Richmond SPCA Blog

Almost Heaven Hospice Spotlight: Richie

Here at the Richmond SPCA, we care for the homeless pets in our community in a way that fulfills our mission statement, “Every Life is Precious.” We strive daily to make sure that each and every orphaned dog or cat that enters our doors finds a permanent, loving home. For many of those pets, the path to adoption starts with rehabilitation and treatment.

More than two-thirds of the pets that come to our humane center aren’t quite ready to go home. Illness and injury require care and treatment, which is even more important for dogs and cats with chronic, life-long conditions. Some of the pets that we see have serious conditions that require costly medications and therapies to ensure quality of life. The good news is that for a majority of these animals, treatment of their conditions by our veterinary services team, combined with loving care, can restore them to health and result in successful adoptions and a full, happy life.

However, there is a small group of pets that aren’t as lucky. It’s an unfortunate but unavoidable reality that some companion animals in our care are diagnosed with diseases that cannot be treated. These cases are a painful reminder of the fragility of our four-legged friends but also of their resilient spirits.

Hope is central to our mission at the Richmond SPCA. But how do you encourage a family to take a closer look at a pet with a terminal illness, even when he or she is capable of enjoying a quality life for many months or years ahead?

This is why our Almost Heaven Hospice Program was created. For the pets in our care with an incurable medical condition, the usual adoption process isn’t the best way to provide them with the homes they deserve. Instead, this program allows these pets to be placed in a long-term foster home while members of our veterinary team continue to administer care.

Through this program, we are able to fill the animal’s remaining days with happiness, comfort and compassion. Those individuals willing to foster an animal through Almost Heaven Hospice provide a caring and stress-free home environment for a pet with a terminal illness for as long as the pet can enjoy a life of quality.

Richie is a long-term resident seeking this kind of compassionate care. Richie is a sweet, excitable 3-year-old pit bull mix who came to the Robins-Starr Humane Center in February of 2011. It wasn’t long after his arrival that he was diagnosed with pulmonic stenosis, a severe cardiac abnormality. This kind of congenital heart defect is particularly problematic considering Richie’s energetic nature. Too much strenuous exercise could end his life.

Yet while he was not given a positive long-term prognosis, our goal is make the most of the time Richie has left. He has been trained to follow a series of commands and works extensively with our in-house trainers. He has made friends and has greatly benefited from the care he has received. Richie’s affectionate and happy-go-lucky nature has also made him a favorite amongst the many volunteers and staff.

But for a dog like Richie, we want more. We want him to experience life in a home, away from the everyday stresses of a shelter. With whatever time that Richie may be given, we would like to provide him with a foster family willing to make the remaining months or years of his life the most rewarding they can possibly be. Our foster program will provide all of the supplies and training needed for his care, and our veterinary services team will continue to monitor his condition while he is in hospice care. There is no cost to you to participate in the Almost Heaven program, only the rewards of delivering hope and compassion to a animal who desperately needs you.

If you’re interested in fostering Richie as the only dog in your home, email our coordinator of foster care Tameka Peters at fostercare@richmondspca.org.

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Eric Steigleder is the community relations coordinator 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. 

Foster care numbers illustrate these volunteers' vital role in helping homeless pets

29 homes with sleepless kitten nights, waking every 4 hours to feed

85 kittens needing formula mixed and bottoms rubbed

1,118 pouncing, stalking and mewing beauties

105 cattitudes managed

10 closed-eyed puppies swaddled and bottled

59 barking, playing round-bellied babies

125 dogs walked and loved

Over 1500 pets that were given a second change through foster care

Words cannot express the gratitude and thanks that the Richmond SPCA and our pets have for the wonderful foster parents that open their homes to our pets in need. We are so grateful for the sleepless nights, the shoe casualties, the sloppy kisses received, the long walks in the rain, the scratched couches, the hours of crate training, the intense snuggle sessions and the chance that foster parents give for these pets to find permanent adoptive homes once they return to the Richmond SPCA. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love every single one of you and would be lost without you.

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Laura Palin is the manager of admissions and Tameka Peters is the foster care coordinator 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. 

