Richmond SPCA Blog

Board member Bartholomew Broadbent invites you to “torture” him in the name of fundraising

Bartholomew Broadbent and Ollie at the Fur Ball, the Richmond SPCA's signature black-tie fundraiser at The Jefferson Hotel

Fundraising through social media is nothing new, but last week a member of our Board of Directors announced via Facebook that he was getting on the fundraising bandwagon by going on the wagon, quite literally. Bartholomew Broadbent is much more than a fan of consuming wine and beer; he has built his career around wines and founded Broadbent Selections in 1996. But after inquiring if his friends on Facebook thought he could go 14 days without a drop of alcohol, he has pledged to stop drinking with the goal of raising $10,000 for the orphaned pets in our care.

This two-week challenge got off to a quick start on gofundme – the first four pledges added up to $400 to launch Bollew’s “Stop drinking wine for the Richmond SPCA” campaign. We’re hearing quite a bit about how boring meals have become without an accompanying glass of wine or beer, but Bartholomew says it’s well worth the torture of abstaining from his favorite beverages to save animal lives. It’s also given him time to do some additional calculations on how the goal might be met:

• If 500 Facebook friends donate $18.30 each, I’ll reach the goal!
• If all of my Facebook contacts (he has 4,999 friends on his personal profile and 4,232 likes on the Broadbent Selections page) donate $1.83, the goal will be met!
• I only need 92 people to give $100 each for the goal to be met!

We like his spirit and the odds of raising $10,000 to support the lifesaving programs and services of the Richmond SPCA! If you’d like to give, head over to http://www.gofundme.com/2o1jl8. You can also help make this a viral campaign by sharing the link with your own network.

Do you have a fun, social, creative fundraising idea that you’d like to launch in support of the orphaned dogs and cats in the care of the Richmond SPCA? We have a page on our website dedicated to helping you be successful, and our development team is also available to answer questions. Start your own campaign by visiting our fundraising ideas page.

---

Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director of communications of the Richmond  SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy  requires a first and last name to be used as your screen  name. 

Related articles

Fall in love at the Richmond SPCA

Kids are making a difference at the Richmond SPCA

Inaction and inaccuracies lead to animal suffering in Goochland County

The only term I can think of to describe what is currently going on in Goochland County is kabuki theater: a bunch of artificial posturing in strange get-ups. You probably have seen the various news reports about the fire at Annette Thompson’s house – reports in which she was termed a “longtime animal rescuer.” Then, more recently, the news reports have been about her having been convicted of neglect in the past and her now being charged again with several counts of animal cruelty relating to the approximately 75 dogs on her property. Now, we are seeing the Goochland County officials on TV claiming that they are, in the famous words of the Casablanca inspector, “shocked, shocked” to discover the conditions the dogs are in. The sheriff said on air, when talking about the dogs that were removed and had to be euthanized this week, that “up to this point” the dogs being kept by Ms. Thompson were “never in this condition.”

Oliver, a beagle who was rescued in 2012 from "The Pet Rescue Foundation" by the Richmond SPCA, was treated extensively for a collapsed trachea before we found him a loving home.

Oh, please. Annette Thompson has been keeping way too many animals for a very long time under the guise of the “Pet Rescue Foundation” (more on the validity of use of the “rescue” word later). Many people have been aware of the situation and have been deeply concerned about the well being of the dogs there for many years. And they have spoken up, time and time again. Folks like Eileen McAfee and Sue Bell and Heidi Meinzer and others including the Richmond SPCA have raised the concern about serious animal hoarding with all of the appropriate officials in Goochland County with persistence for a very long time. All of this has fallen on deaf ears. Until now.

An organization called Homeward Trails from Northern Virginia has worked valiantly to take animals out of the circumstances that they were in at the Pet Rescue Foundation. They have taken a very large number over the years – many hundreds of them. The Richmond SPCA was asked on a number of occasions to take animals from this situation as well. This request has always been a very difficult one for us to respond to because, while we want very much to help the dogs that are there, we also do not want to simply remove dogs only to allow more to be acquired and, in turn, subjected to the same unacceptable conditions. Each of the several times that we have agreed to take dogs from Pet Rescue Foundation, we have done so based on assurances that Ms. Thompson would not acquire more. Each time that has not proved to be true. Many of the animals we have taken from this situation in the past (and this has been as recently as late 2012) have needed, and received from us, extensive veterinary medical care for serious conditions that appear to have existed for a long time.

