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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Lucy was surrendered to the VBSPCA in August 2023 when a member of her previous family developed allergies. A shy cat who valued her space, Lucy struggled adjusting to life in a shelter. As the months went by, Lucy received very little interest from potential adopters.

Unbeknownst to Lucy, she had a secret admirer named Emily. She had been searching local shelters for adoptable cats in advance of her move to the area. Emily finally completed her move to Virginia Beach, and Lucy was adopted in January 2024 – ending a five-month stay at the VBSPCA. We recently caught up with Emily to hear about Lucy’s transformation at home.

How did you find Lucy?

I spent months looking at adoptable cats on the VBSPCA’s website prior to moving to Virginia. I saw so many cats get adopted and removed from the page, but Lucy stayed up there. I knew once I got to Virginia, if she was still in the shelter, she was coming home with me. Five months later, I had finally moved and visited the shelter. She was very shy and protective of her space, but I knew as soon as I saw her I could give her a quiet place to be herself and have all the love she deserved! 

How is Lucy doing in the home?

Lucy adjusted so well and so quickly! To my pleasant surprise, she has gone from being very shy to being attached to my hip. She’s extremely talkative and loves to curl up next to me for head scratches.

What sort of activities do you do together?

Lucy and I love watching birds and squirrels run around. She enjoys playing with toys that have feathers or are on strings. Lucy also likes to spend her days guarding the house for us by growling at neighbors as they come and go past the windows.

Does Lucy have any funny quirks?

Lucy enjoys waking me up well before my alarm every day by staring me down and gently pawing my face. The second I show signs of being awake, she will loudly run laps through the house to ensure I stay awake and go feed her.  

Lucy will sit in my window waiting for me to get home everyday. The second she sees me, she runs to the front door to greet me and tell me all about her day. I also give her a treat when I get home. If I take too long, she will bring me the package and run to her treat pad to wait for it.

How has Lucy enriched your life so far?

Lucy ensures I never sleep through an alarm, reminds me to stop and enjoy the nature around us, and has brought so much love into my home. She truly is my perfect companion.

I will be forever grateful to the VBSPCA staff for showing Lucy love and kindness as she awaited her forever home. Adopting Lucy was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The staff made the process extremely easy and ensured I was prepared to care for her.

Christine Gustafson believes each person has a duty to be the voice for animals in need. The Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations at The Breeden Company, Gustafson is amplifying her voice through service on the VBSPCA Board of Directors.

“The VBSPCA offers a plethora of community resources and programs,” Gustafson said. “As a Board Member, I am honored to serve as a voice of the organization.”

Gustafson oversees the marketing and corporate communications for The Breeden Company, a nationally-recognized real estate development firm based in Virginia Beach. The Breeden Company is the VBSPCA’s 2024 Miracle Medical Spay/Neuter Annual Partner, and company founder Ramon W. Breeden Jr. and his wife Lucy are major supporters of animal welfare – one of the many reasons Gustafson loves working for the company.

“I am fortunate to be a part of an organization that believes one of the pillars of community stewardship is focused on animal welfare,” Gustafson said.

Gustafson hopes to use her position on the board to spread awareness of adoption and the various ways the community can support the VBSPCA.

“I am a tried-and-true proponent of adoption,” Gustafson said. “Financial gifts and acts of service in support of organizations like the VBSPCA are never wasted. No matter what it is, it benefits the animals who need us.”

We are happy to welcome Gustafson 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.