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Related posts:  
April 9, 2012: Help us gather supplies needed for "kitten season" this spring  
April 10, 2012: Good intentions to move and care for infant kittens are not always in kittens' best interest 
April 13, 2012: Getting involved: Foster care volunteers tout great rewards in saving infant kitten lives
April 14, 2012: Kitten Nursery will expand foster care involvement

Get involved: www.richmondspca.org/foster 

Kitten Nursery will expand foster care involvement

If you work during the day, timing kitten feedings every four hours can become challenging. Not all offices are amenable to making your cubicle a kitty play land. Other potential volunteers may have the daytime hours free but not have the space at home to be full-time foster parents.

The introduction of a Kitten Nursery at the Richmond SPCA starting April 30 will provide daytime care for infant kittens, allowing foster charges to be dropped off at our Robins-Starr Humane Center where they will be cared for by trained volunteers between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. each week day. In the evenings, the kittens will return home with their foster parents who are responsible for overnight care. The Kitten Nursery will be available to any Richmond SPCA foster parent whose kittens are not old enough to be left alone for 8 hours.

Volunteers have already begun signing up for Kitten Nursery shifts, and more information is available by emailing tjoyner@richmondspca.org. If you’d like to be trained to work in the Nursery, please plan to attend the Meet the Fosters training session on Wednesday, April 25 from 6-8 p.m. Please sign up on our website.  

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Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director 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.

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Related posts:  
April 9, 2012: Help us gather supplies needed for "kitten season" this spring  
April 10, 2012: Good intentions to move and care for infant kittens are not always in kittens' best interest
April 13, 2012: Getting involved: Foster care volunteers tout great rewards in saving infant kitten lives

Getting involved: Foster care volunteers tout great rewards in saving infant kitten lives

What’s the best thing about being a foster care volunteer for the Richmond SPCA? 

“In the summer, we have kittens ALL THE TIME. It’s great!” Those are the words of Wes Freed, one of 310 active foster care volunteers who opened their homes to more than 1,100 kittens last year.

The capacity of our Robins-Starr Humane Center is limited, but with the resources of foster care, we are able to expand the number of homeless pets’ lives we can save. This is never more evident than during the spring and summer months – known as “kitten season.” In the busiest month of 2011, our foster care coordinator placed 206 kittens into foster homes. In the busiest day, 35 kittens left our center with foster providers as well as all the supplies they needed to make foster care a success. 

Foster care volunteers take the most vulnerable homeless animals – neonatal kittens too young to be adopted, at times too young to even eat on their own – into their homes where they provide around-the-clock care until their tiny charges are strong and healthy enough to be spayed or neutered. In addition to being attentive to their kittens’ physical needs, foster parents also provide a loving environment and early socialization that prepares their kittens for permanent adoptive homes. Snuggling is an imperative part of the job description!

“All of our fosters have given us such love and joy in so many ways – for the amount of ‘work’ we do, the rewards are so huge it’s almost criminal,” said Jyl Freed, Wes’ wife and fellow foster provider.

You can take Jyl and Wes’ word for it, or you can experience the joys of foster care for yourself. The next Meet the Fosters training session is Wednesday, April 25 from 6-8 p.m. This class will prepare new volunteers with the skills to care for kittens at any stage of development.

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Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director 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.

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Related posts:  
April 9, 2012: Help us gather supplies needed for "kitten season" this spring 
April 10, 2012: Good intentions to move and care for infant kittens are not always in kittens' best interest

Help us gather the supplies needed for "kitten season" this spring

Although Spring officially began on March 20, many of us consider Easter the beginning of spring. In Richmond, Monument Avenue Easter on Parade is a spring tradition that begins a social calendar filled with outdoor activity and surrounded by the signs of renewed life — trees budding, bees buzzing, flowers blooming. Here at the Richmond SPCA, our seasonal signs of life began quite a few weeks ago with the arrival of the first infant kittens in need of around-the-clock bottle feeding. 

