November is a big month for the animals of the VBSPCA! Mark your calendars for the biggest fundraising day of the year, and take a look at some of the creative ways our community is giving back.

Pints for Pups with Commonwealth Brewing Company – November 5th
Cheers to finding your new best friend! Commonwealth Brewing Company is hosting its seventh annual Pints for Pups on Saturday, November 5th from 1:00pm-4:00pm. Your $25 donation at the door includes two drink tickets and benefits our shelter. Plus, you’ll get to meet some VBSPCA adoptable dogs and shop for pet products from local vendors.

Giving Tuesday – November 29th
Support the animals of the VBSPCA on Giving Tuesday, the global day of charitable giving. Our goal is to raise $20,000, and we can’t do it without you! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 29th and donate through our website or Facebook page. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of animals in need.

Caroline’s BARKery – Taking Pre-Orders Now
For the third year in a row, young animal lover Caroline is selling homemade peanut butter dog treats this holiday season and will donate all proceeds to our animals. Her goal this year is to raise at least $1,000. Caroline is accepting pre-orders now. Visit the Caroline’s BARKery Facebook page to place your order.

All Year Long – Sustainable Support

Stephs Crafting Bits
Visit the Stephs Crafting Bits shop on Etsy for handmade jewelry and art that gives back! Mention the VBSPCA at checkout and 20% of your order will be donated to our animals. Click here to shop.

Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.

Andy’s Paw Prints
Order a custom pet portrait from Andy’s Paw Prints, and 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the VBSPCA! This is a great way to support our animals while celebrating the special pets in your life. Andy’s Paw Prints supports various animal shelters, so click here for our referral link to order your custom pet portrait.

Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.

Host a Fundraiser through Bonfire
Create a t-shirt to benefit the animals of the VBSPCA! Bonfire makes it easy – upload your design, select the VBSPCA as the nonprofit, and they take it from there. This is a great way to support the animals while also putting some style out there in the community. Learn more here.

Nextdoor
Paypal Giving Fund has partnered with Nextdoor in order to bring charities a new way to gain support from their communities. With Nextdoor’s Sell for Good, neighbors can support charities by simply buying and selling items on the For Sale & Free marketplace. Sellers will now have the option to donate proceeds to benefit nonprofits like the VBSPCA through the PayPal Giving Fund. Click here to get started today!

Become a Member
As a VBSPCA Member, every adoption we complete, every wildlife animal we rescue, every child we reach, and every pet we treat in our clinic connects back to you. YOU make our mission possible, and all it takes is $10 a month. Plus, VBSPCA members receive exclusive perks and discounts in gratitude for their dedication to sustaining our mission! Interested? Click here to become a VBSPCA Member.

#VBStrong
In solidarity with our two legged and four-legged community, VBStrong T-shirts and tanks are available at the VBSPCA shelter, located at 3040 Holland Road. 100% of the proceeds from these VBStrong shirts will go to families of those who were lost on May 31st, 2019.

The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.

Fall is here and there are plenty of fun things to do that also help the animals of the Virginia Beach SPCA! Our Puttin’ for Paws Charity Golf Tournament is sold out, but there are other great events to check out. Here’s a look at how our community is giving back in October.

Subaru Loves Pets Adoption Celebration – October 15
Visit the VBSPCA Shelter on Saturday, October 15th for our Subaru Loves Pets Adoption Celebration. In addition to possibly meeting your new best friend, you can shop our sidewalk sale for discounted pet retail items and pick up a tasty treat from our bake sale. All proceeds benefit the animals of the VBSPCA. The fun starts at 1:00pm.

Howl-O-Ween Pub Crawl & Costume Contest – October 22
Join us for the second annual Howl-O-Ween Pub Crawl and Costume Contest! The fun takes place on Saturday, October 22nd. We’ll crawl to local pubs around the 31st Street corridor. This event is dog friendly, so start planning costumes for you and your furry friend! All proceeds go toward the animals of the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more and register.

Boardwalk Art Show – October 22
Stop by the VBSPCA booth at the Boardwalk Art Show to meet some of our adoptable animals! We’ll also have craft activities for kids and information on our mission. We’ll be set up at the 24th Street Pavilion from 12:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday, October 22, so come by to say hello!

