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. Bodie found himself at the VBSPCA in March 2023 after he was struggling with changes in his previous home. The one-year-old Australian Cattle Dog mix needed a home where he’d get plenty of attention and exercise. Lucky for Bodie, it wasn’t long until a family who had experience with his breed came in to meet him. We recently caught up with Cassidy to get an update on Bodie now that he’s happy in his forever home with her and her boyfriend, Nathan.

How did you know Bodie was the one for you?

I searched all the shelters in the area for months, fantasizing about getting a dog. We knew we wanted a dog and were waiting for the right time to pull the trigger. Nathan had a heeler for most of his life and he was getting up there in age (16 years old), and I had an elderly cat who had just passed away so we were ready to welcome a younger animal into our lives. I was perusing the VBSPCA website on a Sunday and saw Bodie. We almost immediately went to the shelter to go meet him. We fell in love with him at first sight, but what sealed the deal was a shelter staff member saying, “This is the calmest I’ve ever seen him.”

How is Bodie doing in the home?

Bodie is doing great. He is definitely a menace, but we love his antics and are up for the challenge of keeping him constantly entertained. Cattle dogs are not for the faint of heart! We have worked with a trainer and have come a long way with him. He has some anxiety that we work through, but overall, he has settled into our routines very well and seems extremely happy.

What sort of activities do you do together?

We try to take Bodie with us wherever we go as much as possible to show him everywhere is fun. He adores going to First Landing, where we play fetch and swim. He has almost daily playdates with his little girlfriend Maya, an island dog who lives in our townhome complex. He loves to go to Pups and Pints to get soaking wet standing in the splash pad. I take him to work with me occasionally and he runs around playing with his most prized possession, his Jolly Ball. He loves the car and tries to get in whenever we so much as walk by it.

Does Bodie have any funny quirks?

Bodie is very quirky, so it’s hard to think of specific things that he does that stand out more than others. The biggest one to point out is now that he has figured out he loves water, his new favorite game is trying to jump in the shower or bathtub whenever the water is running. He is very sweet and whenever you sit down around him, he will walk up and put his head on your shoulder as if he is giving you a hug – but he does expect you to scratch his legs and belly while he stands there. He is very unaware of his size. He isn’t a large dog, but he isn’t small either and insists on napping on top of us. He has herding tendencies, of course, so he is a Velcro dog and does not like it when his people are in two separate rooms. His main goal in life is to keep us together at all times. Bodie almost always sleeps on his back with his legs up in the air and will sometimes use walls to prop himself up so he can stay upside down.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to work at an animal shelter? Here at the Virginia Beach SPCA, we have more than 60 employees who connect people and pets. Our team members serve in a variety of roles, and each individual is an integral part of working towards the mission of ending animal suffering while increasing human compassion. This month we want to take you behind the scenes with the VBSPCA Neuter Scooter Team.

Interested in the Neuter Scooter’s services? Click here to see upcoming stops, book your spay/neuter appointment, or learn more about our walk-up vaccine clinics.

Every year on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people around the world join together to give back to causes they care about for Giving Tuesday. This year, animal lovers in the community once again showed their kindness and delivered for the animals of the Virginia Beach SPCA.

Together we raised $15,000 for the animals. These donations give the gift of a second chance to animals in need and provide critical funding to the mission.

We can’t help homeless pets without caring members of the community like you. On behalf of the animals and Team VBSPCA, thank you for your generosity!

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. Sadie came to the VBSPCA in December 20222 when her previous family was moving and couldn’t take her with them. The laid-back lap cat needed treatment for a flea allergy to get her feeling and looking her best.

While Sadie waited for her forever home, she got to know a volunteer named Margaret. One of her cats had recently passed away, and she took a special liking to Sadie. We recently caught up with Margaret for the rest of the story.

When did you adopt Sadie?

We adopted Sadie on February 2, 2023.

How did you find Sadie?

I first met Sadie as I was feeding and cleaning her condo [while volunteering]. When I first met her, she had a flea allergy and was missing a lot of fur. One of our senior cats, Midnight, had passed away at Thanksgiving, and our other cat, Nicky, was in need of a feline companion. Sadie was noted to have lived with other cats previously, and even had some physical similarities to Midnight. When I took Sadie into the visiting room, she climbed on my lap for attention and became playful. My husband, Richard, came with me to meet her and the decision was made.

How is Sadie doing in the home?

Sadie made herself at home on the second day at our house. She walked around from room to room exploring, and our other cat followed behind as if he was the realtor and she was the house hunter. Every day the two cats got friendlier and very quickly they were grooming each other and sitting side by side. This happened much quicker than I expected. Now they race around, play with each other, and entertain each other.

What sort of activities do you do together?

