2007 Newsletter - Humane Society/SPCA of Nelson County

Board of Directors:
Please visit our website at www.nelsonspca.org
Fall/Winter 2014
Bette Grahame, Pres.
Gretchen Price, VP
Randall Phillips, Treas.
Fonda Bell
Astrid Brock
Tom Cabrera
Molly Crowell, Sec.
Sarah Landon Hughes
Sybil Martino
Jim MacDougall
Steve Schwartz
Tedi Wright
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Friends,
Another year is drawing to a close. Another year in which we can happily report that all non-aggressive animals that
came through the County’s Animal Control Facility have been saved. Some are still at Almost Home waiting for the right
person or family to take them home.
Many have found their forever homes through adoption at Almost Home, or by being taken to community adoption
events, or by being transported to other shelters and rescue groups that Almost Home partners with. Many of these animals came to us with conditions needing treatment, some life-threatening.
They received the needed treatment while in our care, through our “Help to Heal Fund,” or in some cases, after being
transported. People often seem concerned when we tell them we transfer animals out of state, so we’ve included photos
showing a sampling of animals adopted after being transferred. There are also some photos of animals adopted locally.
You can see lots more of these on our website: www.nelsonspca.org (under Adopted Animals).
What does it take to save roughly 1,000 animals a year? How is this possible for our Little Shelter That Can? Help
comes from a lot of different sources. Please turn the page to see where all the help is coming from and where you fit
in. But first, accept our SINCERE THANKS for the part you played in helping us to help the animals.
Gratefully,
THE HUMANE SOCIETY/SPCA
OF NELSON COUNTY
Bette Grahame
Bette Grahame, President
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Purchase of Next-Door Property Gives Almost Home Room to Grow
When the property adjoining the Almost Home Pet Adoption Center became available, the HS/SPCA quickly
realized it was the only opportunity
for long-term growth of our facility.
Steve Meeker, original owner of both
properties, encouraged the sellers to
give the HS/SPCA first priority. An
interest-free loan was obtained from
a supporter, and the sale was finalized in June. A generous supporter
donated $10,000 to match funds
contributed to the expansion project;
we have now paid off the loan, and
have set aside $20,000 as a building
fund for future expansion.
The new property is four acres with
an older house. While we have not
determined the eventual use of the
house, or even if we will replace it
with a new building, our immediate
plan is to develop trails through both
properties this winter. Trails will enable our dog walkers to spend safe
and fun time with the animals, without entering Stagebridge Road. Also
planned are quiet spots where an
older or anxious dog can spend some
time enjoying the outdoors. Volunteer help will be much needed to
develop and maintain the trails. Let
us know if you can help.
Over the next several years, we will
be researching our needs and deciding the best use for the house or a
new building. Some possibilities are
a separate cat building; areas for
puppy housing; quiet space to house
dogs receiving 30 day heartworm
treatment; space for feral cats to
recuperate in traps following
spay/neuter surgery, before being
released to colonies with caretakers;
real-life rooms with TV to introduce
dogs to a home setting; and space
for educational programs. In short,
the acquisition of this property has
put us on an exciting path of growth.
We Hate to See Her Go
Marley
Ghost
Cinnamon
This Fund Is a Life-Saver
The Almost Home Pet Adoption Center has been the
happy recipient of more than $3,000 in grants from
The Companion Animal Fund over the past several
years. The grants are provided to help with the cost
of spaying or neutering shelter animals. All adult
cats and dogs at Almost Home Pet Adoption Center
are spayed or neutered prior to being put up for
adoption. Because we are a no-kill shelter, many are
with us a long time and there are no immediate
adoption fees to help offset the cost. We are so
grateful to Dr. Charles Wood from Old Dominion
Animal Hospital and the board of directors of The
Companion Animal Fund. Pictured above are just a
few of the many animals that were helped.
Help Wanted!
Our mission attracts Board Members and volunteers
who love animals, and enjoy being involved in animal
care, dog walking, fostering, transporting, and adoption outings. As we have grown, so have the demands
of managing the business side of our affairs, essential
for getting the absolute most from our resources.
If you have a background in business management
and administration, and would like to apply those
skills to helping the animals, please contact Randall
Phillips at 434-263-8254 to discuss.
