCA staff member, dog walking volunteer, or potential adopter ‘peep’ coming into my kennel. I can hardly wait to go outside, but I calm down right away when I see all the grass, trees, trails that I get to leave my mark on – after all I’m house-broken and have to let all the other dogs know I’ve been around. I love being out and about, walking the neighborhood, hiking on wilderness trails, or taking a daily walk or run to keep my sleek masculine shape – it also helps me look good in front of the girl dogs – if you know what I mean “aaah.”
As a Basenji, I admit my ability to come off as aloof if you were to visit me at the CASPCA, but I can also form strong bonds with people and become very affectionate once I know you. Just ask some of the staff (like Laura, the volunteer coordinator) or volunteers (like Faye who walks, tussles with, and spoils me) that call me their “favorite” – though they said it quietly so as not to upset my fellow kennel residents! Look closely at my picture on the SPCA website, and you’ll see that blur is my tail wagging at them!
Though I’m not much for dog toys, I do like to tussle if you’re an older teenager or adult. I sometimes tease a human into play by tugging or nibbling at them. If I get too excited or too mouthy, just stop playing with me for a few minutes until I calm down and walk with me or make me sit for treats! I’m a patient, very smart dog and well-behaved if you are clear, consistent, and loving in expressing what you want of me! I can be very clever at getting my own way if you let me, but a considerate handler or ‘peep’ will find me no real challenge – positive reinforcement and consistency works every time!
I do sometimes stand on my back legs, either unsupported or leaning against something else for assistance, to look over short walls or if sometime just over the shrubbery catches my attention or curiosity. Birds flying in the sky are just one curiosity to me – how do they get up there?! Oh yeah I forgot, hehehe, sometimes it’s because I chased one of those big, arrogant crow-looking ones just to see them fly! Hahaha! Oh boy and did I tell you, squirrels are the greatest to chase and I’d catch them all if only I could climb trees! I love to rub my back under low trees or shrubbery, if some human doesn’t have time to brush or scratch my back for me – I find it tough to reach my back when I have an itch – do you have that problem too?
If you’re one of those people who have a cat, I pretty much mind my own business, and let cats do what cats do. I do tend to like to keep and have myself well-groomed, similar to those felines. I like almost all female dogs and get along well with most male dogs, but your dog or cat and I can always be introduced here at the shelter first – just to make sure things will go great at your home. Also similar to cats and nearly all Basenji, I am not fond of wet weather, although I’ll go out to “relieve” myself or for short walks if it’s sprinkling – but I hate getting caught in a downpour! It’s hard to look “cool” soaked to the skin, but towel-dry me off and I won’t even have that strong wet-dog smell! I know how to climb – good for hiking or getting over the fence – only if you were to leave me alone all day long. I‘d prefer being with my ‘peeps’ and going everywhere with them!
Oh, and since there is some pit bull in my family tree, I’m best out in public on a leash, just in case. My pit bull ancestor can make me pretty determined and strong…and loving, too.
Anyway enough about me, if you think I might be the dog for you please swing by the CASPCA and visit me! I hope to see lots of new ‘peeps’ swing through the kennels and maybe that one ‘peep’ will adopt me into their forever home soon!

Sincerely, Padre!

P.S. Bring treats if you can spare them!

A Little Hammy Eases The Pain

2009-07-29T19:03:00.006-04:00

My little guys have had a rough week. They both had to have three teeth extracted. Krogie (the cute little face looking at you below) lost three of his four canine teeth (the front fang teeth).

They're on (very) soft food for five to seven days.

Most cat people know this, but in case you don't and your cat has to have dental surgery, baby food is a wonderful alternative to their regular diet during the first few days of convalescence. Particularly, Ham flavor. Every cat that I've cared for in these situations liked it. So much so that they may ask for the Green Egg flavor too.

Okay, that last part's a joke.