Thanks to our thriving Meet the Fosters program, there were trained foster providers ready to take in those kittens and provide them with the care they need. It takes a tremendous amount of community support for this program to succeed. Last season more than 300 people provided foster care for 1,523 homeless pets, the majority of them kittens. 

When foster providers take pets from the Richmond SPCA into their homes, we provide them with all the supplies they need, and to do this, we need your help! Visit our website to find our "registry," a list of all the items that are needed as we expect the arrival of many more infant kittens. These items will enable foster providers to give the best care and the best chance at a healthy, happy life to these innocent kittens. 

Supplies from this wish list can be dropped off at our center any day during normal business hours, or bring your gifts next Saturday, April 14 and join us for refreshments during our Kitten Shower. You can also invite your Facebook friends to help. 

Want to know more ways to help this kitten season? Look forward to more blogs this week that will focus on what to do when you find kittens outdoors, how to become a foster provider and more. 

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Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director 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.

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Related posts:  
April 10, 2012: Good intentions to move and care for infant kittens are not always in kittens' best interest 
April 13, 2012: Getting involved: Foster care volunteers tout great rewards in saving infant kitten lives

Foster Feature: Ming gives inspiration as she learns to sail on her own

When I first met Ming I could see right away that she’s different. She stumbles side to side as she walks like a small, delicate boat caught in a bad storm. She seemed to be so fragile, and I felt a little sorry for her. I wanted to pick her up and hold her every time she fell down. I assumed she would be shy and fearful of the world around her. I expected her to be extremely limited by her disabilities, but during the six months I fostered her, she shattered all of my assumptions and showed me a whole new way of looking at life’s obstacles.

Ming was born with a neurological disorder called Cerebellar Hypoplasia. This condition is caused by a damaged or underdeveloped cerebellum and results in poor motor control and awkward jerky movements. The disorder does not worsen over time, is not contagious, and is in no way painful. Although there is no cure, cats with CH enjoy a good quality of life and have a normal life expectancy.

In addition to her wobbly walking, Ming is also partially blind, so some special safety considerations are required to keep her from accidently hurting herself. Pointy corners may need to be padded; a baby gate should block the stairs, and anything she could knock over needs to be secured. Once all major hazards have been addressed, Ming learns quickly to adapt to her environment. She walks with a wide stance to compensate for her clumsiness, and leans against walls for extra stability. Ming never worries about doing things as well or as fast as other cats. She is content to meet life’s challenges on her own terms and solve problems at her own pace.

My favorite Ming moment was when she noticed one of my cats batting around a little toy and chasing it all over the room. It was just a small pink plastic ball with a tiny jingle bell inside, but she was fascinated by it and stood nearby watching intensely. When my cat had finished playing, Ming teetered over to the toy and examined it very closely. After a few minutes of contemplation she began trying to roll the ball around. First she tried nudging it with her nose. Then she made several failed attempts at hitting it with her paw.

All the while I could see her analyzing the results of her efforts, learning through trial and error, and improving her technique with each attempt until finally finding success! The ball rolled along the floor jingling and Ming’s whole body trembled with excitement. I could just imagine her thoughts “I did it! I made that toy make the jingle noise!” The ball actually only moved about ten inches but to her it sailed across the floor for miles. It was a small round plastic testament to her unyielding persistence.

When you first meet Ming you will see right away that she is different, but you may need to look very closely to see why. Because within that small, delicate body is an invincible giant who carries herself with a graceful dignity and heroic determination shared only by the most celebrated champions. Do not feel sorry for her… she has no use for pity, and do not be afraid for her… she is braver than you can imagine. No matter how many times she falls, she will always get right back on her feet and charge ahead with a fiery spirit and courage unmatched by any other cat (or human) I’ve ever known. And whenever I encounter an obstacle in my life and need courage to overcome it, I think of Ming, that little pink plastic toy and my favorite quote from Louisa May Alcott. “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship.”

Colleen cared for Ming for several months through the Richmond SPCA’s Meet the Fosters program. If you'd like to meet Ming, call the adoption desk at 804-521-1307. To find out more about becoming a foster care provider, visit www.richmondspca.org/foster.  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.

