In the last few years, we have noticed more and more owner surrender requests due to a temporary circumstance. We have had families that found themselves in between housing situations after being laid off from their job and they had no place for their pets to stay while they searched for new lodging. We had instances of individuals being hospitalized and no one to care for their pet. One couple was being forced to surrender their dog because it was a couple pounds over the weight limit at their apartment complex. The reasons varied but they all had the same thing in common. They were dealing with some type of temporary challenge and they were facing the heart-wrenching decision to surrender their pet. It became very clear that we needed to do something to help these people keep their pets. From this need “Safekeepers” was born.
In just six months we had already helped ten pets with temporary shelter, food, and medical care. They received vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery prior to being returned to their owners. We are here to help pets AND their people. We have found there is a definite need in our community for this type of emergency sheltering.
We hope to continue growing this program in order to meet our community’s needs.
Safekeepers wouldn’t be possible without the support from our partners The Petco Foundation and the Karie Ermatinger Family who supported our efforts from the very beginning. Their support has ensured that we could keep these pets safe and return them to their owners in order to preserve the pet and people bond they have formed with their families. We know this is just the beginning of many bonds that will not be broken due to a temporary circumstance.
If you are interested in supporting the Peninsula SPCA’s Safekeepers program please e-mail megan@peninsulaspca.org
The birds were chirping and the sun was shining- it was a perfect day for the SPCA Egg Hunt! The 2nd Annual SPCA Easter Egg Hunt was on Saturday, April 12, 2014. In attendance were nearly 200 children and their parents, representing the largest number of people to be in the Petting Zoo at one time. Additional parking was available thanks to Hampton Roads Crane & Rigging and Richmond Steel. At the event, children could take pictures with the “Easter Puppy”, snack on baked-goods from the bake sale, and of course, hunt for eggs. The SPCA Easter Egg Hunt took place in the petting zoo- animals and all! Alongside our goats and llama, children looked high and low for colorful Easter eggs, which were hidden throughout the entire barnyard. Fitting with the theme, the even cow from the Chick-Fila-A at Christopher Newport made an appearance. Every child received a goody bag filled with candy, free petting zoo passes, and items from the YMCA, Newport News Libraries, and Rebounderz. With a registration fee of just $5 per child, the Easter Egg Hunt raised $1,001 for the homeless animals of the Peninsula. On July 1, the Peninsula SPCA will become an “Adoption Guarantee shelter” and will rely solely on donations and support from the surrounding community. Save the date for next year’s egg hunt: March 28, 2015!
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