Wags and Whiskers at Barracks Road on Sunday

2009-07-28T16:36:00.003-04:00

What a great weekend! Lots of adoptions at lots of events. Here are some photos of the Wags and Whiskers event at Barracks Road - thanks to Amy, Leah, Lara, Judy, Lauren and Neal for all their help. Thanks as well to the Barracks Road folks whose marketing brought lots of people by! We got good donations (money as well as leashes, cat toys and lots of litter), held a successful raffle and fond new great homes for Boris and two black and white kittens. Here are some fun shots of the scene. The ones of the kittens and of me and Lolita are by Cornelius Matteo who happened along and was willing to share his work. Lolita, by the way, was a princess with all the children and other visiting dogs.

Dallas' massage photo!

2009-07-25T16:14:00.000-04:00

Massage...Not Just for People!

2009-07-25T13:45:00.004-04:00

People are turning more and more to alternative and complementary medicine, why not dogs? Super volunteer Kim Hellems (sister to another super volunteer, Harper Hellems, an experienced dog walker) does canine massage. She volunteers her time to help our older dogs, and boy do they enjoy it.

Check out her website and the photo here of her working on Dallas - a senior chow mix who was recently adopted. It couldn't have hurt that he was feeling pretty good from his massage!

Here's her website if you'd like to learn more: www.bram.abmp.com

Thanks Kim!

Shelter Dogs are Stars in our community

2009-07-23T09:55:00.002-04:00

I was recently asked by C'Ville Weekly to help with an upcoming edition of their paper. They needed dogs to be photographed in several different venues in our community. Hmmm...I wonder how suprised they were to realize that every dog I chose to work with was a dog from the CASPCA or a local rescue group. What a wonderful tribute to all of these dogs that have become such fantastic pets. Keep your eyes open for the August 11 edition of the C'Ville Weekly. Once it has come out I will report back with who is who in the pictures. For now, I do not want to reveal the storyline.
Karen Quillen
All Things Pawssible

Sleeping Beauties!!!

2009-07-21T21:36:00.017-04:00

This is a post about “why I foster.”

I started fostering because I wanted to help the animals. Not that our staff does not give them love and affection and do great work, because they absolutely do – we have the best staff here. But at the end of the day, there is a lot of noise and activity, and it can be a scary place for some animals. But again, this is only the reason I “started” fostering.

Now I foster for me. I recently took home a litter of nine four-week old puppies, because I needed them in my life. They will only be in my home temporarily but in that short time they will give me exactly what I need, a good dose of unconditional love and joy.

After I clean up, I sit on the floor, lie back a bit, and let them climb all over me. They look right up and stare at me, with love and affection in their eyes. It is just so incredible. Life is just a series of moments, and it is in this moment that I feel like God is telling me I am exactly where I am suppose to be.

I am not tired because I am caring for these pups. To the contrary, I am re-energized, thankful and so much happier. If someone could bottle puppy love or puppy therapy, they would be rich (and hopefully donate to our SPCA). When those little eyes just look up at you like you are the best thing in the world, all of your worries and stress seem to disappear.

I hope with these pictures I am able to pass just a bit of puppy therapy along your way.

Have a great Puppy Love day!!

Special Class for Our Volunteers

2009-07-18T11:01:00.002-04:00

Karen Quillen of All Things Pawssible dog training will offer a FREE class to dog walking volunteers at the CASPCA next Wednesday, July 29th from 4-5pm. The subject? Handling and walking the more headstrong shelter dogs with the goal of making them more adoptable. If you are currently a volunteer (or are willing to become one before then) you may attend this incredibly valuable session for free. Thank you Karen! Call 964-3331 for more information or to sign up. We expect a big crowd.....

Kittens Need You!

2009-07-18T10:51:00.005-04:00

Hey foster parents and potential foster parents - have we got some kittens for you! The vet clinic could really use your help. We've got a pair of neonatal kittens - so cute!-and some others who need to gain some weight or get over colds before they can be adopted. If you can help, even just for a week or two, they (the vet clinic AND the kittens) will thank you. Call 973-5959 and press 3 or visit our website for more information or heck, just come on down.