A foster care milestone and a kitten's positive test for FIV

In the midst of the earthquake Richmond experienced Tuesday afternoon and all of the ensuing chatter, there were other tremors in my little corner of the world. Sam, the foster kitten I have cared for since her eyes were just beginning to open in mid-July, passed a milestone in reaching 6 weeks of age, which meant it was time for vaccinations and a blood test for FIV/FeLV. These two diseases – Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia – compromise the immune system of affected cats and shorten their lives.

Sam’s test was positive for FIV and negative for Feline Leukemia. She came to us as part of a litter of six kittens whose mother had been struck by a car. The six kittens, just days old and in need of round-the-clock bottle feeding, were divided into two groups of three. Many of the orphaned kittens were not strong enough and passed away over the next few weeks despite having received exceptional care by our veterinary team and by their foster parents. Sam has one surviving littermate who has been fostered by one of our volunteers. Her sibling’s FIV test was also positive, indicating that these kittens were infected through the placenta by a mother who had the disease. They will have another blood test several months from now, but for the time being, we will consider them FIV+.

What does this mean for Sam and her sibling? They will remain in foster care as they continue to grow, just like many other neonatal kittens in our care, awaiting their spay/neuter surgeries once they reach 2 lbs. Since FIV can be transmitted to other cats only through blood or breeding activity, they continue to be kept separate from any other felines. Ultimately, if further testing confirms that these two kittens have FIV, nothing has changed about our commitment to finding them loving permanent homes.

Our adoption counselors are experienced in counseling families about the special needs of FIV+ cats and kittens, including keeping them indoors and working closely with their veterinarian when any symptoms of illness are seen. We advise that FIV+ cats should not be introduced into homes with cats who do not have the disease. Sam has already been well socialized with my dog, so perhaps a home with a canine friend will be her destiny.

While I'm away attending a conference - BlogPaws for which I'm grateful to Petfinder.com for sponsoring my registration - Sam will be in the great care of a co-worker. When I return, I'll have a few more weeks to enjoy watching her grow and discover the thrills of being a cat, joys that everyone in nearby offices have shared since she accompanies me to work each day. Though we'll miss her, we'll also delight in her next milestone, seeing Sam united with a permanent home. Photographs courtesy of Chief of Education and Training Sarah Babcock

Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director of communications at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our other 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.  

Guest blog: Fostering Compassion

Editor’s note: Today’s post originally appeared on the blog of Premier Pet Products, a company founded here in Richmond, Va. The author, Janet Velenovsky, CPDT-KA, CDBC-TAC, KPA CTP, is a foster care volunteer for the Richmond SPCA along with being the Training and Behavior Education Advisor at Premier. 

It’s kitten season! This is the time of year when shelters and rescues are inundated with adorable little balls of purring fur.

As I type, a three-week old female named Regina sits on my shoulder, nestled into my hair, occasionally nibbling on my ear lobe. Regina is a marbled tabby with big teal blue eyes and a small but persistent voice. When she’s unhappy or hungry – which happens about every three hours – she lets me know. Mostly, though, she wants to cuddle and be rubbed.

Candy, the other three-week old female I’m fostering, is quite the opposite; she’s a bold one. Mostly grey with white feet, a touch of white around her mouth and really bright blue eyes, she is more active, and nearly fearless. She’ll make a toy out of anything, and is quite willing to crawl all over my golden retriever, Piper.

My dog Piper is in seventh heaven. Though she is five years old and spayed, she thinks she has babies to care for. I’ve had her since she was a pup, so I know she’s never been pregnant. Piper has always been a rowdy tomboy who runs fast and plays hard. Seeing her gently lick the kittens and carefully supervise their every move brings tears to my eyes. I’ve never seen this side of her before.

I’m a foster mom – again – for the next five weeks or so. I’m happy to be helping the Richmond SPCA with a tiny portion of the heavy workload they have at this time of year. This is dangerous territory for me; I’m a six-time foster failure. Four cats and two dogs have come into my home over the years for foster care – and never left. I have taken a lot of good-natured ribbing for those facts and, I guess, I deserved it. This time, it has to be different. We have four dogs and a twelve year old resident cat, so I need to keep their needs first in my mind.

