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Mission and Vision

Our Mission: It is the mission of the Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VBSPCA) to create a more humane and responsible community by eliminating animal suffering while increasing human compassion.

Our Vision: We connect people and pets. As a trusted resource for our community, we create lasting adoptions, provide quality veterinary care, and inspire compassionate action through education and awareness. We are innovative, we are passionate, and we are committed. In partnership with our community, we end animal homelessness.


We provide shelter and care to approximately 2,600 homeless companion animals each year. We implement every available option to ensure that healthy and treatable animals in our care have a pathway to adoption, while also providing community resources to help keep pets in homes. You can read about some of our programs and community resources below:

  • Adoption packages are designed to be thorough and affordable. They include vaccinations, microchip, and spay/neuter, as well as a number of other medical services depending on the age and species. Puppy adoptions even come with puppy training classes. Available adoptable animals can be seen on our website, Petfinder.com, and several other national adoption sites.
  • Our foster network cares for orphans too young to survive on their own or thrive in a shelter environment. Foster care is also extended to animals recovering from surgery or animals who need a break from the shelter environment. Over 1,200 animals a year enter our foster program.
  • In partnership with PetSmart, our cats and some small animals are available at the PetSmart Landstown location.
  • Adult volunteers come in to the shelter to assist with a variety of shelter tasks, including cleaning, feeding, and working with animals to improve their adoptability.
  • Our Beach Buddies program offers adoptable dogs the opportunity to spend a day with a community member outside of the shelter. Participants provide feedback so our care team can better understand the animal’s personality and make a more successful adoption match.
  • The Virginia Beach SPCA Low Cost Medical Clinic provides affordable spay/neuter services as well as routine veterinary care to households earning less than $65,000 per year.
  • The VBSPCA mobile clinic, also known as the Neuter Scooter, provides mobile, low-cost spays and neuters to neighboring communities that would otherwise not have access to affordable veterinary services.
  • Our humane education program provides in person and virtual activities to children. Activities include an online arcade, educational visits and tours, and literacy initiatives. All programs are designed to foster the values of respect, empathy and compassion in children.
  • The Pet Pantry Program provides pet food to qualifying pet owners who risk losing their pets due to recent economic circumstances.
  • The Miracle Medical Fund was established so that we could provide specialized medical treatment for animals who would have once been considered untreatable by many shelters.
  • Our Disaster Response program and fully equipped disaster trailer allows us to respond and participate in rescue situations, whether it be a hurricane or puppy mill raid.
  • Read more about  VBSPCA Shelter Operations Philosophy here.
  • For an overview of all VBSPCA programs, click here.

A Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As a place to work, the Virginia Beach SPCA is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re committed to building a culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of the communities we serve. We believe that diversity within our workforce and our governing board of directors fuels innovation and creates a place that is a true reflection of our vibrant community. As a community services provider, everyone is welcome at the Virginia Beach SPCA. We embrace the diversity of the community in which we live and invite all to participate in our vision to end animal homelessness.