When the Commonwealth’s Attorney did not become involved in prosecuting Ms. Thompson several years ago, the group of deeply concerned people did so on their own. Despite the lack of assistance by the County, they put on persuasive evidence to the Judge, and Ms. Thompson was convicted in 2010 on six counts of animal neglect. Once that happened, her “rescue” operation could no longer be considered to be a rescue or releasing agency in Virginia and could no longer legally solicit donations as such. Nonetheless, despite the convictions, Goochland County took no action whatsoever to limit or address the number of animals she was still keeping on her property. It appears clear that nothing would have happened now if it were not for the fire and Ms. Thompson’s ensuing pleas for donations that resulted in pressure again from concerned members of the animal welfare community for Goochland to act.

Now, she has been charged criminally again. This time, the Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is participating apparently. Goochland is claiming that their animal control agency has conducted an investigation. To say that this action on the part of the county is long overdue would be to wallow in understatement. The Richmond SPCA stands ready, assuming that a court order to remove the dogs is issued as it should be, to save the lives of dogs that need us in this situation and to provide them with the veterinary and other care that they need. What we ask is that we be assured, really assured, that the county will put an end to any more such misery on this site.

---

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

11th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run final countdown

The Richmond SPCA Dog Jog and 5K Run is quickly approaching! As we count down the final days, your support is essential for the success of this annual event. There are a couple of things to remember as you’re preparing for the 11th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run:

Due to construction on I-95, the race route for the 5K portion of the event has been rerouted to exclude Overbrook Road. Many thanks to the Richmond Road Runners for their help with shifting the 5K course. To view the altered course and alternate road routes to get to our humane center, please visit our course map page.

Although online registration is now closed for this year’s event, you can still register in person at our humane center from noon until 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 15, during packet pick up hours. For those that can’t make it during packet pick up hours, same-day registration will be available on-site on Saturday morning. Same-day registration for the 5K is from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and for the Dog Jog from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. If you or your team has not yet turned in any offline donations or pledges, packet pick up times are a great time to turn them in to ensure that all fundraising totals are correct to qualify for great prize packages. Prize packages for top fundraisers include a trip for two to Charlottesville's beautiful Boar's Head Inn and a two-night stay at The Fife and Drum in Williamsburg, Virginia. Curious about where you or your team stands? Check out current fundraising standings for both individuals and teams here.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets yet, you can do so online until 11:59 p.m. on the day of the event. Prize packages for raffle ticket winners include gift certificates to Richmond’s hottest restaurants, a trip package for four to vacation in Daytona Beach, Florida, and so much more! We will have a drawing for raffle winners and contact them on Monday, March 18, so you do not need to be present at the Dog Jog to win one of our amazing prizes!

For supporters already registered and counting down the final days until the Dog Jog and 5K Run, remember to stay social during the event by checking in, utilizing the #DogJog hashtag and using the @RichmondSPCA Twitter handle. We love reading your comments and seeing your event photos!

After the Dog Jog and 5K Run festivities are over, we encourage attendees to visit one of our Northside neighbors, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Hardywood has generously offered to donate 10 percent of sales for event participants that show their race bib at the Raspberry Stout release party on Saturday.

Still have questions? Visit our event FAQ for more about registration, fundraising and general event information. We're counting down the days until we see you on Saturday!

---

Caroline Radom is the manager of communications at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

Fundraising for the Dog Jog and 5k Run: It's simple, social and rewarding!

As we get closer to the 11th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run, presented by Car Pool Car Wash, your fundraising support is vital to helping us reach our $136,000 fundraising goal. Support of this event is lifesaving to the pets in our care and essential to the programs and services we provide the community. We've included a few steps below to help you get started.