To that end, I have concocted a mythical family for Candy and Regina in my mind; two little girls, ages 7 and 10, who are ready for their first pets. They are loving parents-to-be that are willing to put some time and effort into raising fur kids, understanding the responsibilities and rewards that come from caring for animals. In this scenario, my job is to socialize these tiny kittens into healthy, happy, well-adjusted ten-week old kittens that will then be ready for their new home.

Kittens, like puppies, learn new things best while they are young. After a certain age, their “flexibility” to accept new experiences, sights, sounds, and tastes diminishes. For kittens, the optimal time for early socialization is somewhere between three weeks and nine weeks of age, according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners. 

Giving kittens a wide range of careful exposure to gentle dogs, many different ages and types of people, other healthy kittens, car rides, household noises, varieties of surfaces, elevator rides, transportation in carriers, and bathing will make them better able to cope with all the things that life may bring. Gentle handling, including touching ears, tails, tummies, feet and teeth will make grooming and medical care easier for the cats as adults. This is a great age to acclimate them to harnesses and leashes, to play with lots of different toys, and introduce them to scratching posts.

One of the greatest challenges is that many kittens don’t get adopted by their families until they have past this “learning window” of nine weeks. So, as a foster mom, my job is to do a lot of introductions and activities while Candy and Regina are in my care. That’s why I brought them to work with me today, and why they will get several other outings in their few weeks with me.

I sure hope that nice (imaginary turned real) family with the two young girls will appreciate how well-socialized their new kittens are. And, whether they notice or not – Candy, Regina, and I will have enjoyed our time together!

To read the biographies of our other 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: 
Meet the Fosters: Dogs in need of foster care
Upcoming foster care training dates
Foster care FAQ 

Meet the Fosters: Dogs in need of foster care

The Richmond SPCA finds forever homes for 3,000 cats and dogs annually. However, for those animals who aren’t quite ready to go home yet, our team must determine how to best care for each pet. Many animals stay at the Robins-Starr Humane Center working closely with our training and medical staff to improve behavior and health. Although our team works diligently to ensure the health and happiness of each and every animal in our care, sometimes what a pet really needs is a little time away from our humane center, and the best way to give her that is to place her into foster care.

Through the Richmond SPCA’s Meet the Fosters™ program, volunteers provide a temporary home for our pets, allowing us to expand our lifesaving capacity beyond the physical limitations of our Robins-Starr Humane Center. The majority of dogs and cats in need of foster care are underage juveniles too small for spay or neuter surgery and long-term residents who need a break from the shelter. Other foster care candidates are animals recovering from or awaiting surgery (other than spay/neuter), animals needing specific behavior training, and nursing moms and their offspring. Some animals may only need a home for a few days, while others may need one for weeks or months.

The Richmond SPCA needs volunteers like you to sign up for foster care. Even if you’ve never had a pet before or lack animal care experience, we can provide you with the necessary training and information to equip you with the knowledge and confidence necessary to care for a foster pet. We will also ensure that you have all the supplies you need to successfully care for your foster pet. We greatly appreciate any items a foster parent wants to provide or donate; however, the Richmond SPCA can provide all supplies needed, such as food, a crate and toys. All medications, supplements and vaccinations will be provided and administered by Richmond SPCA veterinary staff.

Are you interested in becoming a foster parent? If you are at least 18 years of age, you are eligible to foster, even if you have children or already have pets at home. We place animals into each home according to the individual needs of both the pet and foster family. The first step in becoming a foster care volunteer at the Richmond SPCA is signing up for a Meet the Fosters™ Training Workshop, including filling out the foster care volunteer profile. If you any questions or concerns, please check out the foster care FAQ page of our website or feel free to contact Tameka Peters by phone at 804-521-1313 or by e-mail at tpeters@richmondspca.org. The next scheduled orientation is Saturday, Aug. 25.

We a great group of dogs currently in need of foster homes. Please read their descriptions below and give us a call if you think you might be a good home away from home for one of our pets!

