Adopt a Senior Pet Month

In honor of Adopt a Senior Pet Month, shelters and rescues across the country have put on their thinking caps, developed promotions to highlight their senior pets, and are asking their communities to open their hearts and homes to a new family member. The truth is, all year long shelters struggle to find homes for these deserving animals, as they enter our doors every day. For one reason or another, the family that embraced them and offered the warmth, safety and security of a loving home pulled their white flag, and they are surrendered to shelters like ours. While it’s always heartbreaking when one of these sweet animals comes through our doors, it’s just as emotional when we get to watch their tail sway one last time as they exit by the side of their new family. Whether or not the animal or the person knows it, families that adopt senior animals are special. And sometimes, they are more special than most of us ever would have anticipated.

Last year, Shaney was brought to the Virginia Beach SPCA. She had been adopted from us years before, and, in honor of the contract they signed, when Shaney’s adopted family could no longer care for her, she was brought back to the shelter. No animal understands why they are brought to a shelter. Most are clearly terrified and confused. You don’t see a look of “I’m here because I chewed up one too many pairs of shoes,” just a look of confusion. When a senior dog enters the shelter, the look is always different. They never seem to be asking why. They always seem confused and nervous, but it takes a lot long for them to lose the look of hope that their family will be coming back to get them. I don’t know what they think, but I can say with certainty that they are not thrilled to be there. Shaney was no different. She was thin; her fur was rough and coarse. She was built like a Greyhound, and colored like a German Shepherd. She had a narrow face, and gravity had taken its toll in a way that caused her lips to get stuck on her teeth that created a little grizzly grin. She was cute and sweet. She loved any attention, and especially enjoyed going for runs. However, Shaney was 10 years old, and did not tend to get along well with other dogs. We all knew finding Shaney a new home was going to be a challenge, and we all did our best to introduce Shaney to families where she would be the only child, and keep her as healthy and happy as we could. But, the truth is, most families that adopt senior animals already have other pets in their home.

Shaney was with us for two months. She had started to lose what little of the weight she had. So, when the Friend’s School in Virginia Beach invited the VBSPCA out to an event, Humane Education Director, Kathy Shambo, thought Shaney would be a great candidate to go and spend the day out of the shelter, meeting new people and getting unlimited pats and compliments from the children. That is where Shaney met Alex for the first time.

Alex was 16 years old. Alex was a dog lover, ran his own dog walking business in his free time, and was working hard on his family to bring a dog into their home. Alex and Shaney hit it off at the event. Alex was preparing to go to college, and knew he would be leaving home soon. While he wanted his family to have a dog, he knew when he went away to college his new furry friend would probably not be invited to attend with him, and his family would be left to care for it. Bringing home a puppy potentially meant leaving his family with a difficult preteen, and Alex did not want that. Alex was searching for and older dog, and when he met Shaney he knew he’d found what he’d been looking for. It wasn’t long after that Alex convinced his parents to come down to the shelter and meet with Shaney again, and, late in August, his family welcomed Shaney into their home.

Shaney and Alex

Alex makes me feel a little shameful. When I was his age, I never would have thought that way. And, most adults I know still wouldn’t. Working in the shelter has given me a soft spot for older animals, and I repeatedly fall victim to the charm of the seniors. Our own Executive Director will only adopt seniors, and on the occasion that one of us tries to sucker her into adopting one of our favorites by planting it in her office for “extra socialization,” we almost always hear “he/she is too young.” It makes me laugh every time, because I often hear the opposite from visitors to the shelter.

One of the sad truths of pet ownership is, that our pets don’t live long enough. If we bring them home at 8 weeks or 8 years old, the day we have to say goodbye always comes too soon. Bringing home a senior animal means having to say goodbye a little sooner, but welcoming them into our lives is an act of selflessness that is hard to quantify. There will be fewer chewed shoes, no accidents to clean up, and you will always have someone to sit on the couch with you and watch the football game. As I write this, I am in the company of my two senior cats and senior dog (I also have one teenager, and trust me when I say, he chose me). I know I could never go through kittenhood again, and I will never be able to handle puppyhood. To be honest, I like the excitement of new things, so bringing home an older pet means I get another “new” pet sooner.

If your family is thinking of adding a new member, a senior animal may just be what you’re looking for. For the month of November the Virginia Beach SPCA is honoring our senior animals (all animals 7 years and older) by waiving the adoption fee, and with the help of the Grey Muzzle foundation, covering medical expenses such as dentals and heartworm treatments. Adopt a *senior* shelter animal, the life you save may be your own.

For more great reasons to adopt a senior dog:

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adoption-tips/reasons-to-adopt-an-older-dog.aspx

(I had trouble finding a link for reasons to adopt a senior cat, but most of these apply to cats too. Your kitten might not chew your WHOLE shoe, but there’s a good chance you’re going to spend a small fortune on shoe laces. Puppies may bite your ankles, but kitten love to use our legs for climbing toys!!!)

