SpayHR | ART - Part 10

29 03, 2011

It’s Official…

artanimals2017-07-17T16:18:08-04:00

Sarah receives the Resolution from Mayor Fraim

March 22, 2011 was an exciting day for Animal Rescue of Tidewater and Spay Hampton Roads! At that evening’s Norfolk City Council meeting, Mayor Fraim presented a Resolution, recognizing and supporting both organizations and the work we have done to help animals in Hampton Roads. Sarah Crawford accepted the Resolution on our behalf.

Excerpt from the Resolution:

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved:

Section 1: – That the Council of the City of Norfolk hereby extends thanks, appreciation and support to Animal Rescue of Tidewater for its efforts to reduce the number of animals taken to shelters and euthanized.

Section 2: – That the City of Norfolk is encouraged to work with Animals Rescue of Tidewater in implementation of the SpayHR initiative.

Section 3:

[-] That this Resolution be recorded in the permanent proceedings of the City Council and that a copy be presented to Animal Rescue of Tidewater.

The entire Resolution is also available:

Resolution

After the Resolution was presented to Sarah, Council Member Thomas “Tommy” Richard Smigiel, Jr. talked about his dog, whom he adopted from ART, and encouraged others to adopt as well. Thank you Council Member Smigiel!

It’s Official…artanimals2017-07-17T16:18:08-04:00

25 03, 2011

March 25, 2011 Clinic: “Sometimes the Animals Win”

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A community cat from Lambert’s Point

Today was another busy morning and our last clinic for the month.

The majority of cats brought for surgery were community cats – free-roaming cats without homes, left to be cared for by concerned members of the community. As the weather gets warmer, these cats reproduce, enlarging their populations. Without caregivers to manage these populations and protect the cats, our shelters fill with them, along with the many litters of kittens resulting from owned but unaltered cats. As most community cats are feral or unsocialized (or desocialized), they are difficult or impossible to adopt into homes and thus must be euthanized. Spay Hampton Roads is very thankful to the dedicated community members who spend their time and money to help these cats.

Suzy Q

Sometimes, though, it’s the cat who helps the person. Until recently, Suzy Q lived with an elderly woman. One day, the woman had a stroke. Suzy Q began crying, which alerted the building supervisor, who then called the rescue squad. Without her cries, the woman may have not received help in time to live.

Zoey

Sometimes it’s the dog who helps the cat! The Valdez family brought Zoey and Spike to be spayed and neutered, respectively, this morning. At just a day old, Zoey was found under a fence by a friend’s dog. The Valdez family took her in, adding another to a home already caring for three rescued cats.

Chanal

On clinic mornings, the volunteers who assist with check-in hear various stories about how participants’ pets came to them. For dogs, the story is often that the person has taken over care for someone who cannot or will not care for the dog. For cats, the story is often that the cat was found and has been taken in by the person. We can’t share every story, but we couldn’t resist sharing this one, which the volunteer in charge of clinic scheduling heard when scheduling Chanal for spay surgery:

Chanal makes a new friend

“The blue pit with the butchered ears has a story. The breeder gave her away because he thought she had a prolapsed vagina and wouldn’t be able to breed her. He was wrong. She did not have that ailment & was healthy enough to have had a litter but fortunately she ended up with a wonderful caring owner who had her spayed. Sometimes the animals win.”

Indeed.

Help us help more animals win. We always need more people to get the word out about our clinics and spay/neuter in general. If you would like to place a poster or fliers in your business, please contact us at spayhr2010@gmail.com or 757-456-1215. Or, you can make a donation by visiting our website. Your time is also valuable to us. Please consider volunteering to help distribute fliers or participate in other outreach efforts.

March 25, 2011 Clinic: “Sometimes the Animals Win”artanimals2017-07-17T16:18:08-04:00

21 03, 2011

March 19, 2011 Clinic

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Clinic check-in

Our first Saturday clinic produced an outstanding turnout – 26 cats and dogs were spayed or neutered!

We have been enjoying this month’s location at Let’s Go Pet Care and even received referrals from them. Angel McInnis, who found out about us from Let’s Go, was scheduled to bring Joyful (both featured in picture) to be spayed. At check-in, she asked if there was an opening for her other dog, King, who is Joyful’s son.

King

Angel had prepared both for surgery, and the Neuter Scooter could fit King, so it all worked out. Joyful was named by Angel’s children. Like many pitties, she has a great smile and looked “joyful” to the children.

Bam

Carolyn Brothers brought the gorgeous Bam to be neutered. Carolyn’s neighbor, who works at a veterinarian’s office, had been trying to convince her of the many benefits of neutering for some time. Our program sealed the deal, and now Bam should be a little calmer.