A personalized fundraising page is an easy location to steer friends and family for more information about the Dog Jog and 5K Run. Building your fundraising page is easy, and the standard page is automatically created when you register to be a participant in the Dog Jog or 5k run. The basic page can be easily updated with personalized text and photos. You can also register an easy to remember address for your page (also called a “friendly URL”) to make it easier to remember and share. On each fundraising page, visitors have the options of leaving a comment, reading more about your event participation or making a donation using our secure online donation form. A “donate” button is conveniently located at the top right of your fundraising page to make it easy for friends and family to provide support. If you aren’t local or can’t make it to the event on Saturday, March 16, you can still help support homeless pets in our care by registering under the “cat nap” option, which is free and provides you with an online fundraising page.

Sharing with your network of friends through social media can help remind them that you’re participating and fundraising to support thousands of homeless animals.

Sending your friends and family a friendly email is a great way to tell them that you are fundraising for this event. It's a great opportunity to direct them to your customized page as the easiest way to make a gift. For your convenience, there is sample text available on each personal fundraising page, and we encourage you to personalize these notes as you like. You can be assured when using our online fundraising tools that we respect your friends' and family's privacy and will not store the email addresses you enter to request their support.

Once you get a gift, remember to thank your supporters! The participant admin tools also make it easy to thank all who give through your page. We even provide sample text to email your gratitude for those who are supporting homeless pets in your honor. 

You can also encourage friends and family to check if their employer makes matching gifts. Many companies offer to match employee contributions, doubling the original charitable gift meaning twice the lifesaving for homeless pets! The online tool at www.richmondspca.org/matching makes it easy to identify employer match progarams. 

The more the merrier! Encourage friends to register for the Dog Jog or 5K Run and join you in a day of fun! We have exciting prizes for race winners and top fundraisers, the Holiday Barn Pet Resorts Vendor Fair is sure to please all members of your family (including the four-legged members!) and other fun activities for attendees of all ages. 

Do you have any great fundraising ideas that have helped you meet your fundraising goal for the Dog Jog and 5K Run? We'd love to hear about them in the comments! 

---

Caroline Radom is the manager of communications at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

Pet Friendly Housing Guide offers options to keep your furry family together

As a college student, I'm seeing more and more young people taking on the responsibility of a dog or a cat in their homes or housing. I am currently living in a duplex near the campus of Randolph Macon College and, sadly, we are not allowed to have pets. If I were, I would at least want to foster, if not adopt, a pet. After just spending a couple of weeks as an intern here at the Richmond SPCA, I can see past the stereotype of breed restrictions enforced by some apartment complexes and recognize that many of these animals would make great companions.

Within many apartment communities there are different breed restrictions, which creates a challenge when trying to unite an animal with a home, and just as importantly, keep the animal in that home. Pet restrictions can force animal guardians to make difficult decisions, such as parting ways with their beloved furry friend. Luckily, there are many pet friendly options in the Richmond area, and the Richmond SPCA has a tool that can help you find the right space for you and your pet.

The Pet Friendly Housing Guide is a great tool to use if you are searching for a new residence for you and your furry companion. This tool will also help to avoid having to surrender that pet, or adopting only based on breed. I'm currently in the process of updating our pet friendly housing guide. While I've noticed that there are fewer restrictions now, it can often be a struggle for pet owners who wish to carry out the committment they've made to care for a four-legged companion. Certain apartment communities such as Tobacco Row and Fulton Hill attempt to motivate pet guardians to move into their communities with more inclusive policies. Tobacco Row’s policy now includes dogs weighing up to 100 lbs. Beginning with last year’s Bark the Block Party, a benefit for the Richmond SPCA, the community has also waived the pet deposit for any cat or dog adopted from the Richmond SPCA.

Fulton Hill has an equally progressive policy at their Lava Lofts property in Church Hill, according to marketing manager Nicole Walters who explains that each dog is considered as an individual, regardless of type or breed. Potential canine residents that are typically in the “restricted” list are evaluated in a one-on-one meeting to determine suitability for the Lava Lofts community. Walters has seen first-hand the difficulties pet guardians can have finding acceptance for their companions. “This policy just allows us to not turn that person away based on the pet that stole their heart,” Walters said.

If you’d like more information about these pet friendly communities, please research your options in the Pet Friendly Housing Guide so that your furry family friend can accompany you to a new, happy home.

