Service Learning/Leadership Hours

If you are a student who would like to do your service learning or leadership hours with the Roanoke Valley SPCA, please email the Program Coordinator or call 540.339.9503 for more information. We offer short-term volunteer opportunities including special events and assisting them with our morning cleaning. Students under 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Can’t come into the shelter, but want to help the animals? There are many things you can do to help the animals. Here are some “easy to do” ideas for you!

  • Organize a Donation Drive at your school, church or club for pet supplies from our Wish List.
  • Make Dog Cookies from the recipe below.
  • Make Cat Nip Socks or rolling toys for the cats and kittens. We’ll tell you how in the instructions below.
  • Make Cat Blankets. It’s easy…just keep reading.
  • Make “Adopt Me” bandanas for the dogs and cats.
  • Host a car wash, dog wash, lemonade stand, or garage sale and donate the proceeds to the Roanoke Valley SPCA.
  • Organize a “Coins for Critters”, “Pennies for Paws” or
  • Hold a “Penny War” at school and see which classroom has the most animal lovers by contributing the largest number of pennies.
  • Hold a bake sale for pets and people and donate the proceeds to the Roanoke Valley SPCA.
  • Get your family involved in the foster care program (parental involvement required).
  • Have your class purchase a bed for one of the dogs at the Roanoke Valley SPCA. The Kuranda Company offers a discount on all beds purchased for animal shelters.

Homemade Dog Cookies

Make a batch of these delicious and nutritious dog cookies for your dog or the ones on your block. Sell them to raise money for the Roanoke Valley SPCA! You will need:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
6 tablespoons oil
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup peanut butter

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Roll dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters or design your own shapes. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Allow to cool. Cookies will remain fresh for approximately one week.

Catnip Socks

Here’s a simple toy to make for your cat, or to give as a gift to your friend’s cat. The cats and kittens at the Roanoke Valley SPCA would appreciate them also!
Take a small sock – like a baby sock (find them super inexpensive at Goodwill Stores)
Put 1/2 Tablespoon of catnip into the toe
Add a ball of cotton inside the sock
Tie the top of the sock in a tight knot. If you tie the thread tightly around the sock instead, be sure to cut off the ends so kitty doesn’t get tangled!

Cat Blanket

For these easy-to-make, comfy blankets you will need:

  • Sharp scissors for cutting cloth
  • Measuring tape
  • Fleece fabric – machine washable fleece in any color (solids preferred) or a printed pattern for one layer and a coordinating solid color for the other layer. One yard of fabric will make 2 large cat blankets or 4 small ones

For a Large Blanket: Cut two rectangles that are 17-18 inches wide by 28-29 inches long. Lay one rectangle on top of the other so they completely overlap. Cutting through both layers, cut a 3-inch square out of each corner and discard them.
Cut slits 3 inches long by approximately 3/4 inches wide along all four sides. Make the cuts as even as you can. This will look like fringe. Tie individual fringes together, top layer to bottom layer, using double knots. To make it easier, you can skip tying every other fringe.

For a Small Blanket: Cut two rectangles that are 17-18 inches wide by 14 inches long. Follow the instructions for making a large cat blanket above.