When Sadie is not playing with Nicky, she enjoys looking out the window, chirping at birds, or playing with my socks or cat toys. She sleeps at the foot of our bed and tries to claim her space on the living room recliner.

How has Sadie enriched your lives?

Sadie has become part of our family. She has rejuvenated Nicky and added to our lives with her playfulness and curiosity.

Mark Your Calendars for Giving Tuesday 2023!

This year Giving Tuesday will take place November 28th, and the animals of the Virginia Beach SPCA are counting on you! This year we hope to raise $20,000 to help care for the thousands of animals who come through our doors each year. Your donation allows you to become part of the mission – every dollar counts!

Here’s how you can help with this year’s fundraising efforts:

• Set a reminder to make a donation Tuesday, November 28th! You can make your gift right here on our website or through our Facebook or Instagram pages.
• On Giving Tuesday, be sure to share our social media posts and encourage others to support the homeless animals of the VBSPCA. 
• Create a social media fundraiser of your own.

With supporters like you, we know we can reach our goal on this global day of giving!

Have you ever wondered what it is like to work at an animal shelter? Here at the Virginia Beach SPCA, we have more than 60 employees who connect people and pets. Our team members serve in a variety of roles, and each individual is an integral part of working towards the mission of ending animal suffering while increasing human compassion. This month we want to take you behind the scenes of the VBSPCA Clinic.

Interested in turning your passion for animals into a career? Click here to check out the VBSPCA’s current job openings.

Animal shelters and veterinary clinics are not often thought of as tranquil. However, a recently completed project has transformed part of the Virginia Beach SPCA’s property into a peaceful place for pets and their people.

The VBSPCA Memorial Garden has officially reopened after a major revitalization effort. The area now includes a pathway for shelter dogs to enjoy a walk in the shade; a relaxing waiting area for clinic clients; and an expanded memorial garden to remember beloved pets and animal lovers.

The community rallied behind this project every step of the way, beginning with a fundraising initiative that raised more than $18,000 in 2022. Last fall, a volunteer group from Sentara Health came out on the United Way Day of Caring to clean up the space so that new features could be installed. After custom memorial bricks, plants, and other elements were placed earlier this year, volunteers from TowneBank completed the transformation in September.

The next time you stop by to visit shelter animals or bring your pet to a clinic appointment, we invite you to take a moment to enjoy this beautiful new space. You can also order a memorial stone to be placed in the garden by clicking here.

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. Molly was one of 17 beagles the VBSPCA received in August 2022 from the Envigo facility in Cumberland, Virginia. The dogs were bred to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation. Since they had only known life in a cage environment, some of the adults in the group had a long road ahead to learning how to “be a dog.”

Not long after the dogs arrived, Sarah, her mother, Nancy, and her father, Scott, heard about these special dogs and came in to meet them. Molly caught their eye, and they soon took her home. We recently caught up with Sarah to hear how Molly is doing now.

How did you find Molly?

We heard about the 4,000 beagles that were being rescued from the Envigo facility in Cumberland last summer. She was one of four adult beagles of this group (the rest were puppies), and we found her scared and shaking at the front of her kennel near the visitor walkway. Our hearts went out to her.

How is Molly doing in the home?

Molly has been gradually “learning” how to be a dog/pet. She is still jittery at sudden sounds and movements, but it is so enjoyable seeing her doing “zoomies” around the backyard. We had a trainer come in for several sessions, which really helped.

What sort of activities do you do together?

We have taken her for decompression walks at local parks, done some simple training, and have taken her to the beach and on several long trips in the car to New York, Alabama, and North Carolina, as well as cabin camping at the Virginia State Parks.

Does Molly have any funny quirks?

Molly finds such things in nature as leaves, grass, insects, pine cones, and wood bark more fascinating than the toys we bought for her to play with. Molly does enjoy the Kong toy and will get on her hind legs the same way as Snoopy does in the Peanuts comics. Molly does not like ceiling fans! Being a beagle, Molly is stubborn and extremely scent and food oriented. She’s always curious about what is going on in the kitchen.

How has Molly enriched your lives so far?

Molly is a sweet and gentle dog. She scares easily, but we have learned to be patient and loving with her. She’s been a welcome addition to our family, particularly after the recent death of our 16 year old Schnauzer-Cocker mix, Rocky.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to work at an animal shelter? Here at the Virginia Beach SPCA, we have more than 60 employees who connect people and pets. Our team members serve in a variety of roles, and each individual is an integral part of working towards the mission of ending animal suffering while increasing human compassion. This month we want to take you behind the scenes of the VBSPCA Clinic.

Interested in turning your passion for animals into a career? Click here to check out the VBSPCA’s current job openings.