Richmond SPCA Blog

Feline Fugue : Local songwriter composes tribute song dedicated to his beloved cats and the Richmond SPCA

“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” - Albert Schweitzer

Local composer and recording artist, William Johnson, has experienced the truth of Schweitzer’s words. His adopted felines Titan Kitty, Sereno Whiskerdo, Artemis, Zeus and Nishka Blue have all had a tremendous impact on his life and music. He has composed several songs with his feline comrades in mind, but the sudden deaths of his beloved Titan and Sereno lead William to discover that a pet’s death can strike a deep chord.

Sereno Whiskerdo and Titan Kitty

With the devastating loss of his feline companions last year, William felt compelled to compose and record an orchestral piece, “Deliverance (Crossing the Rainbow Bridge)” that captured the significance  of Sereno and Titan’s life. As they both were adopted from a shelter, he is kindly donating all proceeds from the song’s sale on the platform CD Baby and other platforms to the Richmond SPCA.

As any pet owner knows, the loss of a beloved pet is heartbreaking. It’s not only the loss of a companion, but the loss of a family member. We asked William to take us on his creative journey in composing “Deliverance (Crossing the Rainbow Bridge)” and the story of his beloved felines.

What role have your cats played in your life?

No matter what a day brings, I have found that my little furry friends always improve it. They have an impeccable sense and ability to communicate. For example, in 2015 I was diagnosed with liver disease. It took at least six months to get control of the symptoms, but during that entire period my cats huddled around me and never left my side.

I can remember that I would always wake up to a choir of purring during those days. It’s that unconditional love that can heal and empower and inspire art. Once my health returned, I had this overwhelming drive to compose and publish my music before finding myself on the other side of the bridge.

What inspired you to compose a song about your cats Sereno Whiskerdo and Titan Kitty?

Unconditional love. Music is a raw expression of emotion for songwriters, performers and listeners, alike. As a human, I find it amazing how easy it is to communicate with my cats. As a composer and recording artist I have an alternative voice that enables me to share emotions that mere words just can’t capture or express. The listener may not hear the same story I’m telling, but they feel the same emotion.

The week of Christmas 2016, a couple of weeks after publishing my first album, I lost the best four-legged friend I have ever known, Titan Kitty. To this day I wonder if this pain will ever subside. My routine vanished with his last breath. Everything changed and will never be the same, and my cats certainly shared my pain on top of their own.

Four weeks after losing Titan, Sereno was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease. Within two days, we had to deliver him to the Rainbow Bridge. It broke my heart even more than I thought possible. He was so attentive after Titan passed and never showed signs of illness. It was so quick and unexpected.

It was at least six weeks past Christmas before I even turned my keyboards on. I just sat there for a couple more weeks unable to tap into any one particular emotion raging within me. I missed Titan sitting on the back of my chair as I composed. I missed Sereno’s sweet disposition and loving head bumps and soft chatter. After Sereno’s death, I would sit with a constant flux of alternating kitties taking turns sitting on the back of my chair vying to be the new head of the studio.

Before I knew it, the emotions within me resulted in the songs “Dreamcatcher,” “Blessed Home,” “Missing You” and “Deliverance (Crossing the Rainbow Bridge).” This was the beginning of a long healing process.

I received several copies of the poem “The Rainbow Bridge,” but again those are words with a “one message fits all” expression. It was then that I decided to place “Deliverance (Crossing the Rainbow Bridge)” on the next album in Titan Kitty and Sereno Whiskerdo’s memory. Subsequently I decided to release it as a single as well and offer it to the Richmond SPCA. All proceeds from the single release will go to the Richmond SPCA and the many beautiful souls they care for until they find their forever homes.

Why did you choose the Richmond SPCA as the recipient of “Deliverance (Crossing the Rainbow Bridge)”?

I can’t imagine my life without Titan and Sereno. I can only hope that my contribution will provide the opportunity for unconditional love between other humans and their companions.

