Dogs can make great running buddies, and there are several benefits to logging your miles together. It’s a great way to bond with your canine companion, and they will enjoy getting some exercise outside. Running can also ward off obesity and heart disease in your pet as well as help boost their confidence, which is vital to their mental health. But before you grab your pup’s leash and head out the door, you should think through the health and safety issues that could arise.

It is important to note that not every dog is a suitable running buddy. In fact, running can be dangerous for some breeds. This is especially true for brachycephalic breeds, or flat-faced breeds, such as Pugs, Boxers, Shih-Tzus, and Bulldogs. Their short snouts can cause breathing difficulties and make them more likely to overheat. No matter the breed, your pet’s individual health should be considered before you start running together, so it is best to talk with your veterinarian.

Start Slow
When it comes to mileage, start slow. Just like humans, dogs need to gradually work up to running longer distances. You can begin by introducing short intervals of running during your usual walks. It is also a good idea to train your pet to run on one side of you. That will prevent them from darting back and forth, which could trip you up and cause injury to one or both of you.

Consider the Conditions
Humans have running shoes and clothing to keep them comfortable in a variety of conditions, but dogs do not. Running in heat could not only cause your pet to overheat, but they could burn their paws on hot pavement or sand. Additionally, long distances on hard surfaces could be tough on their paws no matter the weather.

Get the Right Gear
Make sure you have an appropriate harness and leash for your pup. Using a harness instead of a collar will prevent your pet’s neck from being yanked if they get excited and try to run ahead. While you can use a regular leash while running, there are also short leashes that connect to a belt that you wear.

Put Your Pup First
While your fitness goals are important, you must always put your pup first if you are running together. If your dog needs to stop to rest or is unable to keep up with you either in distance or pace, do not force them to keep going. You can always run a short distance with your dog, then drop them off at your house before finishing your scheduled miles for the day. It is also important to make sure they are hydrated, especially in the summer months.

Running with your dog is a great way to further build your connection, but not every pup winds up being a great running buddy. It is important to remember that all pets need exercise, so be sure to find the appropriate activity level for your dog so that they are happy and healthy.

Every year, millions of unwanted animals show up in animal shelters across the United States. According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.3 million animals end up in shelters each year, many of them the result of unplanned litters. Spaying and neutering your pets is critical to combatting this problem, but these common surgical procedures also benefit your furry friend as well!

Let’s start with the basics: spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female dog or cat while neutering is the removal of testicles from males. Both surgeries are extremely safe and more cost effective than caring for an unexpected litter of puppies or kittens. In fact, the Virginia Beach SPCA offers low-cost spay and neuter services in our effort to reduce the number of unwanted pets in our community who would likely end up in shelters like ours. Additionally, all of our canines and felines are altered before they are adopted.

Many people don’t realize just how important spaying and neutering really is, but the numbers don’t lie. According to PETA:

• 1 female cat and her offspring can produce 370,000 kittens in just 7 years
• 1 female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in just 6 years

That’s hundreds of thousands of animals who could end up as strays or turn up in shelters!

While spaying or neutering your pet helps the community by preventing the births of unwanted animals, it also provides some benefits to you and your pet.

Health Benefits
Females: Spaying prevents uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Spaying offers the best protection from these issues when completed before a female’s first heat.

Males: Neutering prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.

Other Benefits
Females: Spayed females will not go into heat. While female cats do not typically bleed while in heat, female dogs do. However, felines in heat tend to yowl and urinate more frequently, sometimes outside of their litter boxes.

Males: Neutered males are much less likely to run away from home. Because of changes in their hormone levels, they aren’t motivated to run off in search of a mate. Neutering has also been shown to reduce behavioral issues like territorial marking and aggression.

With your help, we can reduce the number of unwanted animals in our community and beyond. For information on the Virginia Beach SPCA’s low-cost spay and neuter services, click here.