Dyanna, Kennel Coordinator

The Beach in Berkley

It was the perfect day for the Neuter Scooter to be in Berkley in Norfolk! The weather was perfect. The sun was out, there was a lovely breeze and the sky was a gorgeous blue. There were butterflies fluttering around and fall flowers blooming all along the road. As I drove my car towards the Farm Fresh parking lot I inhaled and thought, “Well here goes, at least the weather is gorgeous.” You see, I wasn’t sure if the Neuter Scooter would be well received in Berkley. Did the flyers get to the right people? Would people be out enjoying the weather and not getting their pets vaccinated? Would this day be a success? Questioning thoughts just kept running through my mind.

When I parked my car and got out to greet the staff and volunteers that were working with us, I did not know what to expect about how the morning had gone. To my delight we had 22 people show up first thing in the morning. The staff in the Neuter Scooter were busily performing spays and neuters. Our wonderful volunteer, Lisa, was stationed outside of the Scooter getting paperwork ready and talking to the neighbors and passersby about anything having to do with animals and animal care.

As the clock reached 10 am the vaccination clinic was opened and we started to have some folks get in line. The type of animal ranged from fluffy cats to a pure bred pit bull to several mixed breed dogs. Each owner had a particular story and was extremely grateful for the clinic. In fact, they told their friends and family members, and helped us drum up even more business! “You have made my day! I am going to call my Momma to get her over here for these free shots!", stated a woman who had brought her pit bull Sam to the Neuter Scooter to receive his shots. The same woman showed back up with her mother’s mixed breed terrier, Frisky, and got his shots. We sent Frisky off tail wagging with his vaccines and paperwork. 

As we were tidying up the table, an elderly woman came up to the Scooter with her cat inside a computer box. She had walked the cat from her house to the Scooter in the box because she didn't have a carrier. Knowing that she had missed the window for free spay and neuter appointments, the woman meekly asked if we could provide her cat with vaccinations. Lisa, our wonderful volunteer and liaison to the neighborhood of Berkley, took the cat inside the Neuter Scooter and came out with wonderful news – we could neuter the feline and give it vaccines, all for free! The woman was elated and started to tear up. She told us that she bottle fed the cat and loved it dearly, but that she is 77 years old and walks everywhere so she couldn't get her cat to the vet. She left us with a smile and a cat carrier that Lisa gave to her! 

It was a good day.  No, it was a great day. We were able to talk to owners and casual spectators about the importance of spaying and neutering animals. They were participating in the dialogue and seemed to be listening to our argument. They even took our literature about spaying and neutering.  Many people drove by and slowed down as they passed the Scooter. Some dropped by and asked when we would be in the neighborhood again.

Many thanks to all of our sponsors and everyone that helped, including Friends of Norfolk Animal Care and Collona's Shipyard!

- Dawn, Development Director

Veterinary Cost vs. Medical Cost

I recently came upon an article comparing treatments of pets to the cost of human care. Often times it seems that pet owners are surprised by the cost of providing treatment for their furry friend and wonder why it seems so expensive. When an illness or accident does occur, it is important to look at what care is being provided, not getting distracted by the overall cost.

When broken down piece by piece, veterinary care is often much, much more affordable than human medical treatment. We invite you to take a look at the original article below and next time Fido or Fluffy has an emergency, be glad they have four legs instead of two!

- Emily, Clinic Coordinator

Fur in the Floodwaters

At 5 o'clock yesterday morning, the Virginia Beach SPCA recieved a call from the Humane Society of the United States asking for help with dogs rescued from flooding, at Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter.  Many homes in Louisiana were flooded due to Hurricane Isaac and with flooding comes displaced family members - our pets.  The homeless animals at Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter needed to be transferred to make room for those animals that had been separated from their families due to the storm. 

The VBSPCA team jumped into our vans, at the wee hours of the morning, and headed to Petersburg, VA to meet with the HSUS.  They loaded the vans up with ten dogs** and turned right back around to work on getting them healthy and into homes.  The dedication and collaboration of shelters and humane societies is what makes reuniting animals with owners, and finding others new homes, such a fruitful effort.  It could not be done without the heart and soul of these individuals.

We now have ten more lovable dogs, who can sleep peacefully, knowing that their new beginning is just around the corner.

Waggily yours,

- Jessie, Humane Educator

** These dogs will be available for adoption after they have been fully evaluated by our veterinarians and temperment tested by our kennel staff. Watch our Facebook page for updates!

What a Wonderful Ride

Today, I am doing what thousands of animals have been fortunate to do when leaving the VBSPCA- I am going to a new home.

