Judith B. Goins was an animal lover and advocate her entire life. She worked tirelessly to rescue dogs and cats in need and help them find safe, loving homes so they did not have to spend time in the shelter. Judith’s family has created the Judith Goins Behavior Assistance Program in her memory, which will help financially challenged pet owners access behavioral resources in the Roanoke Valley.
Nearly half of the cats and dogs that are relinquished to the Roanoke Valley SPCA each year are brought to the shelter due to behavior issues; this can be anything from trouble housetraining to excessive barking or aggression. Many of the relinquishing owners simply cannot afford the training and behavior specialists who can help correct these behaviors and keep their pets in loving homes.
At the Roanoke Valley SPCA, we believe that many pet-related challenges can be resolved with the right support and resources. The Judith B. Goins Behavior Assistance Program was created to help keep pets in their homes by providing financial assistance for professional training or behavior support. Whether you’re facing issues like leash reactivity, housetraining struggles, or anxiety, this program can help you access the tools and expertise needed to work through challenges – strengthening the bond between you and your pet and avoiding the need for shelter surrender.
This program is available for pets in the following areas: Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, and Roanoke Counties as well as the cities of Salem and Roanoke and the town of Vinton. This program is also available to pets adopted from the Roanoke Valley SPCA regardless of location.
To learn more about the Judith Goins Behavior Assistance Program, please contact us by email or call 540-339-9247. If you would like to apply for pet behavior assistance, you can complete the form online.