Name: Nalu
Breed: Rhodesian ridgeback and pit bull mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: red
Age: 8 years
Canine-aility: Goofball
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 weeks

Nalu is an amazing and sweet canine begging you to please remember the classics! Though he’s mature enough to be past the adolescent energy, Nalu has a very playful and giving personality. This humble canine just wants a hug now and then and to hang out with his friends. He prefers toys to treats and believes that sharing is caring! He will chat and connect with you and yours during play, walks and any valuable time you and your family can spend with him. Nalu truly enjoys having company so he would love it if you could introduce him to your dogs. When you come home from your daily duties, Nalu will be standing by the door with a toy ready to greet you (although he won’t give up that toy without inviting you to wrestle; he knows how to get you to play!). Nalu knows all his basic commands including sit, down and come. He is treat motivated and would love to learn more with you! Nalu is ready to make his way into your home and your heart. He’ll be waiting!

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Name: Olive
Breed: pit bull mix
Gender: spayed female
Color: white
Age: 2 years
Weight: 45 lbs.
Canine-aility: Goofball
Length of Stay: 1 month

Just look at that smile! And those ears! This cutie enjoys meeting new people and will greet each and every one with a big hug. Olive is quite the calm canine when left alone. She will occasionally snoop around the house, but if nothing is there to be found, she will settle on her comfy bed until you return. She is also comfortable hanging out in her crate while you’re away. Olive will chase a tennis ball as many times as you’ll throw it. (To her it’s “Heaven on earth!”) She is learning all of her basic commands and would love to practice them all with you. She has already learned sit, down, stay and come! (“Aren’t you impressed?”) She is currently acclimating to a Gentle Leader and is learning “leave it.” Olive is afraid of other canines and therefore would have to be the only pup in house. Olive loves all people equally and will give large greetings! You’ll have to use caution when introducing her to children as she may want to hug and kiss them as well. Olive is looking a foster home as well as a forever home and will do anything to go home with you!

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Name: Gilbert
Breed: pit bull mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: white and brown brindle
Age: 2 years
Weight: 44 lbs.
Canine-aility: Goofball
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 weeks

This pleasant young man will wait patiently for your return, always keeping the house neat and tidy while you’re away for the day. Gilbert is very loving and loyal. He often enjoys quiet peaceful moments with some of his favorite toys and blankies. He tends to have “cat-like” behavior (“I resemble that remark!”), as he will head butt and weave around your legs to show his appreciation. Gilbert loves to play and is very patient and polite. (“My favorite toys are the fluffy squeaky ones and tennis balls!”) Gilbert enjoys showing off his tricks such as sit and down. (“Wanna see? Please, come see!”) He is currently working on loose leash walking, “drop it” and “leave it.” He is afraid of other canines, so he must be the only canine in the home. (“Shh! Don’t let the other guys hear you say that!”). Gilbert thrives off human interaction and would love to get cozy with you on the couch or bed. Won’t you share your home with him for awhile?

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Name: Ryan
Breed: shepherd mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: black and brown
Age: 9 years
Weight: 57 lbs.
Canine-aility: Busy Bee
Length of Stay: I’m currently in a foster home!

Ever met a guy who was so focused on watching “the big game” he never seemed to hear a word you said? Well, that’s Ryan, but he has a good excuse. Ryan is deaf, but fluent in sign language (“I know sit, down, wait, leave it, watch and let’s go!”). Because Ryan can never hear anyone coming, he needs a home without any kids. He must meet dogs before he can go home with them. He is house and crate trained. His ideal forever or foster home would be low traffic and very quiet. He would really love it if he could have his own room (“With a TV. Don’t forget to tell them about the TV!”). A baby gate can be used for him to reside in his room. Please leave the TV on and the crate door open. If that’s not an option, Ryan should be crated at night. There’s no need to force him into a crate; just toss in some food, wait for him to follow it in, then shut the door behind him to tuck him in for the night. Again, he really does love TV, so it would be nice for him to be able to see the TV from his crate. Ryan loves going for walks, and loves to flop in the grass to have a good roll in the warm sun. Whenever he meets new people, you’ll have to give them the heads up on his behalf so they don’t catch him off guard; any sudden, fast or unforeseen movement can really scare him. (“You’d be scared, too, if somebody just snuck up behind ya and grabbed ya without any warning.”) If you’d be willing to share your house (“And TV!”) with Ryan, he’d be thrilled. Come meet him today and see if you can agree on the best TV channels!

