Foster Parents Needed: 757 area

Friends in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas:

Animal Rescue of Tidewater is an organization near and dear to my heart. I have always looked at my cousin Debra as a role model. She is my inspiration for fostering pups in my home. Debra is the Founder of Animal Rescue of Tidewater (ART).

Debra is an amazing woman. Her bio from www.artanimals.org:

Debra founded ART in 1999 because the Virginian Pilot wrote an article about the individual rescue efforts of her and her husband, Steve Ballard. That article provoked others in the community to call her and share that they, as individuals, were also dedicated to saving homeless animals in the community. Believing in the power of association, Debra invited everyone to a meeting in January of 1999, and ART was born. Debra is extremely proud to be associated with an organization that recognizes the importance of working closely with area shelters, SPCAs and other rescue groups, creating collective successes that would be unattainable by any singular group. Debra is also passionate about the importance of advocacy in generating change, and spends a great deal of time networking with policy makers at the local, state and national level. She was the founding Chair of the Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads, a regional body of service providers who work collaboratively to address the needs of animals. Debra serves as Treasurer of the Board of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, a state body whose Strategic Plan aims to end the killing of healthy, adoptable dogs & cats in VA by 2016. She is also on the Animal Welfare Review Board for the City of Norfolk, a City Council appointment. She is a top Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance, serves on the Board of the Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association and leads her own real estate team proudly known as “the Housedogs”! In her spare time, she is happy just sitting on the deck with her husband Steve enjoying their beloved dogs.

ART is always accepting foster parent applications.

An interesting tidbit about ART: Foster homes are not required to cover any expenses involved in caring for the animal. The expenses are covered by an ART member who serves as the animal’s financial sponsor.

ART animals may be strays, owner surrenders, or transfers from local animal shelters...they are all HOMELESS, and would love to live in your home.

Some people ask how long they would foster a pet in their home. Through Animal Rescue of Tidewater, a foster animal may spend as little as one week, or as long as six months, in his/her foster home. With prior notice, the ART sponsor will secure a temporary foster home, or board the animal, while you are away on vacation.

If the pet has any behavioral issues, a behaviorist will work with you and the animal, or the animal may be moved if you are not comfortable working with the situation.

Requirements to foster pets for ART:
-your resident pets be altered and up to date on shots (including monthly heartworm preventive for dogs)
-the number of animals in your home (resident and fostered) may not exceed city code
-and if you rent, written proof of permission from your landlord to have pets in your home

For more info: fostering@ARTanimals.org

If you would like to apply to foster for ART, please continue to the foster application.

Titan needs a home!

A friend of a friend needs to find a home for Titan, this gorgeous German Shepherd.

From www.dogbreedinfo.com:

Often used as working dogs, German Shepherds are courageous, keen, alert and fearless. Cheerful, obedient and eager to learn. Tranquil, confident, serious and clever. GSDs are extremely faithful, and brave. They will not think twice about giving their lives for their human pack. They have a high learning ability.

Have you been waiting to find the perfect best friend? Email me for more information, Joanna22va@aol.com.

FOSTERING ALERT!

SEVEN owner-release boxer mix pups were just turned in to Roanoke County Animal Control. Fostering is needed for them as cage space is very tight and the SPCA is full.

Can you help?

If you have been thinking about it, please act on it today!

They will get a full vet check prior to going to foster. Call my friend Ann Marie Sweeney at 540-339-9505 TODAY. Every second counts!

A Market for Puppies

I had heard of puppy mills before I started fostering dogs. Who hasn't heard of puppy mills? I had heard the chance story about inhumane conditions. I admit, though, that I have gone to pet stores and asked to play with the little cuties. They are still so sweet, right? Puppies, from whatever source, are cute and cuddly.

A puppy mill, by ASPCA's definition, is a "large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs." Consideration is generally not given to genetic quality of dogs, hence there are often hereditary defects.

I've noticed especially that when people come home from the pet store with their new puppies, they are very excited. "I just paid $1,500 for this purebred Lab," they announce proudly. "The pet store let me have a payment plan."

Right.

As I have become more and more involved with the shelter puppies I have fostered, I have to question the problem with puppies and dogs in our country today. We clearly have the means to rescue all of the dogs. People are paying $500-$2,000 in pet stores every day to purchase puppies.

I know of two lab puppies in Dry Fork, Virginia, that have a limited number of days left. I wonder if I can bring them to a little table outside the overpriced pet store and sell them each for $1,500. Obviously I am being facetious. Surely I won't sit outside said pet store...or would I?

The sweet puppies in this picture are the 8-10 week old pups that find themselves with numbered days at the pound in Dry Fork, Virginia:

Are both of these pups not worth every bit of $500 to $2,000?

Why fight puppy mills? What is the big deal? I'll tell you why. Dogs are kept in horrible conditions, in small wire cages (to minimize cleanup). The cages hurt their legs and little paws. Little thought is given to comfort of any of the dogs. Often it is too hot, with too little water, not enough food, and zero socialization. And the poor breeder dogs are harnessed, then they are raped and raped over and over again to produce as many "cash crop" offspring as possible in the shortest possible amount of time. Frequently overused, spent females are put to death early when they are no longer able to reproduce. This is what we are supporting when we buy a sweet little "Storefront" puppy.