The Richmond SPCA has a tremendous impact on our community and therefore, myself. From the spay and neuter programs, sheltering of abandoned animals, the affordable health care for low-income household pets and animal welfare causes, to the placement of pets in forever homes, it’s hard to define the impact they have had on me. I am very proud of the Richmond SPCA and all of the volunteers and staff that work so hard to provide each future companion with love, care and safe placement. I am also proud of our communities’ officials, citizens, businesses and the media for their continued support of such an outstanding success the Richmond SPCA continues to achieve.

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To purchase “Deliverance (Crossing the Rainbow Bridge)” please visit https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/euphonicproject6. All of proceeds of the song will support the Richmond SPCA’s lifesaving programs.

About William Johnson

This William Johnson's first year as a composer and Indie Artist. He has released several albums including “Dreamcatcher,” which has been discussed in this interview. He currently resides in Richmond, Virginia and releases music on his website, The Euphonic Project. To learn more about William Johnson’s music, and other platforms this song is available on, please visit his website at www.euphonicproject.com.

Saving lives takes a community effort to help homeless animals

One of my favorite things that happens when people walk into our Robins-Starr Humane Center or our Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital for the first time is how our space, our staff and our volunteers immediately open their minds about what the Richmond SPCA is.

Manager of Community Development Gray Miller and her beloved Richmond SPCA alumna Olive model gear from Fetching Apparel.

We are a resource. A resource in action in our community. A resource that invites our community to join us in our lifesaving work.

Our résumé is no doubt impressive. Since our fiscal year began on October 1, 2016, we have adopted more than 3,215 pets in need to loving families. Our veterinary hospital is now seeing more than 10,000 four-legged patients belonging to guardians of modest means and Richmond SPCA adopters. More than 400 children will have attended our Critter Camps by the end of the summer, where they have learned about current issues in animal welfare, helped care for the homeless pets in our shelter, applied learning theory to dog training to teach dogs new skills using positive reinforcement and made dog beds and cat scratchers.

Yet absolutely none of this lifesaving would be even remotely possible without our community’s support.

In my role at the Richmond SPCA, I am the luckiest “middle man” in the world. Each day, I help people and companies support the pets in our care. The ideas our friends have are exciting and creative, and crucial to making our work possible. For example:

• This summer, Savannah and Zoey hosted a lemonade stand to benefit our homeless dogs and cats.
• On August 10, you may have enjoyed some chips and guacamole at Chipotle restaurants all over Richmond, and 50 percent of proceeds from your meal came to us.
• And until August 31, our friends at Fetching Apparel, a family-owned Virginia business, are donating 40 percent of all sales to the Richmond SPCA. (Use our coupon code, SPCA, to get free shipping!) 

You may have heard our recent amazing success story of Diamond, an adorable dog with a challenging physical disability whom we rescued from Kuwait. Once we had prepared Diamond for adoption, giving her extensive medical treatment and training, a young man named Zack made her a permanent part of his family. Our love and care for Diamond collided with Zack’s generous heart to adopt this sweet girl, and Diamond’s story became one of celebration rather than despair.

Compassionate cousins Savannah and Zoey set up a lemonade stand in their neighborhood and donated all proceeds to help pets at the Richmond SPCA.

While these events and fundraisers are fun ways to celebrate RVA’s love of pets and the generosity of our community, above all they are essential to helping us continue to save thousands of homeless animals each year like Diamond. We depend on the community to collide with us, just like Zack did when he adopted Diamond, to continue to save as many animals in need as we possibly can.

Thank you from all of us here at the Richmond SPCA and on behalf of all the animals who have been guaranteed a bright and happy future! 

You can learn more about our upcoming events and opportunities on the calendar on our website or on our Facebook page. Please contact me at 804-521-1320 or [email protected] if you would like to join us by hosting a fundraiser supporting the Richmond SPCA.

