Happiest of New Years!

 I can sum up the past year with one simple phrase: controlled chaos. Despite the disruption of construction throughout our clinic renovation and the general landscape of animal welfare, we have truly accomplished amazing feats this year together.

Construction on our clinic began in January, and we made adjustments to operating spaces and methodologies along the way to continue to be a trusted resource for the animals in our community and in our shelter. The clinic team, led by Medical Director Dr. Ann Marie Woyma and Director of Clinic Operations Kindra Haymaker, banded together to find innovative solutions to treat animals in need under some of the toughest conditions. Desktops became exam tables, hallways were holding kennels, equipment found homes in cupboards, and makeshift workspaces were assembled from temporary tables. Clients endured shifting check-in directions, and patients made their way safely around construction areas to get the care they needed. Shelter staff adjusted schedules and expectations as needed to work better with the clinic – never missing a step for the care of our shelter residents. Throughout it all, we managed to maintain our sense of purpose for our community, and today’s clinic is a testament to our fortitude and resilience, and a true recognition of the needs of our devoted pet owners. 

I couldn’t be more proud of the teams as they worked through the long days of construction only to see the very bright light that is our clinic today. With special thanks to PetSmart Charities and  Taylor Construction, we exceeded our expectations for the utilization of space and are now positioned to do more with more. 

In July, Jenn Fly joined our Executive Team as Director of Shelter Operations. Though we have a very strong management team in place, we had struggled to fill the director role. With a long background in animal welfare, Jenn immediately got to work providing keen oversight and new perspectives for our shelter. In this year of animal population challenges, decreases in adoption rates, and increases in owner relinquishments; her wisdom, calm demeanor, and practical approach have helped guide us to better decisions about our capacity for care and improved collaboration with community partners. It is our strategic vision to be a leading partner in animal welfare in our region, and we certainly are with our leadership in place. 

As we consider the volume of work that faces us in 2025, we realize that our greatest resource is our people. Talented and dedicated staff at all levels create the foundation upon which we grow and deliver our mission with the greatest impact. As we prepared budgets for 2025, we considered competitive compensation, overall benefits, and continuing education as critical components of our very treasured investment – committed, fulfilled employees. At our most recent annual employee awards breakfast, I looked around the room and marveled at the tremendous staff we have in place. Whether one works in kennel or cattery, clinic or Neuter Scooter, development or marketing, finance or human resources – each one serves to deliver our strongest mission to the community. 

Though the journey through the past year has been rocky at times, we are ending the year with the disruptions behind us and a clear vision of our path forward. With the support of our devoted community – donors, sponsors, volunteers, adopters, fosters, pet owners, vendors, and partners – we know that 2025 will bring expanded in-house clinic services; hopes for a new Neuter Scooter on the road; stability in our shelter, where the promise of second chances abound; new friends made at our many events, especially our Wags & Whiskers Gala on April 12th; and continued growth for staff and our leadership. 

We graciously bid adieu to 2024, having reached the end with the help of a great sense of humor and a touch of joy. We look forward to the promises of new – less bumpy – adventures in 2025 as we jump right in…for the animals.

With many thanks and a bright outlook for 2025,

Derby Bracket
CEO, Virginia Beach SPCA

December is here, and holiday season is in full swing! Whether you’re finalizing your shopping list, looking for a festive event for friends and family, or feeling moved on Giving Tuesday, you can support the homeless animals of the VBSPCA. Here’s how.

Home For the Holidays
Starting Sunday, December 1st Priority Automotive is paying half of the adoption fees of every canine and feline adopted from the VBSPCA. This promotion is automatically applied when you adopt an animal and last until December 31st or when funds run out.

Giving Tuesday – December 3rd
Support the VBSPCA on the biggest fundraising event of the year! Giving Tuesday takes place on December 3rd. Our goal is to raise $20,000 on this international day of giving. Your donations make second chances possible for homeless animals. You can make a donation by visiting the VBSPCA Facebook page, Instagram page, or our website.

Holiday Tribute Gifts
This holiday season, give a gift to animals in need. Donate in honor of someone special during the month of December and receive a greeting card insert that makes the perfect holiday gift. You can make your honorary donation here: https://vbspca.com/honors-and-memorials/.