Please share information about puppy mills with your friends. If you know of anyone looking for a sweet puppy worth about a grand or two, send them over to the local SPCA. They'll get one heck of a deal.

The Humane Society: Support Puppy-Friendly Pet Stores

Hip to Snip

Why Spay or Neuter your Pet? Because it is totally Hip to Snip!

Grab a seat on the "Hip to Snip Trip" on July 20!

From the RVSPCA website, information on the upcoming "Hip to Snip" trip:

Is your cat's howling driving you crazy? Does your dog use any opportunity to escape the yard and run the neighborhood? Take advantage of this low cost alternative to irritating behaviors, possible health issues, and unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

Your pet may not be broken, but he or she does need to be fixed! Jump aboard the Hip to Snip Trip and protect your dog or cat from unwanted offspring and certain types of illness. The most important thing to know about spaying and neutering is that it saves lives!

Mountain View Humane is offering transport services to its low cost spay/neuter clinic in Christiansburg from Roanoke on the third Wednesday of each month. Transport vehicle leaves from the parking lot of the RVSPCA.

Appointments are being accepted for the next transport. Call 540-339-9523 or email hiptosnip@rvspca.org for more information and/or an appointment.

The Humane Society of The United States: Why Spay/Neuter Your Pet


Roanoke Valley SPCA is on Facebook!

Now's the Time to Foster! Roanoke, Virginia

Fostering pets is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, right up there with having children and antagonizing my husband.

The pound is full of puppies and kittens that need a 2 week home. Do you have 2 weeks to spare? RVSPCA gives you everything you need; this is only a time commitment. Call 540-339-9505 to speak to Ann Marie for more information.

www.rvspca.org

Teeny Tiny Puppies

I go on vacation in a few weeks, so I was eager to get another two week foster puppy in before I leave. (Addicted? I think so.) To my relief, a call came in from Franklin County Humane Society. They needed a foster mommy to come to the rescue for three sweet foster puppies: Rikki, Rose, and Rita.

I happily agreed to foster the little sweeties.

Wow! I am such a lucky foster mom!

Introducing my three little ladies:

Rikki is a tan brindle baby with awesome dark blue eyes. She is a silly girl, the largest of the three, and the most "puppyish." She is a blast!

Rita is a tan and white little lovie. She wants to be held all the time. She is constantly under my feet. I have tripped on her seventeen times since we got her on Saturday. What a little blessing!

Rose looks nothing like her sisters (maybe a different daddy?) She is the tiniest of all, and she can easily fit in my two hands if I cup them together. She is my most vocal puppy, singing to me about everything! She looks like a beagle puppy.

To find out more about adopting one of these puppies, please call:

Franklin County Humane Society Inc.
Planned Pethood Clinic & Adoption Center
(540)489-3491
http://plannedpethoodrockymount.com/

Schaffer Photography Fundraises for the RVSPCA

Check out the SPCA Pet Project:
Click here to link to the Event Page


Click "Attending" and Schaffer Photography will get in touch with you to set up your portrait session.

From the event page, a letter from Schaffer Photography:

Animal lovers and friends,

I am putting together a coffee table book to raise money for the Roanoke Valley SPCA. If you would like to be part of this book, each page will feature a photograph of your pet, their name, your name and a description about your relationship together written by you! You can purchase a place in this book for only $50 with all proceeds going to the SPCA. With your donation, you will als...o receive a brief pet photography portrait session from Schaffer Photography for use in the book! All pets welcome!! I will be booking pet portrait sessions through the end of the summer so the photo book can be finished by the last week of August.

After the book is finished, you will have the option to purchase a copy for your personal coffee table for an additional $70. I encourage everyone to participate and help out our four legged furry friends when they are unable to help themselves. The SPCA is a certified 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that relies completely on donations to care for thousands of homeless or unwanted animals in our community.

If you are interested in participating, click on the “attending” tab on this events page and I will get in contact with you to schedule your portrait session.

Thank you from Schaffer Photography and all of the animals at the SPCA!

Easy Volunteer Job in Roanoke, Virginia

What an exciting and easy way to help the Roanoke Valley SPCA! I just received an email from Ruth Pierce, the Volunteer Coordinator for RVSPCA.

She is looking for volunteers to play with the kitties that are available for adoption and being shown to potential adopters at Petco.

From her email:

If you are available in either the morning or evening, one day a week through the month of June, the cats would really appreciate you coming by to clean and play with them. This is a great opportunity for some of our younger volunteers and their parents to volunteer for the animals. Please give me a call or email if you are able to help.
As always, thanks for helping us help the animals.

Ruth

Ruth Pierce,
Volunteer Coordinator
540-339-9506
rpierce@rvspca.org

Go to www.rvspca.org to download a Volunteer Application.

Matilda

In recognition of "Adopt a Shelter Cat" month, the Roanoke Valley SPCA is asking all of their FB fans to change their profile pics to their favorite feline.

I am changing my profile pic to an available cat at the RVSPCA, "Matilda." What a gorgeous creature!

I firmly believe that everyone needs a cat in his life.

To adopt Matilda or one of her roommates at the RVSPCA, please start by going to www.rvspca.org to view the Animal Gallery.