All Year Long – Sustainable Support

Stephs Crafting Bits
Visit the Stephs Crafting Bits shop on Etsy for handmade jewelry and art that gives back! Mention the VBSPCA at checkout and 20% of your order will be donated to our animals. Click here to shop.

Black Dog Real Estate LLC
Looking for a new home? Try Black Dog Real Estate. A total of 5% of each sales commission will be donated to the VBSPCA. Click here to learn more.

Andy’s Paw Prints
Order a custom pet portrait from Andy’s Paw Prints, and 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the VBSPCA! This is a great way to support our animals while celebrating the special pets in your life. Andy’s Paw Prints supports various animal shelters, so click here for our referral link to order your custom pet portrait.

Kroger Plus
You can help homeless animals anytime you buy groceries at Kroger! Simply sign up, swipe your Plus Card when you shop, and a portion of the sale will be donated back to the VBSPCA! Sign up to participate here.

Host a Fundraiser through Bonfire
Create a t-shirt to benefit the animals of the VBSPCA! Bonfire makes it easy – upload your design, select the VBSPCA as the nonprofit, and they take it from there. This is a great way to support the animals while also putting some style out there in the community. Learn more here.

Nextdoor
Paypal Giving Fund has partnered with Nextdoor in order to bring charities a new way to gain support from their communities. With Nextdoor’s Sell for Good, neighbors can support charities by simply buying and selling items on the For Sale & Free marketplace. Sellers will now have the option to donate proceeds to benefit nonprofits like the VBSPCA through the PayPal Giving Fund. Click here to get started today!

Become a Member
As a VBSPCA Member, every adoption we complete, every wildlife animal we rescue, every child we reach, and every pet we treat in our clinic connects back to you. YOU make our mission possible, and all it takes is $10 a month. Plus, VBSPCA members receive exclusive perks and discounts in gratitude for their dedication to sustaining our mission! Interested? Click here to become a VBSPCA Member.

#VBStrong
In solidarity with our two legged and four-legged community, VBStrong T-shirts and tanks are available at the VBSPCA shelter, located at 3040 Holland Road. 100% of the proceeds from these VBStrong shirts will go to families of those who were lost on May 31st, 2019.

The Virginia Beach SPCA is incredibly grateful for the continued support from our local community. If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or event supporting the VBSPCA, please contact our Outreach Department at outreach@vbspca.com.

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. Stevie and her littermate were transferred to the VBSPCA shelter all the way from Texas in June 2021. Both young puppies were terrified. Since Stevie was extremely shy and had a lot to learn about the human world, she was placed with Mallory, one of our experienced fosters. Mallory put in a lot of time and effort during Stevie’s foster period but when it was time for Stevie to be made available for adoption, Mallory couldn’t bear to part with her. Mallory and her husband, Chris, formally adopted her that September. We recently caught up with Mallory for the full story and an update on Stevie now.

Can you tell us about what Stevie was like as a foster?

Stevie wanted absolutely nothing to do with me but was enamored with Blue [a dog Mallory and Chris adopted from the VBSPCA] straight away! I think Blue was her savior. For a long time she tried to avoid us and had a little hoard of toys and a bed under the dining room table where she would run to if anyone moved at all. Slowly she started to hang around us more and take treats from us. She really just wanted to be around Blue and Darwin [their other pup], so sometimes that meant being close to Chris and me.

It took about a month for Stevie to allow us to really touch her, but she would still run and hide afterwards. I was determined not to foster fail with her because I really wanted to know that I could help a dog like her become adoptable; so even though everyone was telling me to keep her, I kept saying, “no, no, no, I don’t want three dogs right now!” When it was time for her to be put up for adoption, I was hopeful but my heart sank.

What ultimately made you decide to adopt Stevie?

There was someone interested in Stevie right away, but then they changed their minds. I was feeling really sad and anxious about giving her up, plus Blue was quite attached to her – they are still almost inseparable. My husband knew I was really upset so he emailed me from work and told me just to adopt her… he was supposed to be the one who kept me in check! On September 28, 2021, we officially adopted her!

