Richmond SPCA Blog

Behind the talk at TEDx with Robin Starr

TED talks are fascinating and informative. I have long enjoyed them and appreciate the mission of TED to provide a forum for the spreading of fresh and progressive ideas and easy access to the thoughts of many bright and inspirational people. If you have never watched one of the many TED talks on an enormous range of subjects that live on YouTube, you should really take a look at them sometime. It is quite a repository of ideas and information.

Thus, when an old friend of mine called me about a year ago asking if I would like to give a TED talk about the Richmond SPCA’s role in the no-kill movement at the 2014 TEDx event in New Hampshire, I was honored and quickly said yes. Then, I thought as I hung up the phone “Oh gee, what have I committed myself to?!” A lot, as it turns out.

TEDx events occur all around the world and must meet a long list of requirements that bring consistency and quality to the events. There is a prescribed look to the dais, length and format for the talks and a process for ensuring that the talks and the videos meet TED’s standards. The talks are about 18 minutes in length, and as a TED speaker (talker?), you are told that the snipers will take up their positions if you go much past that time limit. You want your talk to be both consequential and also comprehensible to people who are not familiar with your field of work. It can be a real challenge to accomplish those goals in just 18 minutes or so.

So once I accepted, I was in the soup, and for months, I thought about the coming TEDx talk I had to give and got a chill when I did so. I speak fairly often to groups and to the news media so you might think that the TEDx talk prospect would not concern me too much. But, this seemed different from other things I had done in terms of public speaking. This had to fit a precise period of time, could not be done with notes, and would be put up for all the world to see on YouTube. Not only that, I had to go to New Hampshire to do it.

It took me a long time to distill what I wanted to say down to 18 minutes and then an even longer time to get it into my head well enough that I could deliver it smoothly without forgetting big and important parts of it. Sarah Babcock, our Chief of Education and Training, helped me to rehearse and gave me great advice to make it flow smoothly and convey the essential points with clarity. I could never thank Sarah enough for the time she generously put into helping me improve my talk. I also was connected by the TEDx organizers with Michelle Hamilton, who is a public speaking consultant, to give me some help with polishing my talk. Her advice was truly valuable.

By the time November rolled around, I felt pretty good about it but also nervous, which I suppose is natural. I was one of 12 speakers at that TEDxAmoskeagMillyard event, and at the dinner we had together the night before it, I was impressed with what a very smart and accomplished group of people it was. The next day seemed very long since my talk was not until the afternoon. I spent the morning watching the other speakers all do great jobs. My nervousness increased. However, once I was actually up there delivering the talk, it all felt fine and comfortable (well, except for the little microphone over my ear which was not comfortable at all). I really focused on the topic of the no-kill movement which means so much to me and remembered all of my points. I was so comfortable that I somehow went a little over the allotted 18 minutes even though I had hit that time length pretty consistently in rehearsals. No one shot me down, however, and the whole 19 minutes of it are now up on You Tube. Here is the link to it and I hope you enjoy it:

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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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Fur Ball makes Cinderella dreams come true for the most needy orphaned pets

What a great celebration of people’s love for animals we had on Saturday evening at the Jefferson for our fifteenth annual Fur Ball! It was truly the biggest and the best one ever. Because number fifteen deserved to be an even more special occasion than our Fur Balls usually are, we did some new fun things and had some special surprises in store for the guests. The evening’s Cinderella theme was apropos of the magical nature of the evening. Of course, the Fur Ball is our sole source of funding for the Cinderella Fund which is what we tap to pay for veterinary care and rehabilitation for the thousands of sick and injured homeless animals who come in to our loving care each year. Without the Fur Ball, we would never be able to save their lives. So, the fun has a very serious purpose. And, I am so deeply grateful to the title sponsor BB&T who made this lifesaving event possible for us.

Pat Manning, Robin Starr and Martha Dula

First, while the guests were having cocktails in the gorgeous Rotunda of the Jefferson, we honored Pat Manning’s remarkable leadership of this event for the past seven years. Then, everyone watched the most delightful display of doggie couture ever seen in the Pet Parade. There was a lot of mariboo, tutus and pearls and even a pair of dogs in elaborate ruffled Scottish plaid outfits that were worthy of Alexander McQueen. The silent auction during cocktails had fabulous packages on it this year and earned the largest amount it has ever done for the care of our sick and injured animals. The pets who came as guests had great fun and received superb care all evening from our volunteers and staff members who served as Pet Escorts.