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. Emmie and her two sisters were found abandoned as young kittens in November 2021. The trio was placed into a VBSPCA foster home until they were strong enough for the adoption process. Once Emmie was back at the shelter, it didn’t take long for her to catch the eye of Sharalee and her family. We recently caught up with Sharalee to get an update on Emmie.

When did you adopt Emmie?

We adopted Emmie on Saturday, December 4th, 2021. Our daughter Lily, 13, had been asking for a kitten for years. We waited until we knew she would be able to care for her in the way a cat needed. The tears in our daughter’s eyes when we pulled into the VBSPCA Shelter’s parking lot is a moment we will always remember.

How did you know Emmie was the one for you?

We knew right away we wanted to meet Emmie. Her Siamese coloring was just too beautiful to ignore. There was another couple in the room with her, and we had no way of knowing if they would select her. We played with several other kittens and fell in love with all of them. However, once we started playing with Emmie and my daughter held her, we knew she was the one.

How is Emmie doing in the home?

Emmie is doing wonderfully. She is snuggly and talkative, meowing the second she sees someone. She stretches out her paws from her cat tree and begs to be picked up. She always wants a snuggle.

What sort of activities do you and Emmie do together?

We play with her with toys or on her cat tree. She likes looking in mirrors. We also got her a harness to take her on walks, though she’s not quite used to that yet. The first couple of times we put on the harness, she just flopped right over. We are taking it slowly introducing her outside. She is excited to see everything but gets overwhelmed.

Does Emmie have any funny quirks?

Emmie does this little trilling noise when she runs and plays. It’s not a purr or meow. It’s like a rolling squeak. She will hide under the bed and then leap at your arm and roll over onto her back clutching your arm before she darts off again to prowl after her next victim.

How has Emmie enriched your lives so far?

I’ll be honest and say that we weren’t expecting the whole family to fall in love with Emmie. She was my daughter’s and still primarily stays with her. However, it has brought our family together as we fight over who gets to play with her or snuggle with her next. She is certainly loved!

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

There are so many animals that need love and a home. We never considered a breeder. My husband and I visited the shelter prior to bringing our daughter in and there were so many precious animal babies needing homes. We knew immediately that our daughter would have no problem finding her forever little best friend.

I am so grateful for the VBSPCA caring for not just our sweet Emmie before we welcomed her home, but all the animals that have entered their doors, whether they had a short or long stay.

It was 15 years ago that Dr. Towana Hunter first got involved with the Virginia Beach SPCA. While working with Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, she brought students to volunteer at our shelter once a week. “It was such a great opportunity for them,” says Dr. Hunter. “I love what the program has grown into.”

Fast forward to now, as Dr. Hunter is finishing her first year of service as a member of the VBSPCA Board of Directors. She began her career as a mental health technician before taking a role as a school counselor and department chair for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools. In 2020, she earned her doctorate in educational leadership and is transitioning into an instructional specialist this month.

Dr. Hunter lends her education expertise to influence the VBSPCA’s humane education program, which instills values of kindness and respect in children. “I’m most passionate about creating responsible humans,” says Dr. Hunter. “As a community, we depend on each other to do what is right when it comes to pets and animals. That includes vaccines, spay/neuter services, and overall commitment to providing the best care for your pet.”

Much like her initial involvement with the VBSPCA, Dr. Hunter encourages others to volunteer. “Another way to get involved would be fostering an animal, or sponsoring a fundraiser.” she adds.

Board members like Dr. Hunter are crucial to furthering the VBSPCA mission of eliminating animal suffering. We are thankful for everything she does to help our animals!

If you are interested in serving on the Virginia Beach SPCA Board of Directors, please email derby.brackett@vbspca.com for more information.

All dogs and cats need regular grooming to stay happy and healthy. Proper grooming includes keeping your pet’s eyes, ears, skin, nails, teeth, and fur clean. While all pets benefit from regular grooming, pets with long hair need a little extra attention to prevent their fur from getting tangled or matted.

