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Beach Buddies

The Virginia Beach SPCA Beach Buddies program invites members of our community to take adoptable dogs out and about for a few hours of quality time away from the shelter. This program gives our canine residents a much needed break from the stress of shelter living while also facilitating the opportunity for “buddies” to observe animal personalities in real world situations. This will provide important feedback to our kennel technicians as they work to find the right homes for these deserving pups. Quality time can include walks, car rides, and/or quiet time in a home, as well as excursions to pre-approved public locations. We ask for a suggested donation of $10 to participate, and all funds raised will go right back to helping the shelter animals. While we do ask for a donation to help us continue our mission, the donation is entirely optional and you are welcome to give as little or as much as you like. 

The VBSPCA Beach Buddies program is offered most Mondays and Wednesdays between 11am and 5pm. Dogs can be picked up as early as 11am and they must be returned to the shelter no later than 5pm. Dogs must be returned the same day. When registering, participants will have the option to select their preferred pickup time.

On the very first pickup, you will need to provide a copy of your driver’s license and proof of residence. A VBSPCA representative will go over the paperwork and the program dos and don’ts. Buddies will be provided with poop bags, a collar and leash/harness, a seat belt leash, and treats. Outings must end by 5pm. Upon return, Buddies will be asked to fill out a personality profile to let us know how the dog did on the outing. Please note that only VBSPCA dogs are permitted on the outing, no owned animals allowed.

To participate in Beach Buddies, click the button below. You will be routed to our registration site where you will be asked to select a date and enter a donation amount of your choice. Registration will walk you through a brief questionnaire so we can match you with the right animal. If you have any questions in advance of your scheduled date, please email beachbuddies@vbspca.com