The HS/SPCA is losing its vice president, Gretchen
Price, who will be moving to South Carolina where her
husband has accepted a new position.
For many years, Gretchen has taken on the big responsibility of coordinating our Spay/Neuter Program
by scheduling weekly transports of residents' pets to
the Spay/Neuter Clinic in Evington. (Sometimes that
meant driving the animals herself when the clinic’s
van wasn’t available!) She also kept the records of
animals spayed or neutered through funds provided
by grants awarded to us by PetSmart Charities Foundation, the Petco Foundation, and the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies.
Gretchen also has played a big part in the HS/SPCA’s
Trap/Neuter/Release program for feral cats, doing
most of the trapping herself. She has taught residents
with feral cat colonies how to trap, and she has saved
feral cats brought to Nelson County Animal Control by
finding people willing to take them as barn cats.
Gretchen has given her wholehearted, untiring efforts
out of love for the animals and desire to further the
HS/SPCA’s mission: To improve animal welfare by
providing care and adoption of “unwanted” companion animals through our various programs and networks. She will be greatly missed. We feel sure she
will find another animal shelter to donate her help
to. Our loss will be their gain!
Volunteers Needed
Feral cats: Krista Waibel is now coordinating the
Community Cats Trap/Neuter/Release Program. If
you’d like to learn how to trap ferals or help in other
ways, leave a message for Krista at 434-263-7722.
Thrift shop: If you have a few hours to spare and
would like help out at our fantabulous SPCA Thrift
Shop in Arrington, call Kathy Miller at 434-263-8788.
Almost Home’s Network
Spreads Far and Wide
Helping Say, ‘I Do’
A rewarding part of animal rescue is getting feedback
about adopted animals. On these next pages, we are
sharing some photos of dogs and cats that were
helped along the way to finding their forever homes.
There are some adopted from Almost Home, but we
have focused more on those transported to other
shelters since many of the ones adopted locally are on
our website (under adopted animals). Some of these
dogs that were adopted were shy, handicapped,
pregnant, old, abused, yet they found wonderful forever homes thanks to our partnering shelters as well
as our own adoption counselors. We hope it will warm
your heart to see their pictures and see the updates
from their adopters.
Davey was one of a
litter of Pit Bull puppies
fostered by Almost
Home’s Bette Grahame.
He was transferred to
Gateway Regional Rescue in New Jersey and
is now a certified therapy dog.
Trey was emaciated and had an infected leg that
had been caught in a trap. Almost Home's "Help to
Heal" Fund paid for the amputation, and a New
Jersey Rescue that partners with us, "Cold Nose
Warm Heart," took him in. CNWH spent several
thousand dollars more to save his life. He now has
a wonderful home he shares with two other dogs,
and a huge lakefront yard.
Barney was a stray that came to us
from animal control. After being adopted
by a retired couple looking for an older
dog, he unfortunately had some seizures. Because their old dog had died
from seizures, the couple decided to
bring him back to Almost Home. Barney
was taken to Old Dominion Animal Hospital and given a thorough exam by Dr.
Wood, who found Barney to be in good
health. He phoned the adopters, gave
them the good news, and suggested
they consider taking him back. They did!
Barney is now doing very well.
Shaggy was one of a
litter of five feral puppies socialized by SPCA
board member Fonda
Bell. He went to the
Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass., and
was adopted by a wonderful man and his girlfriend of five years. A
year later, the man
proposed by putting the
ring on Shaggy's collar
and having him bring it
to her. She said yes.
Frog was a 7-year-old
Chihuahua mix from
animal control who
had deformed ears
because of infections.
He was transferred to
Last Hope shelter in
New York, where he
had two procedures
thanks to a fundraiser
and a generous vet
that turned Frog into
a Prince, his new
name. He’s now in
Florida with his new
family “and a smile on
his face.”
These two older dogs
were sent to Salfid
Rescue in Pennsylvania
and adopted together.
Buddy is from Amherst
Humane, Yogi from
Almost Home.
A Massachusetts adopter loves her ‘perfect’ Virginia cats
Massachusetts resident
Karen Brockelbank
writes about adopting
her two beloved cats,
both Virginia transplants:
Devastated by the loss
of an older kitty, I found
myself at the Northeast
Animal Shelter, waiting
for the kittens to come
out. I have adopted several adult cats in the
past, but my heart
yearned for kittens. And
so I waited, peering
through the glass door
as the volunteers filled
up the cages with kittens
that had just arrived
from Virginia. Virginia? I
wondered. And then a
pretty grey-striped kitty,
right in front, started
flirting with me. I had
my heart set on that
kitten, named Eggroll!
