Happy Tails | Boomhauer
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. Boomhauer and his siblings were rescued by a partner shelter and transferred to the VBSPCA for their chance at finding forever families, but after less than a month in a home, Boomhauer was returned to the shelter. Returned puppies often face long waits for their second chance, but Boomhauer had luck – and a very spiffy collar – on his side. His looks caught the eyes of Samantha and Brandon, and it was love at first sight.
With the first anniversary of his Gotcha Day approaching, we caught up with Samantha, Brandon, and Boomhauer to see how this handsome hound is doing.
How did you know Boomhauer was the one for you?
I was checking the VBSPCA website before the start of an Old Dominion University football game. I stumbled upon Boomhauer and was immediately drawn to his charming face and his black and white plaid bow tie collar. The next day we were waiting for the doors to open so we could meet him. As soon as we saw his gentle nature, we knew he was the goodest boy.
How is Boomhauer doing in the home?
Boomhauer is doing excellent! Early on he had a little struggle adjusting to crate training and was a little skittish of loud noises. Now he is an amazingly well behaved and confident boy who loves to play and do tricks. He only occasionally counter surfs, but only if the food smells really yummy.
What sort of activities do you do together?
Boomhauer loves camping with his family, going on long walks, and playing lots of tug-o-war with his dad. He is also a skilled squeaky toy hunter. He enjoys playing with his four-legged neighbors too. Boomhauer loves running and jumping any chance he gets.
Does Boomhauer have any funny quirks?
Boomhauer has lots to say and is not afraid to tell you. He enjoys climbing on things like a cat or mountain goat. He is also very routine oriented. For example, walks must be at the same time every day or he is not happy.
How has Boomhauer enriched your lives so far?
We are so thankful to have Boom as a part of our lives. He can be stubborn, but we love him with our whole hearts just as he loves us. Boomhauer has brought us closer together at home and helped us enjoy new experiences. Nothing beats watching him run in circles when we get home and early morning nose boops to remind us that we must wake up on time so he can eat. We also spend more time outside than before adopting him.
We were disheartened to hear he had been returned to the VBSPCA prior to our meeting him, but we are happy to say he was the perfect addition to our home. We wouldn’t trade cuddling with him for anything in this world.
Pet Personality Photo Contest Nets Nearly $5,000 for VBSPCA Animals
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!
Compassion in the Community | September 2024
The sweltering dog days of summer are officially behind us! Here’s how you can celebrate the final days of summer while supporting the animals of the Virginia Beach SPCA.
Pet Portrait Fundraiser – September 14th
Join the VBSPCA for a pet portrait fundraising event at Pups and Pints on Saturday, September 14th from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. Professional pet photographer Barb Hays of Windhound Photography will do 10-minute photo sessions, and each pet parent will receive two digital images of their furry friend. Sessions will cost $50, and all proceeds will be donated to the VBSPCA. Visit vbspca.com/pet-portraits/ for more information and to book your session.
Little Learners – TCC/Joint Use Library – September 20th
Join the VBSPCA for its newest humane education offering, Little Learners. Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us at the TCC/Joint Use Library on Friday, September 20th from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. to learn about kindness, compassion, and empathy through stories and activities. Participants will also meet a small animal. A donation of $5 is suggested to attend with all proceeds going back to our shelter. Click here to learn more and sign up.
Networking & Nine – September 20th
Enjoy nine holes of golf and help the animals of the VBSPCA with Inspire You Agency’s Networking & Nine event on Friday, September 20th at Virginia Beach National Golf Club. An open networking session begins at 1:15 p.m., and golfers tee off at 2 p.m. Money raised through mulligans and raffle tickets will be donated to the VBSPCA, and attendees can receive additional raffle tickets by bringing items from our Wish List. Click here to learn more and to sign up.
Yappy Hour – September 25th
The next VBSPCA Yappy Hour is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25th at Commonwealth Brewing Company from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The theme is Woof & Wag Olympic Games with plenty of games to compete in. A donation of $10 is suggested to attend with an additional suggested additional donation of $5 to participate in the activities. Visit vbspca.com/yappy-hour/ for more information.
Puttin’ for Paws Charity Golf Tournament – Purchase Your Pet Photo Sponsorship
Wish you could bring your pets with you to the 2024 Puttin’ for Paws Charity Golf Tournament? You can with a Pet Photo Sponsorship!
Your furry friend will greet you along the golf course, and you get to keep the sign as a souvenir. Best of all, you’ll feel great knowing your sponsorship provides extra support to the mission of the VBSPCA. Click here to purchase your Pet Photo Sponsorship.
All Year Long – Sustainable Support
JustGiving
The Virginia Beach SPCA is teaming up with JustGiving to support peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives. Click here to set up 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.
Senior Dogs of VBSPCA Benefit from $15,000 Grant
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.”
Happy Tails | Tama
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.
Happy Tails | Max
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.
VBSPCA Clinic Receives Major Renovation
The newly renovated Virginia Beach SPCA Clinic has officially reopened! The clinic was expanded thanks to a $1.1 million grant from PetSmart Charities in an effort to increase access to low-cost veterinary care. The new space features new surgical and dental suites; additional exam room and treatment areas; and separate check-in and check-out lobbies.
Construction broke ground in January and wrapped up mid-July. The VBSPCA Clinic was able to remain open during the renovation as staff members made adjustments to accommodate both construction crews and the pets and people in need of services.
