RVSPCA in the Community
RVSPCA in the news
RVSPCA Teaching Kids to Care.
The Roanoke Valley SPCA provides in-school and on-site programs to teach students in our area about responsible pet ownership, the humane treatment of people and animals, and pet overpopulation.
PET (Pets Eat Too) Program The RVSPCA has partnered with the Local Office on Aging since January, 2007 to provide food for the pets of recipients of Meals on Wheels. It was discovered that many shut-ins and senior citizens were sharing their protein-rich meals with their pets. This was an unhealthy situation for both pet and owner.
The PET program expanded in April, 2008, when the RVSPCA began providing pet food to Manna Ministries, operators of a food pantry for the working poor. With the downturn in the economy, many families are faced with the decision to relinquish their pet because of the cost of food. Nearly 3,600 pounds per month is distributed from the pantry.
Bethel Baptist Church food pantry is also one of the partners in the PET Program. A survey of patrons was conducted to determine if a need existed for pet food to be added to the six year old food pantry’s inventory. The survey revealed that a need did, in fact, exist with 27 dogs and 24 cats being reported. The RVSPCA began providing pet food for the food pantry’s April 4, 2009 distribution.
Botetourt Food Pantry became a distribution site for pet food in the spring of 2009, with more than 400 pounds of food distributed in the first week.
The RVSPCA is expecting to provide nearly 54,000 pounds of pet food annually to help keep people and pets united in our community.
Where does the RVSPCA get this food? School groups, community organizations, churches and businesses hold food drives that provide all of the food needed for redistribution. Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke is now a permanent drop-off site for donated food. Four Food Lion stores (Hunting Hills, Oak Grove, Plantation & Starkey Rd.) have collection boxes. Sam's Club, Southern States Cooperative, Target and Walmart in Salem and on Rt. 220 are helping by donating distressed bags of food that would otherwise be thrown away.
Are you prepared for a natural disaster? In return for unconditional love, our pets depend on us to keep them safe. We owe it to them to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster. Read more for information on how to keep your pet safe.
2008 in Review...2008 was a record-setting year for the RVSPCA. The record number of adoptions was higher than that of 2004, the first year in the new shelter. Fostering infant, orphaned, injured or ill animals was a top priority in 2008 and more than 1,100 animals spent time with a temporary family before being made available for adoption. The PET (Pets Eat Too) Program provided nearly 40,000 pounds of food to feed the less fortunate pets in our community and help keep people and pets united. Click here to for all the details.
