Happy Tails | Lucy

Every single animal that comes through our shelter has a story. Some are complex, many are sad, but all of them get better the minute they arrive at the Virginia Beach SPCA. Lucy was surrendered to the VBSPCA in August 2023 when a member of her previous family developed allergies. A shy cat who valued her space, Lucy struggled adjusting to life in a shelter. As the months went by, Lucy received very little interest from potential adopters.

Unbeknownst to Lucy, she had a secret admirer named Emily. She had been searching local shelters for adoptable cats in advance of her move to the area. Emily finally completed her move to Virginia Beach, and Lucy was adopted in January 2024 – ending a five-month stay at the VBSPCA. We recently caught up with Emily to hear about Lucy’s transformation at home.

How did you find Lucy?

I spent months looking at adoptable cats on the VBSPCA’s website prior to moving to Virginia. I saw so many cats get adopted and removed from the page, but Lucy stayed up there. I knew once I got to Virginia, if she was still in the shelter, she was coming home with me. Five months later, I had finally moved and visited the shelter. She was very shy and protective of her space, but I knew as soon as I saw her I could give her a quiet place to be herself and have all the love she deserved! 

How is Lucy doing in the home?

Lucy adjusted so well and so quickly! To my pleasant surprise, she has gone from being very shy to being attached to my hip. She’s extremely talkative and loves to curl up next to me for head scratches.

What sort of activities do you do together?

Lucy and I love watching birds and squirrels run around. She enjoys playing with toys that have feathers or are on strings. Lucy also likes to spend her days guarding the house for us by growling at neighbors as they come and go past the windows.

Does Lucy have any funny quirks?

Lucy enjoys waking me up well before my alarm every day by staring me down and gently pawing my face. The second I show signs of being awake, she will loudly run laps through the house to ensure I stay awake and go feed her.  

Lucy will sit in my window waiting for me to get home everyday. The second she sees me, she runs to the front door to greet me and tell me all about her day. I also give her a treat when I get home. If I take too long, she will bring me the package and run to her treat pad to wait for it.

How has Lucy enriched your life so far?

Lucy ensures I never sleep through an alarm, reminds me to stop and enjoy the nature around us, and has brought so much love into my home. She truly is my perfect companion.

I will be forever grateful to the VBSPCA staff for showing Lucy love and kindness as she awaited her forever home. Adopting Lucy was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The staff made the process extremely easy and ensured I was prepared to care for her.