Yappy Hour – December 8th
Join us Saturday, December 8th from 1-3 p.m. at Pups and Pints for a Howl-iday Paint Your Pet Fundraiser hosted by Crush It On Canvas featuring an Ugly Sweater Competition. Have a festive time in support of the VBSPCA whilel Crush it On Canvas leads you step-by-step as you paint your furry friend. Don your ugliest sweater for a chance at a prize. Sign up here: https://vbspca.com/yappy-hour/. 

Holiday Tale for Two – December 16th
On Monday, December 16th join us for our Tale for Two but with a Holiday twist. During our Holiday Tale for Two children will have a holiday tale read to them, meet a couple of shelter animals, and make treats for themselves and the shelter animals.Sign up here: https://vbspca.com/a-tale-for-two/.

Holiday Elf
Give an adoptable shelter animal a much deserved break from the shelter, and you receive all the holiday snuggles you could ask for! We are asking families to take home one of our shelter animals from Dec. 22nd through Dec. 26th. Email foster@vbspca.com to sign up, and our staff will pair you with the perfect furry friend!

Mechanical Service Company Holiday Fundraiser
Mechanical Service Company is holding a holiday fundraiser to support the animals of the VBSPCA from October 9th until December 9th. Customers are encouraged to drop off items from our Wish List.

All Year Long – Sustainable Support

The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.

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.

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.

Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.

Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more. 

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. As an older and FIV-positive kitten, Fiadh (pronounced FEE-uh) was being overlooked in favor of her younger cattery mates and had spent most of her young life in the care of the VBSPCA. When a potential adopter who was familiar with FIV-positive cats was introduced to Fiadh, she knew she had to end Fiadh’s long wait for a forever home.

Fiadh adjusted quickly to her new home, where she is a nonstop source of affection and entertainment. We recently caught up with Darcy to see how Fiadh keeps her on her toes.

How did you know Fiadh was the one for you?

I decided to get a pet so I wouldn’t be so lonely but wanted a pet that would be OK with being home alone during the day while I am at work. I went to the VBSPCA to see what cats they had. Fiadh was introduced to me, and I was told that she had a hard time finding a home because she has FIV. There were a couple of other kitties that were precious, but my mind kept going back to Fiadh. She had been at the shelter almost her entire young life and was having trouble being homed. My sister had a cat with FIV, so I was familiar with it and knew that she would live a mostly normal kitty cat life. I didn’t want her to stay at a shelter longer than she needed to just because of this. I decided to adopt her so that she could have a nice comfy home to call her own. 

How is Fiadh doing in the home?

Fiadh is doing wonderful! She has such a silly personality! She loves playing tag and chasing me around the house. When I first brought her home, she hid under my dining room hutch the whole night, but by morning she was ready to become friends. She is the most loving cat I have ever known. She wants to be up on my shoulder ALL THE TIME! She greets me at the door every day when I get home, and when I bend down to pick her up she gets right on my shoulder and gives me hugs and kisses. She also has a bit of an attitude and lets me know when I am not giving her enough attention! 

What sort of activities do you do together?

One of Fiadh’s favorite things to do is hide around corners or under furniture and dart out and attack me as I walk by. She also will just randomly run up to me and punch my legs with her little paws and then run away. Sometimes, she grabs my legs when she does it and holds on for a couple seconds before running off. She also loves to sit in the window and watch the birds. She makes a cute little chirping sound while watching them. 

Does Fiadh have any funny quirks?

Fiadh is a bit of a thief! She has stolen my parking passes and other random things that get left lying around. It took me a while to figure out it was her taking my things until I saw her running off one day with my new replacement parking pass! She also likes to steal Q-tips from the trash can and kick them around the house. I have since gotten a bathroom trash can with a lid. She also likes carrying her toys around and playing fetch with herself. She throws them up in the air, hits them across the room, and then off she goes! She loves belly rubs and getting foot massages, and she’s very sociable and loves making friends with visitors. Everyone thinks she is so silly and loves her personality. 

How has Fiadh enriched your lives so far?