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Name: Conway
Breed: hound mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: brown and white
Age: 2 years
Weight: 38 lbs.
Canine-aility: Go-Getter
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 weeks

Got bounce? Conway does! Energy is this guy’s middle name, and combined with some of the best jumping skills in town, he can soar to high heights with you! Conway has previously been known for overstimulation and a high energy level. (“I just don’t know when to stop! So many things to do, so little time!”) His number one trick is counter surfing, and he is amazing at it. More than two paws go into his version of this trick! He has come a looong way with his manners and really is a lovely dog. It is hard not to love him. (“Why would it be hard to love me? I’m so loveable! Look at me!”) He loves other dogs and would really love a break from the shelter. We are not sure about how Conway would respond to cats, however, so you must keep him separate from your feline friend(s). There is a prize awaiting the person or family that can train Conway to abandon the thrill of the counter and keep all fours down. Are you up for the challenge?

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Name: Carter
Breed: hound mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: brown and white
Age: 2 years
Weight: 44 lbs.
Canine-aility: Wallflower
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 weeks

This guy really needs to learn that his people will be coming back. Sadly, Carter has been adopted and returned to our care after he displayed signs of separation anxiety in prior homes. His adopters did not know how to help him. Unfortunately, the more he is brought back, the more his fears are assured that when people leave, they’re gone for good. Since Carter was returned recently, he has started a medication that he takes each day to lower his stress level and his fear of being alone. He has made a great turn around. Once upon a time, Carter was a very shy pup who would timidly approach all new people. Now, however, he is super excited to meet new people and LOVES other dogs! He has a sweet and gentle heart and would love a chance to bond with you and your family. He will continue his medication while in foster care with you and he will go home with a crate. All of Carter’s previous guardians said that he was extremely loyal, shy and relaxed while indoors, and he came out of his shell outdoors. He would certainly enjoy tons of outdoor time! If you could help Carter become more confident and trusting of people who must come and go as a part of their daily routine, it would certainly help him out a ton!

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Name: Marsha
Breed: pit bull mix
Gender: spayed female
Color: brindle and white
Age: 8 years
Weight: 58 lbs.
Canine-aility: Constant Companion
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 weeks

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! This sweet girl deserves all the attention she gets. She has been in our care since April of 2009 and still awaits a forever home, but she would certainly enjoy a temporary home as well. She loves to be around her family and go wherever they go. If she has to stay at home, she will just lie down on her favorite comfy bed, as she is very relaxed and quiet when left alone. She doesn’t need a long, lavish walk; she mainly enjoys the scenery. Marsha is very timid when meeting new people and may even give you the cold shoulder, but she will eventually warm up. For this reason, we ask that you use caution when introducing her to new people so that she can remain comfortable moving at her own pace.

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Name: Banjo
Breed: boxer and pit bull mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: red and white
Age: 3 years
Weight: 51 lbs.
Canine-aility: Life of the Party
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 weeks

Banjo is a high energy pup looking for a quieter home. He is looking for this type of home for several reasons. Banjo is very timid when meeting new people. Our behavior training specialist will meet and work with those who are interested in fostering Banjo and will provide the tools and information on how to introduce Banjo to new friends since he has stranger issues. Banjo truly enjoys the company of human adults only. He must be the only canine in the home. There must be no children or felines in the home. Once Banjo is comfortable he will show his true personality. He is an extremely loyal dog who wants to be a part of everything you do! Banjo is currently working on stay, wait, easy, back to me, and off. When fostering Banjo he will need regular training and must not pull away from his training. If you’re looking for a companion to be by your side and are willing to put in some work to help him be the best he can be, then Banjo is the foster for you!