We waited for three
hours before they let us
in. I walked around to
the back and saw a pale
golden striped kitten,
sticking his paws out of
the cage bars and caressing my face. THAT'S
IT! This is the one,
named Gulliver.
Except for an initial bit of
confusion at their new
surroundings, they were
pals from the beginning,
cuddling together, playing together, and inves-
Bella was pregnant when
she was surrendered to
animal control. After being
transferred to Almost
Home and fostered by
Marge Oram, she delivered
eight healthy puppies. A
man looking for a companion for his neutered male
Boxer met Bella and fell in
love with her. It was arranged for Bella and her
pups to be transported to
Cold Nose Warm Heart in
New Jersey until the pups
were weaned, and then
Bella came back to Nelson
and was adopted by Phil.
Megan was transported
to the Dane County
Humane Society in Madison, Wisconsin, and her
new family writes: “She
is such a great and
sweet girl! She has lots
of energy and loves to
run, play with her toys
and we are working on
commands!”
tigating their home. As
they grew, their personalities blossomed. Renamed Joey and Nutmeg,
they quickly took over
the house.
I have stayed in touch
with their foster mothers,
and I wonder: What
magical element is in the
air down in Virginia that
creates such perfect
creatures? I am so grateful for their rescue and
attention given by foster
mothers like Bonnie Stevens and Dian Howe.
Ladies, you grew some
great cats, and I can't tell
you enough how much I
love them. (And how
spoiled they are!)
Leigh was a stray from animal control
who went to NEAS in Massachusetts and
was adopted within a week. Her family
renamed her Buttons: We “couldn’t be
happier with our new addition. She’s cute
as a ‘button’ and a bundle of energy.
Originally a stray from Virginia, she’s now
the queen of her domain.”
Popeye came to us with a
host of problems, including
heartworm and a ruptured
eye. After seeing this picture
and hearing about his needs,
the director of the Fairfax
Humane Society, a wonderful shelter that Almost Home
partners with, agreed to treat
him and find a home for him.
He’ll have eye surgery soon.
Best Adoption Story Is … Yours
Flower Vankan, an adoption counselor with her husband, Ed, was reflecting on adoption success stories,
and shared this:
We cherish the emails, letters and cards we’ve gotten
from many who have adopted animals from us. Your
adopted animal is our best adoption success story!
How could it not be? Before your beloved pet found its
way into your arms, it most likely led a life filled with
turmoil, uncertainty, and fear. To endure it all, it had
to be extremely brave and bewildered, too−no matter
what its story was. For sure, it would not have survived if someone didn’t step in to rescue it and take
care of its physical needs until you adopted it.
The animals can’t tell us their stories, but we do know
that if things had been perfect in their lives they would
not have needed the help of Almost Home, and we
thank God that we have a no-kill shelter that is able to
help them.
Most of all, we thank God for YOU—the people who
see great value in what we do and support us. You are
the people who put the happy ending on every single
success story that our shelter has, and every adoption
is a gift for the animal. Your beloved adoptee found its
way into our shelter, and then, by another stroke of
fate, found its way into your arms.
Selfies With Santa Paws: Dec. 6
Earl finds his perfect place
Earl was at the shelter for over a year looking for his
forever home. Because he was older, bigger and a
hound, he was overlooked by many adopters. Fortunately, he met Melanie, who was looking to adopt a
senior dog; her primary concerns were that the dog be
good with other dogs, cats (one blind, other
declawed) and twin toddlers (one with special needs).
Earl was a perfect fit. He never barks at the mailman
or big trucks and stands very still when you pet him.
The kids hug him all the time and even dress him up
for playtime. He's happy and brings excitement and
joy to Melanie and her family. Thanks to the dedication of Earl's new family, he is now a valued family
member in his new home!
Jack Strikes It Rich in New Home
You’ve probably heard the saying “Good Things
Come in Small Packages.” This is especially true
when we think of one of our former shelter dogs
named Pepper Jack, or Jack as he is now called by
his adopters.