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Gray Miller is the manager of community development 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.

Sharing our accomplishments for the 2015-16 fiscal year

Adoption Counselor Danielle Long holds Binks, a kitten with Cerebellar Hypoplasia whose life was saved by the Richmond SPCA.

It is with great pride that we make the Richmond SPCA’s Annual Report for our 2015-16 Fiscal Year available for viewing on our website. This Annual Report provides a clear and detailed perspective on our use of resources during the fiscal year just completed  to save the lives of and to protect the animals who are the heart of our mission. The fiscal year being reported on was an absolutely stunning one in terms of the growth of our life-saving work and our services to support the companion animals of our community and the people who love and need them. I could never find the words to adequately thank the donors and volunteers whose help and support made this amazing increase in the breadth of the accomplishment of our mission possible.  

However, our reason for providing this Annual Report publicly is not to boast about having had a particularly good year but because we believe deeply that transparency to the public by non-profits is crucial whatever may be the results. Every non-profit organization should provide a detailed and public report that lets its community and supporters know exactly what has been accomplished with the resources that have been given to it. I am so very grateful to Tabitha Treloar for her detailed and dedicated work that made this Annual Report so thorough and understandable.

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Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of 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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"Nora" cocktail at Heritage honors beloved dog's memory with support for animals in need

Editor's note: For our 17th Annual Fur Ball, our friends at Heritage offered a unique experience in the auction package "Cocktail Crafting at Heritage." The package was conceived by co-owners Emilia and Joe Sparatta and purchased by our wonderful supporters Angi and Rob Pannell, who gathered their friends at Heritage last weekend. Today Angi shares the inspiration behind the signature cocktail that resulted from their party, which will be available for purchase at Heritage for the next three months with a portion of proceeds benefitting the homeless pets in our care.   

We were so excited about the Heritage package that we won at the Richmond SPCA Fur Ball last year because in addition to getting what we knew would be a fabulous meal, we would have the opportunity to work with Mattias Hagglund to craft a special cocktail and name it after one of our dogs. Rob and I had been trying to think of which of our three dogs to name the cocktail after, even considering using a mashup of their names. Two nights before the dinner, we found out that our friend’s dog, Nora, was struggling and not expected to make it through the night. She passed away peacefully at home on Friday morning. That night I told Rob that I thought we should name the cocktail after Nora. Rob said he was so glad to hear me say it, because he’d thought the same thing. We decided to make it a surprise for Nora's humans Dale and Allie.

Nora had come to live with them nine years earlier. A friend of theirs had found her but had other dogs and was looking to rehome her. They agreed to keep her for a little while…that little while lasted nine years. She was a very much loved pet to them and later to their two children, Stoller (5) and Arden (4). 

We told Mattias what we were planning before Dale and Allie arrived at the restaurant. When we told him the name of their dog, he produced the glass we were going to use for the cocktail and told us it was called “the Nick & Nora,” so it was meant to be! They were surprised and touched by the gesture and we worked together with our party to create something we thought would appeal to the largest number of people possible so we could raise a lot of money for the Richmond SPCA.

The Nora is Belle Isle Ruby Red Grapefruit Premium Moonshine, Licor 43, Aperol, vanilla, lemon juice and simple syrup.

We would highly recommend this package to anyone! Mattias was fantastic and made the cocktail creation process fun and informative. It’s worth noting that I had learned I have Celiac disease shortly before the date of the dinner. Chef Joe Sparatta created a fantastic menu that was perfectly executed by Mike Hill the night of our party, and the chef tweaked the courses so that I could enjoy almost exactly what everyone else was having. Everything was absolutely delicious! And, the staff was fantastic.

I hope everyone will go to Heritage for an amazing dinner and order a Nora (or two!).

 

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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.