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Name: Colby
Breed: border collie mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: black and white
Age: 3 years
Length of Stay: 2 – 3 weeks

Colby is in need of foster care as he is recovering from leg surgery. We are looking to get his leg as strong as it used to be so that he can get back to his canine duties! He will be a great candidate for several long walks per day, walking up and down stairs/hills and some daily play. Colby will love challenges to keep him happy and learning each day so he uses up all of his energy! (“Got a job to do? I’ll do it! I’m your guy!”) If you have other dogs in your home, we ask that you bring them in for a visit at our humane center so that Colby can meet them. If all goes well, Colby could leave for his new foster home that very same day!

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Name: Richie
Breed: pit bull mix
Gender: neutered male
Color: white and black
Age: 2 years
Canine-aility: Busy Bee
Length of Stay: hospice care

Here at the Richmond SPCA, Richie is a staff favorite and woos us all with his busy bee personality. He is very well behaved and well mannered when meeting new people. Richie’s favorite games are chase and tug-o-war. He will certainly give you a run for your money when playing keep-away as well! His favorite toys are the tennis ball and plush squeaky toys. Richie is extremely smart and treat motivated. He is currently knows sit, stay, down and come! Richie is a special case because he is in search of a foster home but also a forever home within our Almost Home Hospice program. Richie has been diagnosed with a heart murmur that has made him eligible for hospice care. Richie just wants to be treated like every other pup as if nothing is wrong. Can Richie come play away his days with you?

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Name: Lenora
Breed: boxer and pit bull mix
Gender: spayed female
Color: white and tan
Age: 4 years
Weight: 60 lbs.
Canine-aility: Go-Getter
Length of Stay: 3 – 4 weeks

Lenora is a high energy girl looking for a peaceful respite where she can be calm. She is looking for this type of home for several reasons. She needs to be around people she knows and trusts so that she can feel comfortable in her space. Lenora is quite shy and even scared around new people. Our behavior training specialist will meet and work with those interested in fostering Lenora and will provide the tools and information on how to introduce her to new human friends since she has stranger issues. Lenora is happiest with adults only and needs to be the only child. (“No other dogs, no cats and no kids, please! Just me!”) Once you get to know this girl, you’ll see that she is very loyal to those she has learned to love! She wants to be a part of everything you do. It might take her a while to warm up to you, but once she does, you’ll be one of her best friends!

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Linley Beckner is a public relations intern and adoption counselor at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our other 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.  

Foster feature: Annette is looking for a companion

Editor's note: Frances, one of our dedicated foster parents, was able to spend some rewarding time with Annette. Currently, Annette is at the Robins-Starr Humane Center awaiting her forever home. If you're interested in meeting Annette please call our adoption team at 521-1307 or stop by and visit.

Annette is a very sweet and sassy cat.  She is extremely cuddly and wants to be at your side no matter what you are doing.  When I first opened the door to her cat carrier she stepped out, looked around, looked at me, came right over to me and sat in my lap purring as if to say “OK this place looks good, you’re my new best friend.” 

Right away she walked around my house like she owned the place (she’s a little diva).  From her body language I could tell she was so excited to have a home again.  She immediately trusted me and just wanted to be loved.  She may be shy in loud environments but one on one she is confident and loving. Annette is very comfortable in the house; she has obviously been a very loved pet before arriving at the Richmond SPCA.  Annette is litter trained, does not scratch furniture, and does not jump on the kitchen counters.  She loves sitting in the window and watching the world outside.  She’s a big fan of catnip toys. 

Annette is very affectionate, she likes to sit on the couch next to you with her chin in your lap. She has a very confident and dominant personality so even though she does not mind being around other cats, another dominant cat in the house may be an issue.  Annette really wants to be part of family.  She is willing to give you as much love (if not more) than you are willing to take.  Annette would be a wonderful addition to your home, especially if you have plenty of time to cuddle and don’t mind a personal assistant. 

If you are interested in learning more about foster care, visit our Meet the Fosters page, call Tameka Peters at 804-521-1313 or email fostercare@richmondspca.org. The Richmond SPCA provides all supplies for your foster pet and welcomes foster parents who also have pets of their own. 

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.