After we moved up to the ballroom, it was my great pleasure to present the Ellen Glasgow Award to MARTIN's Food Markets which is one of our most devoted and generous corporate donors, giving us all of the food, litter and treats the animals in our care need. The award was accepted by Jim Scanlon, the Regional Vice President of Martin’s and a dedicated member of our Board. He spoke inspiringly of Martin’s belief in the Richmond SPCA and our mission and even took the occasion to announce an additional gift of support that they will make to our fund to buy a much needed new van.  A delicious dinner followed, and the remarkable piece de resistance of the meal was a dessert that looked like a beautiful Cinderella slipper made of white chocolate filled with delicious chocolate truffles. It was a true work of art by Jefferson pastry chef Sara Ayyash and I ate every single delectable bite of mine. 

After dessert, we showed a video that reflected the remarkable film making talents of our staff member Louis Handler. It was a Richmond SPCA Cinderella Story. It told the story of a little homeless dog (portrayed by our own alumnus Hoover) who received the veterinary care she needed thanks to the Cinderella Fund and then went to an adoption event where she attended a fantasy ball and met her perfect adopter there. They went off together in a gorgeous carriage and then arrived at the Fur Ball. It was absolutely adorable and made everyone in the audience laugh. You should take a look at it on YouTube. After the video ended, Emerson and Bekkah Hughes sang the gorgeous Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella song “Ten Minutes Ago” to the piano accompaniment of Kathy Hughes. Their voices were stunningly beautiful. The Fur Ball guests were thrilled and delighted by the video and the singing and even more so when we presented Hoover live and in person. Everyone laughed when I confessed to them that Hoover, who is now much loved in his forever home with one of our volunteers, is actually a "Cinderfella." Hoover was the perfect choice for the role, despite the differing gender, because he really did come to us very sick and in need of Cinderella Fund care and now is healthy and very happy.

Auctioneer Mark Motley, emcee Greg McQuade and Bartholomew Broadbent present the South African Wine Tour package on the live auction.

The live auction then began and it was a huge success with the most exciting and amazing auction packages we have ever had. There was a trip through the wineries of South Africa with our Board member, the renowned wine expert Bartholomew Broadbent, and a trip to a cottage in the Cotswolds and then to London. There was a gorgeous diamond ring and a wonderful bathroom renovation package. And, the most fun was to see our new adorable mascot for 2013-14 be anointed. Her name is Isabella and she is the companion of our Board member Jack Nelson and Katherine Gomez. She is a sweet and very easy going girl and will be a delight to have as our mascot as was the darling Rosie Hogge last year. The last part of the auction was the Angel Pledges when our wonderful and dedicated Fur Ball attendees pledged generous contributions to save animals' lives.

Isabelle with guardians Katherine Gomez and Jack Nelson

The fifteenth annual Fur Ball was a huge success for us. While we are still counting, it is clear that the event significantly exceeded our monetary goal for the evening. It also gave our very best friends and supporters a magical evening that they will long remember with their beloved pets. There is nothing more rewarding for us than to know that we will have the resources for the coming year to provide the veterinary care and rehabilitation that thousands of wonderful homeless animals will need. I am so very grateful to the Fur Ball guests whose generosity will make that possible and to our wonderful Fur Ball Chair Pat Manning without whom none of this would have happened.

View more photos from the event: 
Photos courtesy of Rich Terrell 
Photos courtesy of Caroline Radom
Photos courtesy of Melissa Desjardins 

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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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Whether they are budding journalists, aspiring veterinarians or future animal welfare professionals, we find that students often wish to make companion animals the focus of a school assignment. Staff members at the Richmond SPCA are contacted by students in elementary school, by doctoral candidates and at every level of education in between. We strive to nurture students’ interest in animal welfare and accommodate as many of these requests each semester as possible.

Many of the students who select topics relating to the Richmond SPCA have first encountered our organization’s work through either a field trip to our Robins-Starr Humane Center or a presentation given by our staff in their classrooms. In the last 12 months, our Humane Education department has given 147 tours and classroom visits. Others have participated in a program or event and want to dig deeper when an assignment gives the opportunity.

Such was the case for Emily Kinsey. She first became involved with the Richmond SPCA as the captain of the “Princesses for Pets” team at our annual Dog Jog and 5K Run in 2008. Emily has participated in numerous pageants, always with animal welfare as her platform. She is now 11 years old and completing the 5th grade at Springfield Park Elementary in Glen Allen, Va. Earlier this year, Emily’s teacher, Mrs. Nowicki, assigned her students the task of selecting a community leader they admired. Emily chose to interview Richmond SPCA Chief Executive Officer Robin Robertson Starr. Emily’s thoughtful questions and Robin’s answers are insightful, and we hope you’ll enjoy watching Emily’s resulting video. We hear she got an A!

Robin Starr - Richmond SPCA Interview from HCPS Instructional Technology on Vimeo.

Although the school year is coming to a close, opportunities for students to learn compassion for all creatures, get a preview of animal-related careers and put reward-based training theories into practice abound as part of our full slate of summer programming at the Robins-Starr Humane Center. Our weeklong day camp programs are incredibly popular and there are only a few spots remaining. Learn more and register your child at www.richmondspca.org/camp.