Gracie's story earns the Richmond SPCA a Holiday Wishes grant from the Petco Foundation

Since the day she took her beloved Gracie home, Cheryl Tankersley has not missed an opportunity to tell the world how the Richmond SPCA brought them together. So in October when the Petco Foundation requested that pet lovers around the country submit their stories about how adopting a pet changed their lives, Cheryl was immediately eager to tell her story. She entered the Holiday Wishes grant campaign on behalf of the Richmond SPCA in hopes of winning a grant from the Petco Foundation to support our lifesaving programs and services.

Today the Petco Foundation in partnership with Halo Pets announced the winners of its holiday grant campaign, Holiday Wishes. There were 3,030 stories submitted, and the story Cheryl submitted, "Amazing Gracie," was one of the 53 selected for grant prize awards. The Richmond SPCA was named as a grant recipient at the $10,000 level! 

This grant will help us save more precious lives like that of the magnificent dog who inspired this prize. Now, in Cheryl's own words, here's Gracie's story:

Every soul comes packaged with unique and undiscovered gifts

In 2012, I began working with women with cancer. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss and for a woman, this can be very devastating. Being a hairdresser by trade, I began to fit women for their wigs as a way of bringing normalcy back into their lives. In 2012, I realized that I could do more, and I became a volunteer with Hospice.

On a routine visit to Hospice, I witnessed the amazing healing power an animal can bring to those who are hurting. Thus began my journey to find a special canine companion who would share in my calling of bringing comfort to those with cancer and hair loss.

In March 2015, I contacted the Richmond SPCA and spoke with Carly Sgueo, Senior Manager of Shelter Operations, asking her for assistance in finding me a therapy dog.

"The dog needs to be small, able to cuddle on a hospital bed with those who are fragile, have a calm temperament and more importantly, must have a loving and compassionate heart." Ms. Sgueo graciously accepted the challenge to find me a canine companion who could partner with me to help others.

Within two weeks, I received a call from Carly. "Ms. Tankersley, I have a very special friend here that I think will be perfect for you. She needs to be spayed, so she will be ready in a week for you to meet.

During her surgery, several mammary masses were discovered on our princess, and so we waited another two weeks. We anxiously awaited news to hear that clear margins were present and she was healthy and ready for a forever home.

April 24.... Oh Happy Day! Our sweet angel was officially adoptable!

"Gracie.. her name will be Gracie." 'Free and unmerited favor of God who bestows blessings.' Yes, that is our Gracie! Gracie came out of a horrendous living condition. She knew neglect, hunger, sickness and pain, yet her eyes screamed of such compassion.

As soon as we welcomed Gracie into our home, we discovered the amazing gifts she had been given. Gracie accompanies me to the salon every day where you will find her sitting on laps and giving comfort as I shave a woman's head. She cuddles them and licks their tears. She brings comfort to hurting hearts. She has such a calming nature which brings peace into any situation. She is a celebrity at the Hospice Center and is a true blessing to everyone she meets. 

Gracie's gifts are a true treasure that has taught me unconditional love and true compassion. After an emotional day of working with those who are terminally ill, my Gracie is a healing balm to my soul. Gracie has confirmed that my call is to work with those that are terminally ill, and you will find her daily by my side serving others.

 

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Tabitha Frizzell Treloar is the director of communications for 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 both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.

 

You can make all the difference for pets at government shelters

Every Monday through Friday, we visit government shelters around the Richmond Metro area, bringing dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in need back to our Robins-Starr Humane Center where we deliver to them all necessary care, including crucial medical treatment, prior to adopting them to loving, permanent homes. 

As our resources allow, we travel to other localities within Virginia and also to other parts of the country in order to save as many precious lives as possible. And we are always met with gratitude from animals and humans alike. Those working in our rural partner shelters are often especially elated to see our transfer van arrive, knowing that we bring hope for animals who have limited chances for adoption in their own communities.    