During my 6 years of employment, I have had the opportunity to be the recipient of kindness and generosity which truly humbled me to my core.  Many of these individuals were entirely unaware of the affect they had on my life's journey.  People like Barbara Vandeventer, that allowed me to orchestrate the pairing of an elderly woman with a senior dog.  She taught me about dedication and unwavering love. People like the educators throughout Hampton Roads that were willing to share their classroom time with the primary goal of enhancing their students' lives and futures.  People like Sharon Adams, that have spent a career's time diligently working towards meaningful change.  Of course there were all of the animal advocates that were willing to stand up and be the voice for those that don't have one.  These unsung heroes are found in every day places such as animal shelters, news stations, classrooms, laundromats, and grocery stores.  They have a huge responsibility in changing the world for both people and animals, and they are staying the course. 

Barbara with 16-year old Otis

So, as I begin to put pen to paper, beginning a new chapter in my book of life, I would like to thank everyone that has made these past 6 years so magical.  Looking in my rear view mirror at my journey thus far, I see just how far I have come.  The magician of life has transformed me from a girl with a dream to a woman with a mission.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.  I take my collage of memories, experiences and dreams with me, and it is my hope that you all continue fighting the good fight.  

With Sincere Gratitude

Peace-n-Paws

~Amy 

"Understand the Power of a Single Action"

My favorite quote all of time is admittedly from the back of an REM T-shirt that I proudly wore in 10th and 11th grade.  On the back it read, "Understand the Power of a Single Action."  Wow.  Who knew that one of my favorite bands would make such a profound statement, which would ultimately remain in the back of my mind for over 20 years?

The vintage quote was brought to the forefront of my consciousness this week when I was chaperoning a field trip to the Virginia Aquarium with my group of Critter Campers.  While we were looking at an exhibit, having a great time, I witnessed a child being struck by whom I assume to be his father.  Now, this is not a blog to debate the subject of spanking but I will admit that I am not an advocate of sanctioned hitting of any sort.

Regardless of whichever side of the proverbial fence you sit regarding the "S" word, what I witnessed was not discipline but rather a form of anger.  I found this troubling for a host of reasons, but especially because the offense seemed very trivial while the force utilized was quite significant compared to the petite size of the child.  I would wager a bet that he was between 2-3 years old.

I debated for the past two days whether I wanted to write my experience on the field trip, and I wasn't certain whether it would be appropriate to do so via the VBSPCA blog.  It was only when I awoke this morning that I decided that my single action regarding this incident would be to write about it.

Working at an animal shelter, we receive approximately 4-5 thousand domesticated animals every year.  Some of these animals have been treated poorly, and it takes a lot of love, consistency, kindness, and compassion to reverse cruelty to an animal.  While I am not saying that the parent I am referencing above was cruel, it is my opinion that the action was unnecessary.  I wish that people would realize the long-standing consequences of their actions.  Actions are accompanied with power; whether they come in the form of a kind word or gesture, a thank you card or note, a rolled up newspaper on a muzzle, to a swat on a child's body.

Let's all reflect on the power that we inherently have regarding the people and animals in our lives and recognize the importance of our actions.  I certainly will be paying closer attention to mine.
~Amy

Flying the Friendly Skies, Once Again

I was fortunate to spend the earliest part of my morning with a sweet animal named Kermit. The name Kermit conjures up an image of a singing, dancing little green frog for most people, myself included.  However, this Kermit is a one-winged pelican that was recently rescued by the Virginia Beach SPCA's Wildlife Program. He is just as endearing as Mr. Jim Henson's frog, which explains why so many people participated in the series of events all leading up to his successful flight at 7 am on July 3rd.

 The old adage, "it takes a village to raise a child" should be augmented to include "and rehabilitate wildlife." Especially in the case of Kermit (the non frog). There were a lot of participants involved with the bird's rescue such as: "Mo"-the Navy Ship Captain that called the VBSPCA hotline when he discovered the injured bird; Karen and Noah who went and tackled the logistics of capturing an adult pelican; Pearl who immediately began caring for him which included administering antibiotics; Jason who was willing to report on the story for WVEC 13 despite the lack of notice; and the Virginia Aquarium for putting Kermit on a national registry. I am quite certain there were many other hands involved in getting Kermit to his flight this morning, and each role was instrumental in the carefully orchestrated transfer.

Now, the primary goal for rehabbers and the VBSPCA Wildlife Program is release, but with Kermit's wing amputation he was unable to be returned to the wild. So, Kermit flew on a Commercial Airline out of Norfolk International rather than his traditional flight pattern. He will arrive at his destination, Sea World, where he will live out the rest of his life with ten other pelicans.  We certainly would have preferred for Kermit to fly with his pelican bretheren during their migration cycle, but we know that this is the best alternative that we have to offer the gentle bird.  And, one can't ask for more than our collective best.

So, as I type this blog, I hope that Kermit is enjoying his peanuts and pretzels as he flies to his forever home at Sea World, Orlando.  Safe travels, Kermi.
xox

Amy