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

The truth about the American Kennel Club is exposed on the Today Show

The Today show recently aired a news piece that I hope everyone who cares about animals will watch because it exposes the truth about the American Kennel Club and its actual activities, or lack thereof to adequately inspect and responsibly regulate its registered dog breeders.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

We have long known that an AKC registration of a dog or puppy provides absolutely no reliable representation of the conditions that the dog was bred in or the physical or emotional health of the pet. But, unfortunately, many members of the public think that an AKC registration is some sort of seal of approval about health of the puppy they buy and the conditions in which that puppy was raised. In fact, one would hope that the AKC would help and support the work that the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA have done to address the dreadful conditions in puppy mills but, in truth, they actually have worked to resist standards of care and conditions being placed on breeding operations.

After being rescued from a puppy mill, a dog is evaluated by Richmond SPCA Chief of Education and Training Sarah Babcock.

The Richmond SPCA has worked with the HSUS and the ASPCA to break up heart-breaking puppy mills in Virginia and other states in which innocent animals were being subjected to horrifying conditions all for the financial gain of the heartless people in charge. As a result, we know first-hand the serious need for the imposition of standards for the safety, health and cleanliness of these breeding operations. For that reason, we worked hard a few years ago to urge the members of the Virginia General Assembly to pass a bill that would have placed reasonable requirements on commercial breeding operations in Virginia. That bill was strongly and vocally opposed by the AKC.

The bottom line is that, if you really care about the welfare of the wonderful dogs and cats that share our world, then you should always find your new family member at a shelter. When you adopt a dog or cat from the Richmond SPCA, it allows us to immediately go save another deserving pet from a shelter where his or her life may be at risk. You will not only have a wonderful new best friend but you will also sleep well knowing that you saved a life. That sure beats supporting the sorts of horrifying breeding operations that are documented in the Today segment.

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

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Travels with Lottie: a dog’s-eye view of the Richmond SPCA Track and Training Center

The Richmond SPCA’s 2011-2012 Mascot, Lottie Dula, is on the move to pet-friendly places around Richmond. We’ve outfitted her with a GoPro video camera so you can see her perspective on the world.

This week Lottie is taking a stroll through the Track & Training Center at the Richmond SPCA!

 

Like all the dogs that visit our Track & Training Center, Lottie enjoys a good jaunt up an A-frame or a leap over an obstacle. Luckily, the training classes that we are offering this summer will give your dog the chance to beat the heat while learning some new tricks! This is a great air conditioned space to work on skills together as you develop a stronger bond with your dog through education.

Atop an A-frame, our mascot Lottie Dula surveys the Track at Training Center at the Richmond SPCA.

Enrollment is now underway for classes in July, and we offer a wide variety of classes suited to the needs of any canine. We’re currently offering Agility, Manners, Flyball, Tricks classes, Puppy classes and Canine Freestyle. You might also consider enrolling your pooch in the Richmond SPCA School for Dogs, a Monday and Wednesday “day school” program specializing in manners, obedience and agility. School for Dogs is currently at full enrollment, but we are adding names to a waiting list for our late summer sessions. For more information on our summer training schedule and to view our training calendar, visit our training page here.

For more information on all the classes that we offer, call 804-521-1332 or e-mail [email protected]. 

Clinic for Compassionate Care will offer pets affordable care they can’t afford to do without

Today we made an announcement to the media that we are very excited about, and I wanted to share this news directly with those of you who read our blog. The Richmond SPCA will open the Clinic for Compassionate Care on March 5, providing full-service veterinary care by appointment to the pets of low-income guardians, pets adopted from the Richmond SPCA on or after March 5, pets referred to the clinic by another veterinarian, and pets in government shelters on a low-cost, high-quality basis.

This is the most recent in the many groundbreaking advances for the well being of animals that the Richmond SPCA has made. Since our founding in 1891, we have always been on the forefront of positive change and have pushed both our community, and the animal welfare field nationwide, to adopt new approaches and to let go of outdated notions in order to save more animal lives. Playing that role is not always easy because ours is a field that resists change. Well, when you think about it, what field does not resist change? Maybe some high-tech fields do not, but most of them resist change because people resist change.

Offering low-cost, high-quality veterinary care for pets of low-income guardians is a new and novel approach that has not been done in our community or in many other communities in the US. We know that many companion animals desperately need us to do this for them. There are many of them who are beloved members of families that simply cannot afford to provide their pets with the veterinary care they need. The result is that many pets suffer and die needlessly and many people are faced with the misery of relinquishing or euthanizing a beloved pet with a treatable ailment. This has been confirmed in empirical research that was done for us by Alan Newman Research and in our own experience with the Wellness Clinic we have operated since 2009. We do not in any way fault the veterinary community for this circumstance because they must make enough to pay the expenses of their clinics and to provide themselves and their families with a reasonable living. Veterinary practices are regularly faced with the difficult situation of a pet in need of expensive treatment and a guardian who cannot afford it. The Clinic for Compassionate Care will provide them with an alternative to offer the guardian.