One such dog is Jake. He traveled to Richmond a few weeks ago from Cumberland County, but it wasn’t until after he arrived at our Robins-Starr Humane Center that we learned what a heart-wrenching journey this dog had endured. Friends of Cumberland County Animal Control shared that until very recently Jake had a guardian who loved him very much. 

Jake has since been adopted into a home where he will spend the remainder of his life with people to love and care for him. Although they can’t all tell us their stories, we specialize in second chances for pets like Jake. Your monthly donation of $12, $20, $35 or $50 will allow us to travel to a Virginia shelter to return with dogs and cats whose dreams will come true at our Robins-Starr Humane Center, all thanks to your support. Will you help today by becoming a Transfer Pals monthly donor? You may make your tax-deductible gift securely online here or call us at 804-521-1308.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love, safety and comfort you make possible for pets in desperate need of our saving.

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Tabitha Frizzell Treloar is the director of advancement 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 both your first and last name to be used as your screen name. 

Paws for Health illuminates the power of good company

There are few things in life that can bring more immediate joy to a person than love from an animal. Bringing delight to the people who need it most is the focus of the Richmond SPCA’s Paws for Health program. Paws for Health is a volunteer-based pet visitation program in which trained volunteers and their own carefully screened pets visit local hospitals, nursing homes and retirement communities.

As we celebrate our volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week, it should be noted that not all of the Richmond SPCA’s volunteers spend their time inside the Robins-Starr Humane Center – some give their time on behalf of the organization by carrying our mission to the community. A special group focuses their attention on how the sunny dispositions of therapy dogs can brighten the days of those going through difficult times.

The Paws for Health program has been in existence for more than a decade and was created by Dr. Kevin Connelly, former Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at MCV, in alliance with the Richmond SPCA. In developing the program he spent a year reviewing research, learning about other pet therapy programs, and creating strict guidelines for safety, health maintenance and risk reduction to exceed hospital standards. In combination with the vibrant volunteer corps of the Richmond SPCA and training services we offer, Paws for Health has thrived.

Our therapy teams are so consistent in their volunteering that they become staples in care facilities. For instance, Brenda Bracheau and her dog, Benny, frequently visit St. Joseph's Little Sisters of the Poor as a part of the Paws for Health program. Residents mark their calendars and await Brenda and Benny’s visits with great enthusiasm. Thanks to training from Brenda, Benny knows exactly how to interact with elderly residents no matter their limitations. Benny greets each resident with a balance of gentleness and enthusiasm, and for that moment, Benny is all that matters. His company never fails to bring up stories of family pets, laughter over his tricks and kisses and something to look forward to in the near future. Some residents even keep dog treats in their rooms just for Benny’s visits.

Besides the joy Paws for Health brings to residents in our community, the program also creates all sorts of connections. To become a part of the Paws for Health program, volunteer handlers and their canines complete a number of requirements including a therapy dog certification, an application process and multiple shadowing visits, allowing both guardian and dog to better understand one another. Once the duo is officially a Paws for Health team and can visit care facilities on their own, an entirely new level of connections begin to form as the volunteer teams interact with residents in the community. With the company of a dog, anxieties over health and life melt away and volunteers and residents become quick friends. Like Brenda and Benny, these volunteer pairs become familiar faces at the facilities they visit, bringing happiness into the lives of those who need it, and embodying the mission of Paws for Health.

For more information about Paws for Health, please visit www.richmondspca.org/pawsforhealth.

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Abbey Howarth is the Richmond SPCA's communications specialist. 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.