---

Macon Heikes was a communications intern at the Richmond SPCA this January. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.  

Nine days remain for early bird Dog Jog and 5K Run registration

The Richmond community's past support of our Dog Jog and 5K Run has ensured the success of this event each year and has been lifesaving for the pets in our care. Thank you! We couldn't have done it without you. We hope you'll join us again this year for our 11th annual event on March 16!

Online registration is easy!

Registration for the Dog Jog and 5K Run, presented by Car Pool, can easily be completed using our simple and secure online form. Just visit us online at www.richmondspca.org/race to get started! Early bird registration prices are only available for nine more days. Fees increase after March 1, so be sure to sign up soon. We have included some highlights of what's to come in this year's event so you have lots to look forward to between now and March 16!

Fundraising
Team and individual fundraising is what helps us reach our goal and provides us the necessary resources to save more lives. When you register online for the Dog Jog and/or 5K Run, a fundraising page is automatically created for you. If you are unable to attend on March 16 or do not plan on participating in either event, our Cat Nap option is free and allows you to help the pets in our care through fundraising. Your personal fundraising page makes it easy to ask your friends and family to donate. By starting early, you can increase your fundraising and your chances of winning some pretty great prizes! We'll be awarding prizes to top team and individual fundraisers as well as top 5K finishers during the Awards Ceremony, sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson LLP, at noon on the day of the event. 

Event details
The 5K Run begins at 9:30 a.m. and is for humans only. The 1-mile Dog Jog for dogs and their human companions begins at 11 a.m. Throughout the event you can browse through the Holiday Barn Vendor Fair, which lasts from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and is full of food and fun for you and your family and friends!

The Pet Wellness Tent, sponsored by Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center, will have pet wellness tips as well as a microchipping clinic for your pet – it's only $20 and chips are administered on the spot! Our Pets Fun Zone, presented by the Petco Foundation, will give your pet the chance to try his or her paw at agility! Your kids can say hello to Waggles, who will be hanging around our Kids Fun Zone, sponsored by Best Bully Sticks! You'll also get to meet Rosie, our 2012-2013 mascot. If you get hungry while visiting all our great vendors, stop by the Boka Tako Truck to enjoy delicious food!

Free parking is available on the day of the event in the Green Lot located behind The Diamond on the corner of Hermitage Road and Robin Hood Road. If you are participating in either event, please allow yourself a few extra minutes to walk the short distance to our center. Our Barking Lot is generously sponsored by Invisible Fence Brand of Virginia.

---

Lisa Clarke is the manager of community development at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

Related articles

Celebrate and support pets in the Dog Jog and 5K Run

Celebrate and support pets in the Dog Jog and 5K Run

The Dog Jog and 5K Run is more than just an event where you can exercise and spend quality time with your canine. It's a chance for dogs and their two-legged companions to truly take over the streets of Richmond. It's also a wonderful opportunity to provide support that benefits the nearly 3,500 homeless pets the Richmond SPCA will care for in the year ahead.

We need your help to reach our goal of $136,000 for the services and care that we provide for orphaned animals. Whether you fundraise as an individual or as a team, it is so easy to get started.

Just visit www.richmondspca.org/race to register. Your fundraising page is automatically created for you, making it easy to send emails to your friends and family for support. This page is where contributions to your personal goal will be made, and you can customize it with your own photos and a friendly URL.

If you have adopted a pet from the Richmond SPCA, you are welcome to join our Team Rosie alumni fundraising team. Here you can see what this team page looks like: 

We also encourage signing up with your co-workers or friends to create your own team. Corporate teams from Bank of America, CarMax and Snagajob have already been formed, and they'll be working together for  success in their interoffice fundraising for the Dog Jog. You could even serve as the captain of your own office team!

Registration is open now, and if you sign up on or before March 1, you'll enjoy early-bird pricing and sponsor gifts. You can sign up here, and follow regular updates on the Dog Jog and 5K Run Facebook page.

Dog Jog and 5K Run schedule:

March 1, 2013: Last day to register using early bird registration fees.