I love coming home and knowing that she is right there waiting for her hug! I have a cuddle buddy now to curl up and watch movies with and I can always count on her for a good laugh!

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. Baxter was one of 24 dogs to make the journey from St. Landry Parish, Louisiana to the VBSPCA in August 2023. A sweet dog to those he knew and trusted, Baxter could also be guarded around strangers. This made Baxter a difficult dog to adopt out, and he spent 155 days in our care.

Enter Wyatt, a volunteer dog walker for the VBSPCA. He and Baxter formed an instant bond, and it was soon apparent that the two were meant to be. We recently checked in with Wyatt to see how this pint-sized pup is turning heads in his forever home.

How did you know Baxter was the one for you?

I met Baxter while volunteering. I had started the training for dog walking and was firm that I did not want to adopt a dog for a couple of years. Baxter was the first dog I walked. He walked about 20 yards and did his business. From there he firmly planted himself and would not go any further no matter how much I tried to coax him. He was extremely stubborn, and I couldn’t get him to walk further. He immediately turned around and led me back to the kennel. The entire time he seemed apathetic toward me. He led me back into his kennel, I took his leash off, and he became affectionate. All he wanted was some pets and love. The way he looked at me obliterated any resolve I had to not adopt. While he didn’t want to go on a walk it was clear he did want me to stay and spend time with him. I knew almost immediately that he was my dog. We wrapped up the adoption process about a month later, and we’ve been best buddies ever since.

How is Baxter doing in the home?

Baxter has truly come out of his shell since coming home with me. He initially had heartworms, which was a very long process to resolve. Luckily, he is very laid back, so I didn’t have to calm him down very often. Now that his treatment and recovery are over he is energetic and playful. He can be scared of the big wide world at times, but I am slowly working on getting him more comfortable in public.

What sort of activities do you do together?

We cuddle and watch movies, and go on runs and walks. He has amassed many fans on our walks through our neighborhood. It’s not every day people see a lab-basset hound mix! Baxter loves to play tug of war and keep away. He is also fond of car rides when it isn’t too hot, but, unfortunately, his short little legs make it difficult for him to position his head out the window.

How has Baxter enriched your lives so far? 

Baxter fills my life with joy daily. Every day before bed I spend 5-10 minutes fully dedicated to petting and scratching him. It is a nice moment that we share that has brought us closer together, to the point that I can truly say we are best friends. When I get home from work the stress of my day melts away as he greets me. His excitement brings me back to a childlike wonder and appreciation for the world. On our walks I get to spend quiet moments with him, something I think people don’t give themselves otherwise, at least I didn’t. Baxter makes me grateful. He makes me appreciate the world and its beauty. I feel he has broadened my horizons, and I don’t know what I’d do without him.

The year is winding down, and the season of giving is close at hand. Here are some meaningful and fun ways you can support the homeless animals of the VBSPCA in November.

Holiday Tribute Gifts
This holiday season, give a gift to animals in need. During the months of November and December, donate in honor of someone special and receive a greeting card insert that makes the perfect holiday gift. You can make your honorary donation here https://vbspca.com/honors-and-memorials/.

Kids Night In – Friday, November 15th
Young animal lovers are invited to join us on November 15th from 6-9 p.m. for Kids Night In. Children ages 6-11 can experience an educational evening including crafts, games, dinner, and the opportunity to meet some of our adoptable animals. You can sign up for this event here https://vbspca.com/kids-night-in/. 

Giving Tuesday – December 3rd
Support the VBSPCA on the biggest fundraising event of the year! Giving Tuesday takes place on December 3rd. Our goal is to raise $20,000 on this international day of giving. Your donations make second chances possible for homeless animals. You can make a donation by either going to the VBSPCA Facebook page, Instagram page, heading over to our website www.vbspca.com, or stopping by our shelter.

Pint for Pups at Commonwealth Brewing Company – November 2nd
Head out to Commonwealth Brewing Company on November 2nd from 12-6 p.m. for their Pints for Pups fundraising event supporting the VBSPCA. They will have a dog friendly photo booth and local vendors set up throughout the venue. You will also get a chance to meet some of our adoptable animals. 