Q&A with a top fundraiser: Dana Taylor, Running Buddies team captain for the 13th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run

Our Dog Jog and 5K Run is so successful at providing vital support for the homeless animals who rely on the Richmond SPCA to save their lives largely because of peer-to-peer fundraising. Our 13^th annual event will be presented by Holiday Barn Pet Resorts on Saturday, March 21, but the fundraising got started many months ago. Participant fundraising efforts have been streamlined this year with a new online platform that makes it even easier to share your involvement on social media. There is still time to register (and take advantage of early bird pricing through Friday, March 6) and get started asking your friends and family for their support of your participation in this great community event. Top fundraisers are eligible for great prizes, and all who raise $500 or more in donations will receive a special gift that will be awarded at the Invisible Fence® Brand Awards Ceremony at the event’s conclusion. See how our top individual and team fundraisers are doing at richmondspca.org/race – we so appreciate all of their remarkable support of homeless animals through their tireless fundraising! 

Dana Taylor, back right, and a few of her Running Buddies team members at last year's event

We recently talked with Dana Taylor about how she got involved in fundraising for the Dog Jog and 5K Run. Dana is currently in second place overall, having raised $1,545 as the captain of our Running Buddies team, which is made up of volunteers who provide regular enrichment and exercise to the more active dogs in the care of the Richmond SPCA by taking them on runs. The Running Buddies program is generously sponsored by The HelpDesk Company.

Q: Which event are you registered for, the leisurely 1-mile Dog Jog with your pet, or the competitively timed 5K Run?  

Some Running Buddies participate only in the Dog Jog with the dogs from the Richmond SPCA, but there are several of us that run the 5K too.  There’s a nice 30-45 minute break in between that allows us to finish the 5K and get our Richmond SPCA dogs ready with their “adopt me” bandanas before the Dog Jog actually begins.

Q: When did you first participate in the Dog Jog and 5K Run? Did you fundraise your first year?

This is my third Dog Jog as a Running Buddy, and it will be my second 5K.  There are some Running Buddies that have done this for many more years!

Q: Was there any specific inspiration that led you to get involved in raising funds for the Richmond SPCA?

Dana, right, and Running Buddies teammates at the 2013 Dog Jog

This event is great for the Running Buddies, as we are already running with dogs who are available for adoption up to three times a week. That lets us get to know them pretty well.  It’s an event that allows us to combine our love of running with our love of animals. We get to see all the great work being done at the Richmond SPCA, so of course we love to raise money for the organization. We’ve had several long-term residents who ran with of us get adopted recently.  We fall in love with these dogs and are so thrilled to see them get forever homes.  We want to help in any way we can to support the mission of the Richmond SPCA, including outreach and education. It’s really amazing what we learn about these dogs and the attitude and beliefs of the community on our 3 mile runs.

 

Q: What have been the most effective tools in asking friends and family for support?

Speaking for myself, it’s social media.  I’m shameless.  Last year, I used pictures of my Richmond SPCA alum, Joey.  Anyone who knows me knows Joey, but not everyone knew his life had been at risk in a rural county shelter before he was rescued by the Richmond SPCA.  This year, I started earlier, and I think some folks are ready to pay me to stop posting about my fundraising efforts!  Around December 27, I started posting links to my fundraising page and told folks they could have a last minute tax write-off and help animals. That was wildly successful!  I also used pictures of Altro, a dog that I’d been running with and working with as a Green Team member for over 6 months.  I posted a lot of pictures of Altro during our time together, and my friends felt like they knew him.  One friend even posted that her donation was for my Running Buddy Altro.  All that said, I think if you believe in the cause and in helping animals, your message from the heart that will appear on your page is enough.  You don’t have to work with a homeless dog or have adopted an animal from the Richmond SPCA – as long as your request is heartfelt, it’s enough.

It’s also important to use the email tool and not ignore the one-on-one requests.  Not everyone likes using social media, and I know several Running Buddies just approach their friends and family about supporting their fundraising efforts.

Q: What’s your best tip for someone who is registered but might be hesitant to get involved as a fundraiser?