This little six-pound
Yorkie came to Almost
Home a tangled, matted, ball of love and
energy. He was
turned in to Animal
Control as a stray,
Santa will be at the SPCA Thrift Shop, 4791 Thomas
Nelson Highway, Lovingston, on Saturday, December
6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your camera and your
pets or kids. Donations are welcome. The shop is
south of Lovingston on Route 29.
When you adopt a shelter animal, you actually
save two lives: the one you just adopted
and the one you made room for …
and it became obvious after the required wait period, that no one was missing him.
After numerous inquiries about the tiny dog, he
was adopted by a couple with two young sons. He
quickly became the center of attention in the Cash
household. Everyone became smitten with Jack’s
antics and engaging personality. If Jack isn’t playing football with the boys, he’s next door with
Granny, learning new tricks. She taught him how
to high-five and how to jump into a chair so she
can more easily leash him up when it’s time for a
walk. Thanks to the Cash family.
Young Faces Brighten Our Animals’ Days
Bunco fun
The Critter Club at St. Anne's Belfield School in Charlottesville clearly enjoys its trips
to Almost Home Pet Adoption Center to walk dogs and socialize cats. The group also
sponsors drives to get donations of dog and cat food, treats, blankets and towels.
The Almost Home cats were given a special
treat one Sunday morning in October when
the youth group from Rockfish Presbyterian
Church came to read to them. We're not sure
who had more fun, the kids or the cats. Group
adviser Olivia Ellis says they hope to return.
The Youth Group from the Nelson
United Methodist Church in
Lovingston also comes to walk
dogs and spend time with the
cats at Almost Home on a regular
basis.
Runners Go 10K for Almost Home
To help us raise funds for future expansion, Jessica
Smith of Anytime Fitness Center in Lovingston organized the "Run to the Rescue 10K" at Delfosse Vineyard and Winery in Faber. Forty-five people signed up
for the challenging run/walk along Delfosse Winery
Trail at Deer Rock. Anytime Fitness presented the runners/walkers with commemorative tee-shirts with
sponsors’ names on the back of the shirts. Our thanks
to Anytime Fitness for organizing the event, to
Delfosse for hosting it, to the sponsors who each contributed $100 (one being Lovingston Veterinary Hospital) and to all the runners/walkers who generously
donated $35 to be in the race.
Our thanks to Marge
Oram and her sister,
Denise Mariconda, for
organizing the first
Paws for Bunco! game
in Nelson County. It
took place Sunday,
Nov. 9, at the Rockfish
Valley Community
Center in Afton. More
than 75 women enjoyed a hilarious afternoon of dice-rolling
fun. All were treated
to finger foods and
desserts prepared by
Tedi Wright, assisted
by Laura Michael. An
added treat was the
Silent Auction, organized by Fonda Bell
and daughter Emily.
Loving Cup: Vino for Animal Lovers
Try the Dudley Nose Rosé, for a good cause.
Former HS/SPCA employee and longtime foster
caregiver
Deena Hambsch
and
herthe
husband,
Bottles
of Dudley
Nose Rosé
help
shelter.Karl,
are seen here presenting a check from their Loving
Cup Vineyard and Winery to the Almost Home Pet
Adoption Center and President Bette Grahame. The
couple is donating $2 for each bottle of Dudley
Nose Rosé sold. Loving Cup in North Garden is Virginia's first organic vineyard.
HOLIDAY MATCHING FUNDS
THROUGH DECEMBER 31
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL DONORS
WHO PLEDGED TO MATCH END-OF-THE-YEAR DONATIONS
TO ALMOST HOME PET ADOPTION CENTER: MARCUS MUTTS,
JERRIE STEWART AND GERRY MCMANIS, TOBY AND MIKE ZAKIN,
AND AN ANONYMOUS DONOR
Almost Home is full of wonderful animals, all waiting for a forever home. To see a video featuring some of
them made by volunteer Emily Bell, go to YouTube and search for “Long Term Residents of Almost Home.”
You can also view our adoptable pets at www.nelsonspca.org.
Spanky
Cody
Dexter
Sayeed
Humane Society/SPCA of Nelson County
29 Stagebridge Road
Lovingston, VA 22949
Snowy
Almost Home Pet Adoption Center
Bling