As we enter this time of thanksgiving and reflection, on behalf of all of us at the Roanoke Valley SPCA, I want to thank you for your continued support. Because of caring donors like you, we have been able to help even more animals this year—42% more to be exact! One of these animals was a special cat named Lil Bit. Lil Bit came to us as a momma cat with her litter, but […]
We currently have a wonderful problem here at the Roanoke Valley SPCA! Our list of community partners and event invites keep growing and growing… but we do not currently have the manpower to participate in as many events as we’d like. To solve this problem, we are looking for dedicated people to join our exciting new volunteer committee: the Community Action and Planning Team (CAP Team)! The goal of this team is to work […]
Thank you to Cat Topia for guest writing this blog post as part of one of our sponsorship programs. To learn more about Cat Topia, visit thecattopia.com. What is a Catio? A catio or cat patio is an outdoor enclosure specifically designed for cats. It allows them to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors while keeping them safe from potential dangers such as traffic, predators, and diseases. It is a secure patio […]
Aimed at boosting shelter animal adoptions and welfare locally and nationally, the partnership offers hands-on learning and research opportunities for faculty and students. ROANOKE, Va. (August 13, 2024) – A novel partnership between the Roanoke Valley SPCA and Virginia Tech’s School of Animal Sciences aims to improve shelter animals’ well-being and adoption success while providing hands-on learning and research opportunities for faculty and students. The collaboration will be led by Megan Arant, a new School […]
We’ve been made aware that community members who have lost their pets are being targeted by someone posing as a third party from the Roanoke Valley SPCA. THIS IS A SCAM. The scammer is asking for a credit card number in order to treat their found pet who was supposedly hit by a car. We know of at least two people who have been targeted in the last hour, but do not know how many more are […]
We were recently made aware of a fraud scheme using the name of the Roanoke Valley SPCA to steal money and merchandise from at least six area businesses. Susan Johnson who also uses the name Susan Wiltcher created false documents, a fake volunteer profile by the name of Julie Jackson and went so far as to forge our board president’s signature, while posing as a shelter volunteer. When she did not receive donations from one […]
As we stand on the cusp of our 20th anniversary at the Barbara & Warner Dalhouse Education & Adoption Center, I can’t help but feel immense pride and gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve shared together. Our shelter has been the heart of the Roanoke Valley SPCA, serving as a beacon of hope for animals in need and I feel grateful to have been involved in more than half of those years. Through your unwavering […]
At the Roanoke Valley SPCA, we believe in the power of compassion, resilience, and unwavering support for our furry friends. Each day, we provide a safe haven, medical care, and love to animals in need. As the calendar year comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on the first five months of our fiscal year (July 1 – Nov. 30), and we can’t help but feel immense gratitude for the incredible support from our community. […]
As Chair of the Board of Directors for the Roanoke Valley SPCA, I take my responsibility to the organization seriously, and I feel honored to be able to serve such an important and impactful organization. I am continually moved by the unwavering support and dedication our community demonstrates towards our cause. Your generosity and compassion serve as the heartbeat of our organization, breathing life into our mission to care for and protect our furry […]
Over the past few weeks, my friends at the Roanoke Valley SPCA have been sharing a bit of my backstory with you through emails and blog posts. If you’ve missed them, don’t worry — I’ll give you the abbreviated version before I finish my story. I arrived at the Roanoke Valley SPCA on April 3, 2023 after my beloved human had to enter an assisted living facility. The adjustment was very hard and I was […]
In our Fall Newsletter and a recent Blog Post we introduced you to Brillo. Today, I want to share more of her story. Brillo arrived at our shelter on an early warm spring day in April of 2023 through no fault of her own. Her world had turned upside down when her beloved guardian, the only family she had ever known, had to move into an assisted living facility. He wanted to ensure that Brillo […]
Some of you may have received an email from us announcing our participation in Giving Tuesday, but we know that in the noise of your inbox, messages can often get drowned out, so we wanted to share this important information in our Blog as well. Giving Tuesday is an upcoming opportunity that holds the power to make a profound impact on the lives of our furry friends. This year, mark your calendars for November 28, […]
Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs, and Therapy Dogs: What is the difference and what do they all do? These pets and their responsibilities are often confused with each other, however they perform quite different tasks, and require very different training. During November’s Second Monday Education Series, we will learn from local expert Cabell Youell, Executive Director of St. Francis Service Dogs, on the key distinctions and peek into the world of Service Dog training. We […]
If you saw our Pet Talk segment on WDBJ7 this week, you’ll know that we spoke about how to choose what’s best for pets when we humans go on vacation and can’t take them with us. We wanted to elaborate a bit since this is such an important topic. We know it can be worrisome to leave your pets, especially for an extended period of time. But luckily, there are a variety of great options […]
Have you ever wondered how our Community Cat Crew volunteers “target” one specific cat when they are humanely trapping? Or what if you have a cat who is already spayed that keeps going for your bait? Sometimes, you might even be trying to cat a momma cat and her kittens together. What happens in these situations where the ‘traditional’ humane trap isn’t a good option? We bring out something special: the drop trap! The drop […]
In Roman mythology, Venus is the goddess of love, but this Venus is looking to find a love of her own! Venus arrived at our shelter a few weeks ago from the ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center in Ohio. She and several other dogs were part of a cruelty case in New Mexico. You can read more about that unfortunate situation here. Venus was a little nervous when she first arrived at our shelter, but […]
You can help us win $10,000 and all we need from you is ONE vote! That’s it! Visit: https://www.nationalrescuedogday.com/rescue-the-rescues Scroll to the bottom of the page Vote for the Roanoke Valley SPCA! We’re one of only TEN organizations in the challenge! You do NOT have to enter your email address or sign up for anything. It’s SO simple and will make a HUGE difference in the lives of pets here in our community! Thanks to @tailsthatteach, […]
We know that tails are wagging and feet are tapping in anticipation of today’s big event. Today is the day when pawfectly precious couple Polly and Cupid say, “I woof you!” We invite you to join the wedding event of the season featuring a variety of Roanoke Valley SPCA alumni and animal ambassadors along with a few more furbulous friends celebrating love at Charter Hall at the City Market Building, downtown Roanoke’s premier event space. […]
At this time of Thanksgiving celebration, we wish you the happiness of good friends, the joy of a happy family, and the wonder of the holiday season. Have a memorable Thanksgiving! Please note that the Roanoke Valley SPCA will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and will reopen on Friday, November 26 at 12:00PM. With kind regards, Denise Hayes Chief Executive Officer P.S. Giving Tuesday is November 30, and we hope you will join us […]
These dogs are pretty special. Smooch, Cupcake, and Tamona all came from a very unfortunate situation that included a total of about 90 dogs living in one single-wide dilapidated trailer. These dogs were severely undersocialized, so they were brought to the ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center to be socialized. While there, they learn everything from learning to go up and down stairs, how to interact with people, touch exercises, riding in a car, and lots of […]