How is Stevie doing in the home?

Stevie has become a happy life-loving puppy! It has been such a joy watching her blossom and become the dog she was meant to be. She is so hilarious and makes me laugh every day. She LOVES meeting new dogs and loves going on play dates with her BFF dogs.

She absolutely adores all of the fosters we have had since adopting her. She has very good mama dog instincts and loves playing with and taking care of puppies. She is still very unsure of new humans. When someone comes over, we always tell them that Stevie will bark at them for a couple of minutes and then ignore them completely.

What sort of activities do you and Stevie do together?

Stevie likes to play fetch and tug with me! She also enjoys sharing my pillow on the couch and watching TV (she is a huge Buffy the Vampire fan).

Stevie will never be a snuggly, attention-seeking dog but that’s ok. She likes to snuggle in the mornings and she sometimes snuggles at night when everyone is relaxing, but she mostly likes to snuggle Blue or hang out by herself.

Does Stevie have any funny quirks?

Stevie loves to be dirty; we call her our dirtball princess! She is a treasure and I will never regret our decision to adopt her.

Why do you think people should consider adopting a shelter pet?

Easy, they are the best!! I think we kind of have a responsibility to help them if we have the ability. Shelter dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities, so there is truly a dog for everyone somewhere within the rescue community. It is also very satisfying to watch them blossom and become the dog they might not have been able to become without you. The love of a shelter dog is just so immense and beautiful, there is nothing else like it! I have also made very good human friends within the rescue/foster community because it’s a great way to bond with people who have the same moral interests. I promise you won’t regret giving a shelter pet a second chance at life! If you are not ready for the full time commitment, I highly recommend fostering.

Summer is coming to an end, and the people and animals of the Virginia Beach SPCA are looking forward to the change in season! We’re hoping our long term residents will get a fresh start this fall. Below we’ll introduce you to the seven animals whose adoption fees have been sponsored in hopes of finding them the loving homes they have been patiently waiting for here at the shelter.

Bolow

Age: 8 years
Likes: Comfortable beds, snacks
Dislikes: Youngsters (children under 16)
Perfect Home: One where he can be an only pet

Roxie – ADOPTED! 

Age: 1 year
Likes: Belly rubs, playing with toys
Dislikes: Waiting for her second chance
Perfect Home: One where she’ll get plenty of walks

Deuce – ADOPTED! 

Age: 4 years
Likes: A good meal, leaning against his human friends
Dislikes: Itchy skin allergies
Perfect Home: One with large breed experience

Sparkle- ADOPTED!

Age: 9 years
Likes: Having lots of attention
Dislikes: Cats, birds, and small animals
Perfect Home: One where her people are as excited about life as she is

Pinky

Age: 5 years
Likes: Squeaky toys
Dislikes: Sharing attention with other animals
Perfect Home: One where her people will be patient as she learns how to be a pet

Karma

Age: 1 year
Likes: Snacks, time in the sun
Dislikes: New situations
Perfect Home: One where her people will help her learn to trust

Brooks-ADOPTED!

Age: 2 years
Likes: Other cats, if properly introduced
Dislikes: Waiting for a forever home
Perfect Home: One where she’ll be brushed to keep her beautiful fur tangle-free

To learn more about our Fresh Start Fall animals, click here and read their complete bios! A special thanks to Chris Kubik from Canines of Cork for doing a photo shoot with some of our long term residents!

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. In May 2021, Midge was transferred to the VBSPCA by another animal shelter as a tiny kitten. She was placed in a foster home until she was healthy and strong enough for the adoption process. It was right around that time that Jon and Diana decided to visit the shelter. We recently caught up with Diana to get Midge’s full adoption story.

When did you adopt Midge?

July 22, 2021

How did you find Midge?

Jon wanted a kitten and searched and searched. He would find one but POOF! it would get snapped up very quickly (as so many kittens do.) So he decided to just pop in to the VBSPCA for a visit and check things out in person. And there was Midge.

How is Midge doing in the home?

Wonderfully!!!! She made herself right at home immediately (despite the fact that there were already 2 adult, female cats in our home) and she’s ruled the roost ever since.