March 13, 2013: Online registration closes at 5 p.m. You can still register in person on Thursday, March 14 from noon until 6 p.m., Friday, March 15 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. or on the morning of the event.

March 14, 2013: T-shirt and race packet pick up will be available at the Robins-Starr Humane Center from noon until 6 p.m. in our second-floor auditorium.

March 15, 2013: T-shirt and race packet pick up will also be available at the Robins-Starr Humane Center from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. in our second-floor auditorium.

March 16, 2013: Race day!

    8:15 to 9:15 a.m. - 5K Run on-site registration

    9 a.m. - Vendor Fair Opens

    9:30 a.m. - 5K Run begins

    9:30 to 10:30 a.m. - Dog Jog on-site registration

    11 a.m. - One-mile Dog Jog begins

    Approx 12 p.m. - Awards Ceremony

    Approx 1 p.m. - Vendor Fair Closes

---

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

Support local pets by dining local each month with Richmond SPCA Supper Club

Supper Club is returning for 2013, and we are so excited to once again partner with local restaurants that help raise money for orphaned pets in our community. These restaurants have been so kind as to pledge 15% of the proceeds earned on their designated night to the Richmond SPCA. Since its inception, Supper Club donations have raised more than $15,000 for our homeless pets!

We're kicking off this year's Supper Club on Wednesday, January 9, at 2113 Bistro. Housed in a historically rich former tobacco warehouse from the Antebellum South, 2113's menu offers simple yet sophisticated options for lunch and dinner.

While 2113 Bistro is a new addition to the Supper Club lineup for 2013, the owners are long-time supporters of animal welfare. 

A message from Justin Ayars, co-owner of 2113 Bistro:  

Justin Ayars' dog, Tyler

Gandhi once said, “A nation can be judged by how it treats its animals.” 2113 Bistro admires and respects the Richmond SPCA for helping our local community live up to these powerful words each and every day. We at 2113 Bistro do our part to actively live out this mantra in our daily lives, as well. Two of the company's three owners are proud parents of Tyler, a 9-year-old dog adopted from the Richmond SPCA's lovely humane center on Hermitage Road. 2113 Bistro also regularly contributes to this wonderful humane organization through donations to the annual Fur Ball and charitable gifts throughout the year. We look forward to a long and active partnership with the Richmond SPCA and are truly honored to be the first host of the Supper Club series in 2013! Thank you for all that you do for our community and Happy New Year!

We are so grateful that 2113 will be donating 15% of their food and beverage proceeds from lunch and dinner on January 9 to benefit the orphaned dogs and cats at the Richmond SPCA. You can enjoy lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and reservations are recommended but not required for their 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. dinner service. We hope you can attend to help make this the biggest year for Supper Club yet!

We also encourage you to sign up on our website to join the Supper Club mailing list and receive updates and reminders. Stay "in the know" about featured menus, new offerings and more! For more information, please call 804-521-1318 or send an email.

Join this event and follow 2113 Bistro on Facebook!

---

Billy Dunkley is the manager of communications for the Richmond SPCA.To read his biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

 

Related articles

To ensure the new year is a happy one for vulnerable animals, we need your support

Black goes with everything

After you've given in the Amazing Raise, lend your voice to help pets in need

It's the second morning of the Amazing Raise, and Give Richmond has announced a few new prizes to motivate additional support of Richmond's non-profit organizations. Many of you have already given, and we can't thank you enough for helping us reach our current position on the leaderboard with 165 gifts totaling $12,365. 

All donations and prize money the Richmond SPCA recieves will ensure care for so many pets like Scout, pictured, whose guardians utilize our Clinic for Compassionate Care to provide high-quality, low-cost care to their beloved companions. 

Remember that only new, unique gifts of $50 or more given through the Amazing Raise donation form will help improve our standing on the leaderboard and win bonus prize money. That's why we need your help to reach new supporters. Reach out and share why you are motivated to support the Richmond SPCA during The Amazing Raise. Phone calls, emails, Tweets and Facebook posts can all help spread the word and secure new gifts. 

As this 36-hour giving challenge comes to a close, you can personalize this message for friends, family, neighbors and co-workers. Be sure to remind them that in addition to providing access to low-cost veterinary care, when they donate to us through The Amazing Raise, their name will automatically be entered for a $1,000 gift card to Stony Point Fashion Park. 