“The clinic staff has been dedicated to minimizing the renovation’s impact to our clients and the community as much as possible,” said Kindra Haymaker, VBSPCA Director of Clinic Operations. “To do this, they have had to be creative, flexible, quick-thinking, and work even harder to be sure that construction doesn’t impact our patient and client care. I am extremely proud of our wonderful team.”
The larger and updated VBSPCA Clinic will expand urgent care services, case management of long-term health issues, and everyday wellness and illness visits – all critical components to keeping pets happy, healthy, and in homes, where they belong.
Happy Tails | Zelda
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. Zelda arrived at the shelter last April when her previous owner had to move. Senior cats like Zelda often face extended stays at shelters, but her adoring and vocal nature soon caught the attention of repeat VBSPCA adopters.
Today, Zelda is thriving in the home along with her canine and feline siblings. We recently caught up with Cayley to see how Zelda has added even more love to her home.
How did you know Zelda was the one for you?
We were just looking around the shelter and came across her. She looked right at us, snuggled us, and immediately started purring. We spent like an hour just petting her, and she was just so loving and trusting that I knew she would fit right in.
How is Zelda doing in the home?
Zelda is doing great! She loves grooming and cuddling all our animals and us. Whenever we wake up, she’s laying on us or meowing at us to get up. She loves sunbathing at our window in her bed from the shelter. When we have company she always greets them with some loud meows then gets on their lap and demands pets. She has just bloomed and always wants to play and have zoomies.
What sort of activities do you do together?
Whenever I’m lying down or sitting on the couch she always likes to lie on me and get face rubs and belly rubs. Her favorite toy is the laser pointer, which is what we mostly used to get her active to help her lose some weight.
Does Zelda have any funny quirks?
Zelda is a very, very vocal cat. She will let you know when she wants attention. It’s mostly when we wake up. Every morning she climbs on the bed – if she’s not already cuddling me – and meows at us until we finally wake up.
Whenever we stop petting her, she will rub her face on my hand until I start petting her again. Her loud purrs are just irresistible!
How has Zelda enriched your lives so far?
Zelda has helped me in many ways. She calms me, she is the best alarm clock I could ask for, and she lays on my chest and helps me fall asleep. Her connection with our other animals just shows how much love she has to bring into our home. People always want to come over to say hi and give her love.
Her meows light up my world, and my phone has thousands of pictures of her cuddles and funny memories that I cherish everyday.
Meet VBSPCA Board Member Dr. Leigh Hofmeister
A veterinarian with over a decade of experience practicing in Virginia Beach, Dr. Leigh Hofmeister has always been passionate about animal welfare. She now aims to spread that passion throughout the community by serving on the VBSPCA Board of Directors.
“I love the VBSPCA’s mission to find a loving and lasting home for animals,” Dr. Hofmeister said. “The Humane Education program is important to me as educating the public about animal welfare is one of my passions. I believe the earlier we are able to do this, the more change we will see.”
By the age of four, Dr. Hofmeister knew she would be a veterinarian, just like her uncle. She studied animal science at Clemson University and continued on to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In January 2023 she opened her own practice, Coastal Vet.
Dr. Hofmeister has supported the VBSPCA in the past by attending events and helping both friends and clients adopt animals from the shelter. She believes everyone can contribute to the organization in their own way.
“The VBSPCA has many opportunities for every community member; whether it is volunteering, donating, or adopting an animal,” she said. “I love that there is something for everyone.”
We are happy to welcome Dr. Hofmeister to the VBSPCA Board of Directors. It takes involvement from caring people in our community to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals!
If you are interested in serving on the Virginia Beach SPCA Board of Directors, please email derby.brackett@vbspca.com for more information.
Annual Partners
Posted: September 30, 2024 by vbspcaadmin
Compassion in the Community | October 2024
Spooky season is in full swing! Here’s how you can treat the animals of the Virginia Beach SPCA in October.
Subaru Loves Pets – All Month Long
October is Subaru Loves Pets Month, and the VBSPCA is partnering with RK Subaru to find loving homes for local pets in need. As part of the promotion, we will be at the RK Subaru dealership with adoptable dogs on Saturday, October 12th from 12-2 p.m.
Little Learners – TCC/Joint Use Library – October 18th
Join the VBSPCA for its newest humane education offering, Little Learners. Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us at the TCC/Joint Use Library on Friday, October 18th from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. to learn about kindness, compassion, and empathy through stories and activities. Participants will also meet a small animal. A donation of $5 is suggested to attend with all proceeds going back to our shelter. Click here to learn more and sign up.
Join the Virginia Beach SPCA for the fourth annual Howl-0-Ween Pub Crawl and Pet Costume Contest! The fun takes place Saturday, October 26th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. We will be crawling to local pubs around the 31st Street corridor at the Oceanfront, all in support of homeless animals. This is a dog friendly event, so bring your pup, plan your costumes, and get ready for a tail-wagging good time! Click here to learn more and purchase your tickets.
Halloween Tale for Two – October 28th
Young ghosts and ghouls with a love for reading are invited to a very special Halloween Tale for Two on Monday, October 28th from 4-5 p.m. complete with treats and animals in costume. Readers are invited to come in costume as well, but we ask that any masks be left at home as they can scare our animal residents. There is limited space for this special event, so click here to reserve your spot today!
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.