What sort of activities do you and Midge do together?

Everything! She loves to “supervise” our cooking and cleaning and doing the laundry. She helps Jon feed our birds every morning. And she always helps scoop poop.

How has Midge enriched your lives so far?

Jon was diagnosed with cancer in March 2021 and Midge helped keep his spirits up through chemotherapy. [A happy update: Jon is now cancer free!] She’s funny and sweet and fearless and fun and makes us laugh throughout each and every day. Midge has even managed to bring our other two cats out of their shells – we’ve seen a dramatic change in their activity levels. They actually play now! Midge makes friends with everyone who walks through our door and we’ve even taken her on play dates with friends’ and family’s cats!

Does Midge have any funny quirks?

Known as “Midge The Mighty Kibble Hunter”, Midge “hunts” her kibble. She won’t just stand at the bowl and eat it straight from it. Nope…she stalks the bowl and digs out one piece at a time sending it skittering across the kitchen floor. Then she chases it down and pounces on it. Sometimes she sends it under the rug and then stalks it and chases it. As soon as she eats her “kill” she starts the hunting process all over again with another, single piece of kibble.

She also hunts bugs like no other – no matter how small or fast, if there’s a bug of any sort within a mile of Midge it’s a goner.

And any bag, no matter the size or shape – and this includes ladies’ purses – will get investigated by her. During Jon’s treatment, nurses would come to the house for post-surgery visits, and Midge would crawl in their purses and backpacks.

Why do you think people should consider adopting a shelter pet?

By taking home your new pet, you also make room at the shelter for another animal with nowhere else to go.

Beginning August 15, 2022, the Virginia Beach SPCA will reinstate its income cap for all veterinary clinic services except spay/neuter services. The income requirement was modified in March 2020 in an effort to ensure veterinary care was accessible to those who were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the overwhelming need for veterinary services in Hampton Roads, we have made the decision to reinstate our policy to ensure that we are serving those most in need of our services.

The income cap will not impact existing clients of the VBSPCA Clinic. Please feel free to schedule appointments and continue your pet’s care at the clinic, regardless of income.

For new clients of the VBSPCA Clinic and Walk-In Vaccine Clinics:

• Low cost veterinary services and walk-in vaccine clinics are offered for households with an annual income of $65,000 or less. You will be asked to provide proof of income by presenting your most recent tax return form before services are provided. If you are unable to present a tax return form or your income has significantly changed since your most recent filing, please bring in an alternative form of documentation. The income cap is waived for military members and first responders.
• The income cap does not apply to spay/neuter services. This includes services both at the VBSPCA Clinic and on the VBSPCA Neuter Scooter. We offer these services without restriction in an effort to reduce the homeless animal population in our community.
  
  To learn more about our clinic services and pricing or to request an appointment, click here.

Bella came from a life of neglect. She had been kept outside with three other small dogs until her owners turned her and her canine companions over to PETA. Bella was transported directly to the VBSPCA where our team was ready to help. She arrived filthy and severely matted, but that didn’t prevent her from being affectionate with everyone she met. Our team shaved Bella’s mats and gave her a bath before settling her into a kennel. Within days, she was adopted into a loving home. A journey from neglect to a loving home was only possible because of this collaboration.

Bella’s tale is just one of many successful stories that were made possible thanks to our transfer partner relationships. The VBSPCA actively partners with other animal shelters and rescues across the region and beyond in an effort to provide collaborative resources to animals in need. Sometimes animals are brought to us due to a lack of space at another shelter. On other occasions we take in animals in need of medical care that we are able to provide through our veterinary clinic and Miracle Medical Fund. Some animals arrive here simply because they have a better chance of being adopted due to our many visitors. In situations when an animal is not thriving in the shelter environment, we rely on rescue partners who can provide focused care until the animal is adopted. Whatever the reason, the many challenges that homeless animals face cannot be solved by one team alone.

