April 15, 2012 Clinic

Smokey

For this morning’s clinic, we were back at the beautiful Ernie Morgan Center. In addition to the familiar setting, we saw some familiar faces. Renee R., who had her girls Miss Pepper and Carmon spayed at the March 23, 2012 clinic, brought her boys Benji and Smokey. We also saw Tricia D. with Kitty. Back in May of 2010 we neutered Tricia’s dog Chibi. From just a month ago to nearly two years (!) ago, it’s wonderful to see returning participants.

Dahlee

We also love seeing pairs of pets. In addition to Benji and Smokey, there were four other pairs of feline friends and one cat-dog duo. Ann F. saved Blaze and Dahlee from terrible conditions. They had lived confined in a bathroom, inexplicably living off beans and rice, and were covered in flees. Ann’s sister found the cats and asked her to take them in. Now these gorgeous girls are in safe hands, though they were a bit stressed in the unfamiliar environment of the clinic.

Tigger

Someone who was not at all stressed was Tigger, who looked like a zen master sitting quietly in his carrier. His family said their ten year old carries Tigger around the house like a doll. He came to surgery with his canine companion Scooby.

Scooby

To see more pictures from today’s clinic, please visit our facebook page.

“Poop Already!”

A cute commercial from the Shelter Pet Project.

Dine Out for a Good Cause

From the Friends of Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center:

Dine at the Ruby Tuesday restaurants located at 1201 Military Highway in Norfolk (near the shelter) and 4488 Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach (at Town Center) and  Ruby Tuesday will donate 20% of your bill to Friends of Norfolk Animal Care Center. Your donation will support the shelter animals through our various programs including Golden Paws which helps to find homes for senior animals.

Before going, download a flyer from the Friends website.

 

 

March 23, 2012 Clinic

Shy Smokey

It would be hard to have worse weather than we had for the last clinic…and luckily, we didn’t! It was a lovely morning for meeting new people and pets and seeing returning participants.

Smokey the shy grey kitty was the first arrival. His mom, Deborah, recently lost her older dog and brought donations for the Norfolk Pet Pantry in his honor. Thanks!

Rocky

The morning’s first canine arrival was Rocky, an adorable chocolate brown Shih Tzu who was more than happy to pose for the camera. Rocky’s family hopes neutering him will help reduce his marking in the house and hyperactive behavior. This was a concern we heard more than once and is especially relevant when the weather gets warm and animals begin to mate and reproduce.

Keiree & Talia

Participants heard about our program through a number of sources, including mailed flyers, internet searches, and positive word of mouth.

To see more pictures from today’s clinic, please visit our facebook page. Make sure to “Like” us and “Like” our parent organization, Animal Rescue of Tidewater.

March 18, 2012 community cat clinic

SpayHR sponsored our first cats-only clinic on Sunday for free-roaming/community cats.

Our dedicated TNR volunteers had twenty-five cats ready for surgery Sunday morning, then recovered everyone this week. Thank you!

Old Man

One cat who really caught our attention was Old Man. He’s actually quite friendly but has had a rough time on the streets. Old Man has been recovering indoors and has no interest in returning to outside  life. Please contact us if you would like to adopt him.

See our facebook page for more pictures from the clinic.

March 9, 2012 Clinic

This morning’s nasty weather made it difficult to get pictures or stories from clinic participants. In total, 15 cats and 9 dogs were spayed/neutered.

Choco

Cats and Pit Bull Terriers are our shelter’s real underdogs, and we hold them dear to our hearts. So, we couldn’t help but swoon over handsome Choco this morning. What a sweetie to pose for us in the rain.

SpayHR is a project through Animal Rescue of Tidewater, who also reach out to the community through the Pit Bull Awareness Coalition. If you haven’t played before, try to Find the Pittie, a game linked from the PBAC website.

 

TNR coverage on WVEC

Norfolk considers controversial proposal to control feral cats

Christie Chipps Peters of the Portsmouth Humane Society addresses the notion of “controversy” in the story well: “It’s a problem that’s already there and I think that we’re just being able to provide a solution,” she added, “I don’t understand the controversy. to me it’s black and white. you save a life or you don’t.”

Thanks to Norfolk City Council member Tommy Smigiel for voicing his support.

Part of the video segment is filmed at the Lambert’s Point colony near Tortilla West.

Sharon Adams of the Virginia Beach SPCA argues that a TNR effort by the city of Norfolk may encourage residents to abandon their cats That already happens. Residents abandon their dogs, too. Adams also makes the specious argument that feral cats die violent deaths, such as being hit by cars or shot by BB guns. That does happen, as it does to “owned” cats who are allowed to roam.

Ultimately, more TNR support and action would lead to a decrease in the overall population of free-roaming cats and the subsequent intake of these cats by Animal Control.