Brushing your pet’s hair regularly does more than keep their hair tangle-free. It also removes dirt, spreads natural oils through their coat, and helps keep their skin clean. Brushing your pet’s hair is also the perfect time to make sure there are no fleas or ticks on your pet. Even dogs and cats who shed should be brushed 1-2 times per week.

Short-Haired Dogs
Dogs who have short hair and shed should be brushed once a week. Regular brushing can even help prevent the frustration of finding loose hair all over your home. Some dogs shed year-round while others shed seasonally in the spring and fall. If your canine companion is in a heavy shedding period, you should brush them more frequently than once a week.

In addition to brushing, your dog should be bathed at least once every three months. Consider bathing more frequently if your dog spends a lot of time outside or has skin issues.

Long-Haired Dogs
Dogs with long hair will need to be brushed daily to remove tangles and prevent matting. If you come across a tangle, gently brush it out. For tougher tangles and matts, carefully clip the hair instead, but be sure not to cut the skin.

Dogs with long, silky coats will also need to visit a professional groomer to have their hair trimmed approximately every 4-6 weeks. These breeds include Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzus, Poodles, and Maltese. In addition to a haircut, your pet’s groomer will also bathe them and trim their nails. It should be noted that dogs who have long hair and a double coat should never be shaved down including breeds such as Huskies, Golden Retrievers, and Pomeranians.

Short-Haired Cats
If your cat has short hair, you should comb their hair 1-2 times per week. Removing dead or loose hair through brushing will help prevent your cat from having hairball issues. Cats are mainly self-bathers: they use their tongue and teeth to bathe themselves. However, if your feline friend is overly dirty or gets into something sticky or smelly, you may need to give them a bath.

Long-Haired Cats
Cats with long hair will need to be brushed every few days to keep their long locks tangle-free. If you come across a knot, you can put a little talcum powder on the knot and use your fingers to tease it out. Just like short-haired cats, our long-haired friends are great about bathing themselves. However, if your cat is matted you may need to visit a professional groomer.

Professional Grooming Services
As mentioned above, keeping your pet properly groomed includes not only brushing their fur, but also trimming their nails, bathing them, and keeping their eyes, ears, and teeth clean. You may choose to purchase all of the necessary equipment and learn how to do these things on your own, but you should also enlist the help of a professional groomer when needed.

When to Groom at Home:
– You have the proper tools and supplies
– You feel comfortable using cutting shears, nail clippers, etc.
– Your pet is calm and cooperative

When to Contact a Professional:
– You don’t feel confident grooming your pet
– You do not or cannot invest in quality grooming equipment
– Your pet is uncooperative

Grooming your pet can be a difficult process at first, but with time and patience, it can become a great bonding experience.

Need help finding a professional groomer? Check out our list of recommended groomers here.

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. Kenzo was part of an unplanned litter of five puppies that was surrendered to the VBSPCA in February 2021. The long coat Chihuahua mixes went into a foster home until they were ready for adoption. When Amaya came in to meet the pups in March, Kenzo stood out from the rest of his siblings since he was the only boy and had golden hair. We recently caught up with Amaya to get an update on Kenzo.

How is Kenzo doing in the home?

Kenzo took no time at all to adjust when I initially adopted him. Now we’re practically in sync, and I can easily navigate his emotions and needs/wants. He’s happy, healthy, and has no problem letting me know when he isn’t.

What sort of activities do you and Kenzo do together?

Kenzo and I love to cuddle! Any time I’m taking a nap, he’s right by my side. We also frequent trips to grandma’s house so he can get all of those no-no snacks he can’t get at home and he pays her in kisses (Grandmas! Am I right?). Other than being PetSmart junkies, we spend most of our time playing tug-of-war or fetch, or simply lounging around.

Does Kenzo have any funny quirks?