Mechanical Service Company Holiday Fundraiser
Mechanical Service Company is holding a holiday fundraiser to support the animals of the VBSPCA from October 9th until December 9th. Customers are encouraged to drop off items from our Wish List.

All Year Long – Sustainable Support

The Adventures of Lucky and Bud
Share a sweet story of compassion for animals and support the Virginia Beach SPCA! Author Frank Pengitore of the children’s book The Adventures of Lucky and Bud will donate a portion of sales along with a copy of this book for the VBSPCA’s Humane Education program library.

JustGiving
The Virginia Beach SPCA is teaming up with JustGiving to support peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives. Click here to setup a fundraiser for the VBSPCA today. Have questions about the platform? Send an email to donations@vbspca.com.

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.

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.

Jennifer Brickhouse Realtor
Realtor Jennifer Brickhouse of the Real Estate Group is turning housewarmings into homecomings. She is sponsoring the adoption fee of one adoptable animal at the VBSPCA for each house sold. Click here to learn more.

Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads
Pizza tastes better when it is for a great cause! Use promo code VBSPCA whenever you order from any of Papa John’s 27 locations in Hampton Roads and 20 percent of net sales are donated back to us. Combine this with promo VBSPCA5 to receive five percent off any order of $25 or more. 

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.

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.

After a month of voting, the Pet Personality Photo Contest has come to an end, and the real winners are the homeless animals of the VBSPCA. With the support of our community, we managed to raise nearly $5,000 all while celebrating the personality-filled four-legged friends who make each day better.

Our winner in runaway fashion was Pandie – an eight year old Australian Cattle Dog mix who was adopted from the VBSPCA in July. Morty and Coco, who are also VBSPCA alumni dogs, finished in second and third, respectively.

Congratulations to Pandie and to all the animals who participated and thanks to all who supported our Pet Personality Photo Contest!

There’s good news for old dogs this summer as The Grey Muzzle Organization announces the recipients of its annual grants, and dogs at the Virginia Beach SPCA are among the winners.

The VBSPCA is one of 100 animal welfare groups chosen from nearly 400 applicants to receive a grant to help local senior dogs and the people who love them. The winning groups are sharing more than $1 million in grants to help save and improve the lives of at-risk old dogs in their communities.

“This grant will help us give senior dogs like 11-year-old Bella the veterinary and dental care she needs, so she’ll be ready to go to her forever home,” said Derby Brackett, CEO of the Virginia Beach SPCA. “No one is more grateful or loving than an old dog, and we’re looking forward to helping more senior dogs get the second chance they all deserve.”

Over the past 16 years, the national nonprofit Grey Muzzle Organization has provided more than $5.7 million in grants to support its vision of “a world where every senior dog thrives, and no old dog dies alone and afraid.” 

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re delighted to help deserving organizations like the Virginia Beach SPCA make a positive difference in the lives of dogs and people in their communities,” Grey Muzzle’s Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer said. “Many senior dogs in Hampton Roads are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the lifesaving work of the VBSPCA.” 

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. Tama’s tale is a familiar one. A young dog with boundless energy, he had been adopted and returned twice and spent far too many months in the shelter. Despite his backstory and a less-than-stellar first introduction, Tama’s sweet face captured Wendy’s heart – beginning a companionship that has lasted more than a decade.

We recently caught up with Wendy and Tama to see how this blue-ribbon senior continues to amaze.

When did you adopt Tama?

We adopted Tama on February 17, 2013. I remember the date because it is also my husband’s birthday.

How did you know Tama was the one for you?

We actually met Tama a few months before we adopted him. My daughter and I saw him during a visit to the kennel. He was wild and was bouncing off his kennel walls. He made an impression for sure. 

Then one day the shelter changed their profile picture to one of the sweetest faces I had ever seen. Turns out it was that wild dog we had seen so many months before. So my daughter and I made the trip back to meet him for real. He had been there for almost a year at that time and had been adopted and returned twice already. In the meeting room, he nipped at us, tore my daughter’s shirt, and pulled the laces out of her friend’s shoes, but his eyes told a different story. 

So, against common sense, we decided to bring him home. He had so many issues and was young, strong, and full of energy and just didn’t know what to do with it all. He destroyed furniture, dug under the fence and ran off repeatedly, ate eight remotes, and just generally wreaked havoc. It took many years and lots of training, but he is now an amazing member of the family.  