The need for collaboration among shelter partners will always exist. While our philosophies and programs may differ, our shared focus on helping homeless animals is strong and united. The current homeless animal crisis has shelters across the country at capacity, each one taking a creative approach to finding and making space for animals so that euthanasia can be avoided whenever possible. The need for collaboration is relevant now more than ever, and the VBSPCA is focusing transfer efforts on our local partners to help alleviate the current crisis here in Hampton Roads. In May, over 75% of the animals transferred to the VBSPCA were from our local shelter partners.

This crisis is not going anywhere anytime soon, so we ask and encourage our community members to support the VBSPCA and our local shelter partners through adoptions and donations. We need your help to overcome what lies ahead.

Marco
Marco came to the VBSPCA from our friends at Chesapeake Animal Services in February when they had reached capacity and needed help. Marco had severe skin allergies that had led to hair loss and extremely itchy skin. The VBSPCA clinic team gave him allergy medication and put him on a special diet. He became a favorite among our cattery team, who made sure he received enrichment and affection while in our care. Three months after coming through our doors, Marco found his forever family.

Hiccup
The Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter brought Hiccup to us in April. His story was heartbreaking, as he had chewed off his foot. It appeared a tether was wound around his leg, preventing movement and causing pain. Despite these tragic circumstances, Hiccup arrived at our shelter with his tail wagging and full of affection. Hiccup was rushed to our clinic, where our team quickly cleaned the wound and made him comfortable for the night. His leg was amputated the following day, after which point he spent time in a foster home to recover. One month later, Hiccup was happily adopted.

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. Arlo arrived at the VBSPCA in December 2021 when his previous owners moved and could not take him with them. Just a few days later, Ali and her husband, Steve, stopped by the shelter in hopes of adopting a dog. When they saw the two year old Basset Hound heading out for a walk, they knew they had to meet him. As Ali says, “Bassets in general are hard to resist!” We recently caught up with Ali, who filled us in on how things are going from Arlo’s perspective as well!

How is Arlo doing in the home?

Arlo is fantastic at home! His first few nights were a bit bumpy as he needed reassurance that we were still there when he would wake up at 2am or so, but he had only one accident and settled into a routine very quickly. We are lucky to have a fenced-in backyard, and he spends lots of time roaming and following the smells of squirrels that run all over our yard.

What sort of activities do you and Arlo do together?

Arlo loves other dogs and is amazing at matching energy levels of all kinds and ages. This means we try and take him everywhere. We especially love the farmers market, where he always grabs attention and pets from every being willing to say hi.

Does Arlo have any funny quirks?

One of Arlo’s silliest traits is looking up at you over his back. He doesn’t turn his head, he just lifts his chin until he’s looking at you upside down. All his Basset wrinkles fall the other direction and it must feel good or funny to him – he does it so often. He is also very true to his breed: when he catches a scent, he barks at the ground to alert us. He doesn’t bark when we get home or for much else, but we know when he’s got a smell trail to follow.

How has Arlo enriched your lives so far?

It’s truly like Arlo has been with us his whole life. He just fit right into our routines and loves to be right next to us wherever we go. He is a great pick-me-up on a stressful day and makes me get up from my desk and go outside, even if it’s just for a minute. Dear friends of ours recently lost their 14 year old Pitbull and we were hit pretty hard by it. But Arlo helped their dog play a bit more in her last few months and enjoy her toys again. He has provided us all unconditional love to heal from the recently stressful times and keeps us social, even if we don’t really want to be.

Why do you think people should consider adopting a shelter pet?

Arlo isn’t our first rescue and every pet comes with their own personality and traits to adjust to, but each time it feels like they know you rescued them. They are grateful and know that you just want to love them. There is a pet for every lifestyle – talk to the staff about personalities, know what traits you don’t think you can handle, but most of all stay open to considering the unexpected. Treat the pet well and you will receive more than you expected in return.

A note from Arlo:

My parents really needed me. They needed someone to get them outside, to play more, and to bring more joy to every day! When my new friend (the 14 year old Pitbull mentioned above) passed away, I cuddled everyone as much as I possibly could. They needed all the hugs I could give. Also, who was going to protect the backyard?!

Shelter pets are the coolest – you choose us and we choose you back! We may take time to warm up to you, but once we know we’re there to stay, we’ll love you forever!