Kenzo likes to do this weird thing where anytime we’re playing fetch and I have the toy in my hand ready to throw it, he’ll jump up to grab it with no regard for landing. He doesn’t seem to account for what will happen once it’s time to come out of the air and simply throws his body. He completely disregards the need for a landing pose, clear ground, and just looks like a fish out of water. I’m assuming it’s pure dedication, and he’s just willing to compromise his body to achieve the goal of getting the toy from my hand. I aspire to be as dedicated to my goals! (Minus the sacrificing of my limbs…)

How has Kenzo enriched your lives so far?

I find myself constantly expressing my appreciation for being Kenzo’s mom. He is supportive, kind, and understands me so well. Before adopting him, I never truly understood the depths of relationships with pets. I now know it is one of the most rewarding experiences anyone could have. We have such a long road ahead of us, but this small amount of time we’ve already spent together is enough to fill my heart for a lifetime.

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

I’m a first-time adopter, and like many others I had concerns with adopting. The first would be not being able to find a breed that would suit my lifestyle. The second was finding a dog that would have trouble adjusting since I’m not equipped with enough knowledge. Both of my concerns were easily dismissed when I found Kenzo. I’d tell anyone who is interested in adopting that it’s a journey that requires patience, but the perfect pet is out there! You just have to find each other.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Adopting was extremely cost efficient and educational. When I adopted Kenzo, I was given all of his necessary medications, some food, and plenty of helpful resources to answer any questions I had. The VBSPCA also had an affordable clinic, which was a huge win! I was able to afford adoption, shots, meds, and new pet supplies, which still totaled to half of what it’d cost me to purchase a dog elsewhere. I was taught signs to look for when integrating him with other dogs and new people. The VBSPCA also gave me helpful advice on feeding, potty training, and crate training! I look forward to adopting again in the future.

It is hard to believe that 2022 is here. 2021 was one heck of a year…one on the tails of the tumultuous year that was 2020. As I sit here with my mask still in place, there has been a pervasive feeling of deja vu – the deja vu of continued pandemic challenges, but also the deja vu of perseverance and optimism. We have continued to serve our mission at the highest level – even with the current day challenges. In 2021, we were even stronger than we were in 2020, and the diligence of our collective and collaborative efforts shows in our service to the 2,304 adopted animals in our shelter and over 12,000 appointments in our clinic. My team’s hard work is evident in our ability to continue to deliver humane education to over 2,500 children despite the cancellation of our in-person programs. Our collaboration is evident in our involvement with 206 adult volunteers, our team of 192 foster families, and our ability to provide second chances to the 1,113 transfer animals who found hope at the VBSPCA. Animal welfare is an exhausting field with never-ending need for care, but those of us that choose this work wouldn’t change our path for anything. Because we matter.

We matter because the animals matter. The community needs our resources to help complete their families with deserving pets. The community needs our help to manage the relationships with their pets and to provide necessary medical care for their pets. The link that we have with pet owners begins with adoption or the first clinic appointment, yet our support extends far beyond that and through the lifetime of the animal as needed. We are here every day working together – because you matter.

You matter as you are the connection in the community for the animals in our care. Adopter, clinic client, donor, shelter or rescue partner, volunteer… you all come together to build the network of solutions that serve to deliver our mission of ending animal homelessness. You matter because the challenges of today’s world can seem endless and holding the lives of our animals dear becomes even more important. With the support of our community, we have been able to continue in our mission of compassion and creating the precious animal-human bonds that lift our spirits, bringing us true joy and unconditional love.

As we embark on the year ahead, we walk in step with our mission and vision. And we take you with us as a member of our extended family of care. Looking into the endless depths of a hound’s eyes or listening to the subtle purr of a cuddling kitten tells us all what we already know. We matter. They matter. You matter. The hard work we do together will always matter.

Thanks for being here for me, my staff, and most of all, the animals. I look forward to a brighter year ahead, a year that will be fueled by perseverance, patience, and – as always – compassion.

