As the retail and procurement manager at the Richmond SPCA, I spend a lot of my time with my eyes glued to a computer monitor researching dog and cat toys and supplies. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but because I very much have a Type-A personality, I often ache to do more. While walking through the adoption lobby and looking into the many furry faces awaiting loving homes, I began thinking – how can I, a retail-focused employee, help to better the lives of these precious pets?
A few days ago, I came up with the idea that the Richmond SPCA Gift Shop would donate a toy to a homeless pet for every online order we receive. With the help of our communications manager, Caroline Radom, we posted about this effort on Facebook. Thanks to the generosity of those who placed orders on our online store, I made some new four-legged friends.
It was awesome to see an adorable kitten, Mario, bat around his brand-new rattle mouse toy. The real joy, however, was giving a toy to Gina, a 12-year-old Boston Terrier. I’ll admit that I don’t take enough time to love on the pets in our building. I’m a big baby, and I occasionally find it difficult to grow attached to a pet only to have to say goodbye when they find a loving home. This morning, though, when I gave Gina her new toy and at first she just wanted to snuggle up in my lap…it made my heart melt. She climbed up into my lap, rested her head in the crook of my elbow and let out a contented little sigh. It absolutely made my morning. After snuggle time, I showed Gina how the treat-dispensing toy worked, and she totally went to town on it; she loves it, which makes the whole experience very rewarding.
Now through the end of September you can provide a toy to a homeless pet by shopping at www.richmondspcagiftshop.org and I will be happy to post pictures on our shop’s Facebook page of these pets enjoying their new toys! I also hope that these photos will help pets like Gina to find permanent, loving homes. You can help by shopping on our online store, spreading the word about this effort, or by stopping in to the Richmond SPCA to visit with the pets in our care.
Click here for more info about Gina. She is truly made of sweetness, adores cuddling, and will love you – wholeheartedly – if you give her the chance. All proceeds from purchases directly benefit the orphaned pets in our shelter.
Can’t shop online? Stop into our shop at 2519 Hermitage Road, mention this story to our sales associate, and we’ll make sure a pet awaiting adoption receives a special toy.
Abby Waller is the retail and procurement 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
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