The Richmond SPCA’s role is to save animal lives, advocate for their well being and make sure that more cats and dogs find good homes where they will be loved. Our new Clinic will be a great tool in accomplishing these goals. Our Smoky’s Spay/Neuter Clinic will continue to do its great work providing sterilization surgeries for our pets available for adoption, feral cats, pets adopted from other shelters, and pets of clients of the Clinic for Compassionate Care. The reception office, which may be reached by calling 804-521-1330, will begin taking calls for appointments and other information February 27. In the meantime, please visit the Clinic for Compassionate Care website at www.richmondspca.org/clinic for more details.

We are proud to be that rare organization that does not see obstacles as insurmountable, is not mired in the status quo and does not fear forging a new way. We act with energy and guts because the animals count on us for their lives.

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.

Katie Manning Memorial Scholarship will provide dog training in memory of a beloved companion

Earlier this month a dear supporter of the Richmond SPCA, Pat Manning, experienced the goodbye every person who has loved a pet dreads. Pat’s dear companion Katie passed away after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Katie could not have been a luckier dog. In Pat she found the type of guardian we wish for every homeless pet to encounter, and their meeting was entirely by chance. Pat took Katie into her home when the young shepherd mix was left behind by a neighbor who moved away. Where some would have seen a dog with too much energy and too little focus, Pat saw a need for training and provided it. Together they enrolled in classes at the Richmond SPCA where Katie’s eagerness to learn began to shine and her bond with Pat grew stronger. Last fall when we launched the Richmond SPCA School for Dogs, Katie was soon enrolled in the program.

Katie’s vivacious spirit comes through in the video below.

As a tribute to this dog who was loved so well and learned with such zeal, we have created the Katie Manning Memorial Scholarship Fund that will provide access to training services that will benefit future dogs like her, keeping them in their homes and building stronger bonds with their guardians. To make a contribution in her memory visit www.richmondspca.org/donate and select "Katie Manning Memorial Scholarship Fund" as the designation for your gift. 

If you've experienced the loss of a pet, the pet loss counseling group at the VCU School of Medicine's Center for Human-Animal Interaction can provide support. Call 804-827-PAWS or visit them online. 

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Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director of communications for the Richmond SPCA. Video editing by Eric Steigleder, community relations coordinator. 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.

Treibball, a German sport for dogs, makes its debut at the Richmond SPCA!

It may be hard to spell and difficult to pronounce, but Treibball is a great way to train and spend time with your dog! Developed in Germany, Treibball (correctly pronounced "Try-Ball") is a sport that combines intensive training, team work and cooperation. The ultimate goal is to have your dog move a group of large balls, placed at various points around the room, into a net behind you, using only their muzzle. And while the final result may appear flawless, the sport of Treiball takes dedication and a lot of practice. If you're interested in enrolling in the beginner's class, watch the video below to get a short introduction to the training process, as narrated by trainer Donna Anderson:

 

The next Beginner Treibball class begins Thursday, Nov. 17 at 4:45 p.m. Visit www.richmondspca.org/classes to enroll. 

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.  

Video tribute for 30 years of service to homeless animals

This past Saturday, Geraldine Thornton celebrated her 30-year anniversary as an employee with the Richmond SPCA. The longest serving member of our staff, Geraldine is known throughout these halls as a hard worker, a knowledgeable animal care advocate, and a true lover of pets. Following high school, Geraldine (known to everyone here as “Ms. Gee”) was interested in pursuing a career working with animals. While everyone else she encountered was looking for work in the business world, Geraldine’s love of dogs and cats and her talent for working with them led her to take a job at the Richmond SPCA. And here she has stayed! Our staff and volunteers are so thankful for her many years of service, and we’re looking forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with Ms. Gee!

 

Meet the dedicated Licensed Veterinary Technicians of Smoky's Spay/Neuter Clinic

This week is National Veterinary Technician Week, and we wanted to celebrate by recognizing a few of the wonderful, dedicated Licensed Veterinary Technicians who are so vital to the operation of our Smoky's Spay/Neuter Clinic. The theme this year is "Pets and Vets Need Techs," and we couldn't agree more. In addition to the three techs you'll meet in the video - Heather Johnson, Jenna Stowell and Kate Hall - there are two additional LVTs, Kelly Carollo and Tricia Dance, who are no less committed but were unavailable to be interviewed. 

These five professionals are part of a team that will spay and neuter more than 10,000 pets in the coming year. In a high-volume setting, this amazing team ensures that each pet receives the same standard of care that would be given in a full-service veterinary clinic. 

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.