How is Tama doing in the home?

Tama is incredible and loved by everyone who meets him. He still has a huge personality. We always say “Tama does what Tama wants when Tama wants to do it.” We go for walks every day, and he loves to go on trips to parks, stores, and anywhere he can go.

What sort of activities do you do together?

Tama and I have done agility, scent work, and even some therapy dog training together. Right now, our main activity is scent work, and he has achieved his novice titles from both the American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club and is working towards his advanced titles now.  He also has several trick dog titles through the AKC and Do More With Your Dog! 

Our sports journey started at the Zoom Room, and he was their agility league champion twice and on the podium several times as well.  

Does Tama have any funny quirks?

His favorite thing in the whole world is dressing up. He loves wearing bandanas and will bring them to us to put back on if they fall off. Every Halloween he and I dress up to hand out candy, as he loves kids as well. He has also won prizes for his costumes at the yearly Zoom Room Halloween party. In fact, one year he dressed as a trainer, and I was his dog. That picture was used by Zoom Room as their “now hiring” photo for years. He always seems excited when I pull out costumes for him. It makes me smile every time. 

How has Tama enriched your lives so far?

Tama cemented his place in our home when he twice chased off potential burglars from our house.  One was during the day, and Tama went through a screen to chase him out of our yard. Then he dug out of the yard to try and play with the police K9 after they apprehended the suspect.  He is our protector for sure. Always on duty.

From where he came from to where he is now has been a long, difficult journey. I wouldn’t change a minute of our time together, and I hope we have many years more. At 12 years old, he is still very spry and always ready for some fun, though napping is his favorite pastime these days as well.

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. Max’s skin was in rough shape when he returned to the shelter in April 2023. His previous adopter had encountered a medical hardship and could no longer care for Max and his severe allergies. As a result, Max was nearly hairless, and his skin was painfully inflamed.

The VBSPCA clinic and kennel teams worked diligently to get Max’s allergies back under control. Slowly but surely his skin improved, and Max’s beautiful black coat began growing back. All the while, Max received weekly visits from Patty, one of our dedicated volunteers. Patty had adopted a puggle mix with similar skin issues named Bronsen from the VBSPCA in 2022. Max won over Patty and her husband Jon with his endless charm, and the couple added him to their family in August. We recently caught up with Patty and Jon to hear how a fully-healed Max is loving every minute in his forever home.

How did you know Max was the one for you?

I walk dogs at the shelter on Sundays, and Max had been there for a while. He had lost most of his hair. His skin was very flakey, and he was very itchy. I felt sorry for him, and I knew that we had helped Bronsen get his hair back with another medicine that was kind of expensive but so worth it. 

I took my husband to meet Max, and that was it. Max came over and nuzzled my husband’s hand right away, and my husband was sold.

How is Max doing in the home?

He is such a gentleman. He has his places where he likes to lie down. Every once in a while he will take Bronsen’s favorite spots, but both dogs are pretty easygoing. One time we had to board both dogs, and when we brought them home Max ran from room to room just checking to make sure everything was still there. I swear that he was smiling the biggest smile.

What sort of activities do you do together?

Max loves to grab a stuffed toy and run around the house and let us chase him. His favorite toy is a duck or a small KONG teddy bear. Max and Bronsen get walked like four times a day, and Max’s favorite part of the walk is seeing squirrels. He’ll just stand and stare at them and sometimes act like he is going to run after them. He is mesmerized by squirrels. People stop and ask us what he is looking at – just squirrels.

Does Max have any funny quirks?

He dances when I bring his meals to him. It is the cutest thing. He runs around the table and just taps his feet on the floor. I love it! He is also the perfect gentleman when it comes to treats. He will shake your hand for a treat, and he is ambidextrous.

How has Max enriched your lives so far?

It is such a great gift to have a companion to share your love with. Max makes that really easy. You can always tell when you enter the room and Max is there because he starts thumping his tail. What a gift!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Max has very distinguishing ears. They are exactly 12 inches from one tip to the other. We call him our own little Yoda.