To my friends who love animals,

I’m asking for your support on behalf of the Richmond SPCA and pets in great need. This is the final stretch in The Amazing Raise, a 36-hour online giving challenge sponsored by The Community Foundation. Your gift of $50, given anytime before 6 p.m. today can help the Richmond SPCA win grants and prizes totaling as much as $20,000 (in addition to individual contributions). The more unique individuals who give (so please also encourage your spouses and significant others to contribute), the greater the chance that the Richmond SPCA will qualify for prizes. Only gifts given through the Amazing Raise online form will qualify, and the secure online donation form is available at: www.richmondspca.org.

The Richmond SPCA will be entering everyone who donates a gift of $50 or more to through the Amazing Raise for a chance to win a $1,000 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO STONY POINT FASHION PARK! 

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for your support!

Facebook

I donated to the @RichmondSPCA to help them win The Amazing Raise and support the Clinic for Compassionate Care. As a bonus, I might win a $1,000 gift certificate to Stony Point! Give at www.richmondspca.org for your own chance to win.

Twitter

• I gave to the @RichmondSPCA through the #AmzgRz to support the Clinic for Compassionate Care! http://goo.gl/zxYOr
  
  
• Join me in giving to the @RichmondSPCA during the #AmzgRz. You could win a $1000 gift certificate to Stony Point! http://goo.gl/zxYOr

You may also want to share the blog we posted yesterday:

Provide the safety net Richmond pets desperately need by giving during the #AmzgRz bit.ly/UnNPdt

---

Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director of communications for the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name. 

Stylist Patrick Lomantini returns to Richmond on August 12 to help homeless animals

Last year, stylist Patrick Lomantini stopped by for an exciting – and unusual – opportunity to raise funds for the orphaned pets in our care while he worked toward a new Guinness World Record. After such a successful event, Patrick decided to tour the country again to help more homeless animals and to give great haircuts!

On Sunday, August 12, Patrick will visit Richmond as part of his second 50 States Tour. Patrick has set the goal of 50 haircuts in each of the 50 states over the course of 50 days and his visit to Richmond will represent the 12^th day of the tour.

Patrick's passion for cutting hair is matched by his energetic dedication to saving animal lives. In each city of on his 50 States Tour, he has partnered with a local animal welfare organization. The Richmond SPCA is delighted to be the chosen again this year as the beneficiary of his stop in Virgninia.

A 12-hour marathon of 50 haircuts will take place at Circle Square Salon located at 305 North Robinson Street. Circle Square Salon is otherwise closed on Sundays, but has generously opened its doors on Sunday, August 12, specifically for this event in support of homeless dogs and cats. The salon is also offering complimentary a shampoo and blow dry for each of the scheduled appointments. The enthusiasm and generosity of everyone at the salon in hosting this event has been a terrific example of community service by a local business.

We invite you to take part in this lifesaving fundraiser. Call Lisa Clarke, manager of community development at the Richmond SPCA, at 804-521-1318 to get an appointment between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday, August 12. All haircut fees directly benefit the Richmond SPCA. For $20 or more men and women will have a basic haircut by Lomantini. Appointments will average 15 minutes.

About the Stylist
Patrick Lomantini is the owner of Lomantini — The Salon in Wichita, Kansas. He traveled the country last year for his first 50 States Tour and helped the Richmond SPCA raise almost $1,500!

---

More ways to help in August
Saturday, August 11
The Gratitude 100 - Paul Carr, CEO of Car Pool and dear friend to the Richmond SPCA, is celebrating his 50^th birthday by playing 50 rounds of golf on August 11 to benefit four charities, of which the Richmond SPCA is one! We are very grateful to him for his continued and generous support of homeless animals. You can donate by visiting The Gratitude 100 website.

Tuesdays through August 14
Balliceaux - Dine at Balliceaux for lunch, dinner or late night, every Tuesday between now and August 14 to support the Richmond SPCA. Balliceaux will donate 5 percent of net sales to support homeless animals! Visit our website for more information.

---

Lisa Clarke is the community development manager at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.