I know that it’s hard to ask for money, so on social media, I post the link to my page and type a pretty general message asking for support.  I also let people know about all the great programs that are available at the Richmond SPCA and what a great resource it is for our entire community.  Again, I think if it’s a cause you believe in and you let your friends and family know that, they will give to support you.  I surpassed my first goal of $500 around January 1 and got to $1000 by asking folks to give $5-10.  I reached that goal and have increased my goal once again.  The point is you don’t have to raise it all at once or try to raise thousands of dollars.  The way I see it, every dollar counts!

Q: What are you looking forward to most on March 21?

We all love seeing the community support for the Richmond SPCA.  The love of the organization is so evident on that day.  Of course, the Running Buddies love to run too, and seeing all the dogs out there for the Dog Jog is so uplifting.  (PS – if you’ve adopted from the Richmond SPCA, we love to see our furry friends again!)

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Tabitha Hanes is the director of advancement 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 both your first and last name to be used as your screen name. 

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Why is PETA silent? Supporters should demand answers to allegations of theft and killing of family pet

The silence is deafening. While there are many news reports of PETA’s alleged theft and immediate killing of an innocent and beloved small dog in Accomack County, while the family and many of their friends and supporters ask in vain for justice from our court system, while rallies are being held for the family and their deceased pet, while there are blog posts and other opinion pieces being written nationally about this shocking and horrifying occurrence, PETA remains silent. Totally silent. PETA, which is very vocal about most everything relating to animals, which is very fond of the use of hidden cameras on others, which likes to criticize those of us committed to the ethics of the no-kill philosophy, is silent on this matter. Silent about an occurrence in which their workers were caught on video taking a small dog right off the front porch of the dog’s own home after efforts to lure her off of her front porch had been unavailing. Silent about the stories of their return shortly after their killing of the beloved pet to tell the family about what they had done and give the family a fruit basket. As if that would be compensation for the loss of the pet they loved.

Edward Armstrong stands with Wilbur Zarate behind him as he speaks to the crowd assembed for a rally in Maya's memory on Monday, Nov. 24 in Accomack County.

No explanation is being offered. Nor is PETA anywhere disputing the allegations of facts. Why is PETA, which is not silent about much regarding animals, staying silent on this one? Their silence may be due to the advice of their attorneys. Without question, their silence may be the wisest approach in terms of their criminal culpability and civil liability issues. But, it is insulting to their supporters. And, it certainly suggests that there is no good explanation that their supporters would find palatable. All of the many people who have given their charitable dollars to PETA because they love animals and want to see them protected have a right to hear from PETA to explain why on earth it would do something like this or, alternatively, that it did not do this. If PETA believes that all companion animals should be killed, they should have the guts to say so. If its philosophy is that no one who is Hispanic and of modest means should be allowed to have a pet, they should have the courage to say so. If their people think that every pet is better off dead than in a home where there are limited financial resources, they should say so. If they actually did not do this, they should say that too. Because I and everyone else are searching for some understanding of why an organization that proclaims itself to be for the ethical treatment of animals would do this. And, we are wondering how often they have done similar things.

I heard Jeff Kerr, PETA’s General Counsel, speak recently and he indicated that all of the animals that PETA “euthanizes” at its “shelter” in Norfolk (the quotations marks are there because these would not be the words that I would use) are in dreadful medical condition and not able to have a life of quality. This could not explain the killing of Maya. According to her family, she was in good health and had a good life with a lot of love. What about that picture would PETA not like? Maya was utterly helpless, and her killing is heart breaking.

I have never given PETA a donation so I do not suggest that they owe me anything. But, they do owe their donors an explanation because the organization’s continued silence is an insult to the generous people who have supported them. It is a statement that they believe they can take a donor’s money that the donor intended to go to save animals and then, when they are charged with heinous mistreatment of animals, give no explanation or justification for the actions with which they are charged. If you are or have been a donor of PETA, I urge you not to give them another penny until you get an explanation from PETA for the killing of Maya, and so many other innocents, that satisfies you.

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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 both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.

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Your purchase can provide a special toy to pets awaiting adoption

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.

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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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