Cheers to being in continued service to the animals of our community.

Fondly,
Derby

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. Cali arrived at the VBSPCA in August of 2019 as a young puppy. She wasn’t in our care for very long. Delynda had been wanting to adopt a puppy, and the moment she laid eyes on Cali, she knew the little Golden Retriever mix was “the one”. We recently caught up with Delynda to get an update on Cali.

How’s Cali doing in the home?

Cali instantly took to our home and her big brother Lewie (a Llewelyn Setter). Even though she is smaller than Lewie, she rules the roost. She is perfectly happy when we crate her but we are now, as she is a little more than two years old, able to leave her out during the day with Lewie when we are gone for short periods. Cali is extremely smart and does well with training. She is extremely food motivated.

We have met some challenges that have given us the opportunity to love on Cali and pour more affection into her. She tends to be very fearful and somewhat anxious when meeting new people. It feels great to continue building her confidence as we watch her become more trusting of us and the new situations we experience.

What sort of activities do you and Cali do together?

Cali loves to go for walks and can’t get enough of the car. Almost every evening my husband and I take the dogs out on our dock to watch the sunset on North Landing River at Munden Point. We have a gate on the end of the dock so we can unleash the dogs and let them explore safely. They enjoy watching the birds, the jumping fish, and the boats going by.

Does Cali have any funny quirks?

There’s one I call the “Cali Flip.” If she trusts a person and they pet her, she instantly melts and flips on her back without even trying. She absolutely adores belly rubs! She also knows when it is getting close to feeding time; she silently and suddenly appears, all the while attempting to look adorable, which she has no problem doing as she always makes her adorable Cali face.

How has Cali enriched your life so far?

Cali is such a bright light in our lives. It makes me so proud that she trusted me enough to bring her into our home. She keeps us giggling every day. She is pure joy!

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

People should realize that pets do not end up in a shelter on their own will. It is important to acknowledge that a pet’s past life and home situation may certainly have a bearing on their demeanor. Animals deserve a second chance at a solid family life. Animals who are given care and affection will often flourish in the right loving environment.

As a proud pet parent of two rescue dogs, Amy Mallet is a passionate advocate for animal adoption. She joined the Virginia Beach SPCA Board of Directors two years ago because of her experience with her own pets. “By serving on the VBSPCA Board of Directors, I have been able to share that joy of pet adoption with others and garner more support for animals looking for forever homes,” said Mallet.

With more than 20 years of experience in marketing and communications, Mallet lends her expertise to the VBSPCA and other organizations. She is currently the manager of the Virginia Natural Gas Corporate Communications team and serves as the chair of the Virginia Natural Gas EverGreen team, a group dedicated to supporting the company’s environment and sustainability efforts. Mallet also volunteers her time to the Bay Beagle Rescue, Salvation Army, and United Way. She lives in Virginia Beach with her two Beagles, Cooper and Wilson.

Mallet says she was drawn to volunteer with the VBSPCA because of its mission to provide compassion for animals in need. “I am a passionate champion for the welfare of our animals,” said Mallet. “The VBSPCA exemplifies its dedication to being true community partners by teaching individuals to be more humane and responsible in the treatment of animals.”

Educating the community about the variety of services offered at the VBSPCA is a priority for Mallet. She hopes to inspire others to support the animals in any way they can. “The VBSPCA provides opportunities for people of all ages to touch the lives of animals who need a warm home and lots of love,” said Mallet. “Individuals can volunteer to take a dog for a walk, read to animals, donate supplies, foster a pet, participate in a fundraising event, or give monetary donations, just to name a few.” 

Dedicated individuals like Mallet ensure the VBSPCA can continue working towards its mission of eliminating animal suffering. We are grateful for everything she does to help our animals! 

If you are interested in serving on the Virginia Beach SPCA Board of Directors, please email Emily.Peck@vbspca.com for more information.