While our pets cannot talk, they can communicate a lot through their body language. A dog or cat’s tail is an especially important tool to convey how they are feeling. By paying attention to your furry friend’s tail, you can easily tell whether they’re up for playing and meeting new people or instead need some space or reassurance. Read more below and click here for a printable version of our infographic.

Cat Tail Language

• Upright Tail: Your cat is feeling confident, alert, and friendly. If the tip of their tail twitches when it is straight up in the air, your feline is feeling particularly happy.
• Swishing Slowly: If your cat is moving their tail slowly from side to side, it means he is focused on an object such as a toy. They’ll likely pounce on that item!
• Whipping Tail: A cat that is whipping their tail back and forth is agitated. You should consider this a warning to stay away.
• Puffy Tail: Cats puff up their tails when they are afraid. By raising their fur, they are making themselves look bigger to scare off whatever is making them fearful.
• Pulled Close: Another indicator of fear is when a cat pulls their tail closely into their body or wraps it around their feet.

Dog Tail Language

• Wagging Loosely: When a dog is wagging their tail loosely from side to side or in a circular motion, they are relaxed, friendly, and happy. The tail is typically held in a neutral position.
• Straight Out: If a dog is holding their tail horizontally behind them, they are attentive and curious. Hunting breeds also hold their tails this way when they are pointing out an animal or object.
• Vertical Wag: If your dog’s tail is straight up with quick, small wags, your dog is alert and may be feeling aggressive or threatened. Give them space, especially if this type of wagging is paired with raised fur on their back and/or tail, staring, growling, lunging, or barking.
• Tucked Tail: Your dog is afraid. Tucking the tail is one of the ways dogs try to make themselves smaller when they feel threatened.

It is extremely important not to ignore what your pet is trying to tell you through his tail or other body language. Never punish your pet for giving warning signs that they are agitated or afraid. Paying close attention to their communication methods like tail language and growling is essential to preventing animal bites!
Educational_Tail_Talk (1)

Keeping your pet’s food and water bowls clean is just as important as providing your furry friend with fresh food and water each day. You wouldn’t eat off the same plate or drink out of the same glass without washing it day after day, and neither should your pet. Yet a recent study found that most pet parents don’t follow recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration that are designed to keep pets, and their people, healthy.

What’s Lurking in the Bowls
Have you ever noticed a layer of slime in your pet’s water bowl? That’s not drool, that’s a bunch of bacteria that has bound together. The bacteria from an animal’s mouth can be transferred to the bowls while eating or drinking, and the bowls are a good environment for the bacteria to multiply. The bacteria left in a pet’s water or food bowl can not only make them sick, it could also cause illness in the human who handles their bowls.

Preventing Illness
It only takes a few extra minutes to prevent illness in your pet, and you! Here are some tips from the FDA to keep those food and water bowls clean.

• Wash Daily
  Wash food and water bowls daily in warm, soapy water. At least once a week, put them in the dishwasher to fully sterilize them. Be sure to have a designated washcloth or sponge that you use on your pet’s dishes that is separate from the one you use for human dishes.
• Have a Separate Scoop
  Never use your pet’s food bowl to scoop out their food. Instead, use a cup, scoop, or spoon so that you’re not contaminating their food with any bacteria from their bowl.
• Keep Hands Clean
  Wash your hands before and after you handle your pet’s food or bowls.

When it comes to picking out your pet’s bowls, experts recommend stainless steel. Plastic food and water bowls are more likely to get scratched, which can make it easier for bacteria to develop. Glass and ceramic bowls can also be good options, but make sure you double check for cracks or chips and that the glaze used on the bowl is certified for food use.

Food Storage Safety
Storing your pet’s food properly is also important for preventing sickness. All food should be stored in a closed container, and wet food should be stored in the refrigerator once it has been opened. While plastic storage bins are the most popular choice for dry food, be sure your container is BPA-free. Stainless steel is also a great option for storage bins since they are durable and easy to clean. It is recommended that you wash and dry storage containers before refilling them with any new food. 

By keeping bowls clean and storing food safely, your pet will be much less likely to get sick!