Gian Petersen is certainly an advocate for spay/neuter. She has brought more than a few cats to our clinics. She finds these cats around her apartment building, where they have been abandoned. Gian had been paying for the surgeries herself, and is thankful for the help we can provide. She has been able to find homes for some of the cats.

For more pictures from today’s clinic, please visit our Facebook page.

March 19, 2011 Clinicartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:08-04:00

18 03, 2011

March 18, 2011 Clinic

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SpayHR Bumper Sticker Debut

Help us spread the word about spay/neuter by using one of our new bumper stickers! That’s what Bella and Bear Bear Cook’s “Big Daddy” did!

Bella

Bella (the camera hog hanging out the window) and Bear Bear (a shy guy hiding behind her) were the first arrivals of the morning. This cute Maltese duo lives with a Beagle and a Hurricane Katrina dog, both of whom are spayed/neutered. Their family does not want any puppies – four dogs are enough – and found out about Spay Hampton Roads on Craigslist.

pepper

In addition to Craigslist, today’s clinic participants heard about us in a variety of ways. Tiffany Wilson has been watching Freecycle, waiting for us to come to her neighborhood. When she saw there was space for today’s clinic, she contacted us right away for an appointment to have her dog, Pepper, neutered.

Alice & Missy

Alice Raynor heard about our clinics from a friend who had previously participated. She brought Missy, a Pekingese/Shih Tzu mix, to be spayed this morning. Juliette Gretzler heard about our clinics from her neighbor, who will receive a gift certificate as thanks for the referral. Elaine Woods-Martinez received an email from Willoughby iNeighbors, which shares community information with subscribers. She brought her Yorkshire Terrier, Otto, to be neutered.

We’re thankful for all of the hard work our volunteers and former clinic participants put in to share the message about spay/neuter. We still need Norfolk cats in our clinics, though, so please look for feline friends in need of a snip!

March 18, 2011 Clinicartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:08-04:00

11 03, 2011

March 11, 2011 Clinic

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SNIP van at PETA

Our first March clinic and – – – the clinic van had a flat! Quickly and early this morning, our volunteers sprang to action, calling clinic participants and sending everyone to PETA Headquarters (the clinic was originally to be held at Let’s Go Pet Care). With patience and flexibility, everything ran smoothly, and we had 8 dogs and 11 cats spayed/neutered today.

Kitty & Lenny

One story that particularly touched us was that of Francia Madua. Her daughter saw a man abandon two cats at a McDonald’s. The cats are now with the Maduas, who hadn’t planned to be their caretakers and were very happy we could help them. Though only one of the cats was scheduled for surgery, the clinic was able to fit in both Kitty and Lenny this morning. We are thankful for citizens like the Maduas who act with compassion and take responsibility where others will not.

Fig & Nola

The last patients to arrive were Dachshunds Fig and Nola, who came into Kristin Mauer’s life when the people who bought them decided they no longer wanted to care for them. Kristen suspects they came from a puppy mill and thus has been very vigilant about their health. Both dogs are up to date on their vaccinations and will soon be sterilized, too!

Because of the last minute change in location and ensuing rush to inform everyone of the change, we did not get to talk to too many people or take many pictures. On such a hectic morning, we were glad for the cooperation of the PETA clinic staff and dedication of our volunteers.

March 11, 2011 Clinicartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:08-04:00

1 03, 2011

Is this why some people don’t spay/neuter?

artanimals2011-03-01T22:58:53-05:00

Who says we animal advocates don’t have a sense of humor…

Pet Owner Not Bothering to Neuter Loser Cat

Is this why some people don’t spay/neuter?artanimals2011-03-01T22:58:53-05:00

25 02, 2011

February 24 & 25 2011 Clinics

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Neuter Scooter

This week clinics were again held in the Let’s Go parking lot, but surgeries were contracted out through the Virginia Beach SPCA’s Neuter Scooter. As with PETA’s mobile clinics, we were delighted to work with such a wonderful staff. They even offered us a view of inside the clinic van! (Please visit our Facebook page for those pictures.)

On Thursday, 12 dogs and 6 cats were spayed/neutered; on Friday, 13 dogs and 7 cats were spayed/neutered.

Sassy

The first cat to arrive Thursday morning was Sassy, who was found in a cactus at just a day old with eyes still closed. Sassy was bottle fed and raised by Patricia Orner and is now 9 months old.

Tiffany Brown won our dog food raffle. She had her Lhasa Apso/Poodle mix, Elmo, neutered this week, and we expect to see her Rottweiler mix soon!

With the check in process a bit different, we didn’t get to talk to as many people about their pets; however, we did take pictures and posted them on our Facebook page.

Both days brought warmer weather than we experienced earlier in February, but we were still happy to warm up with a cup of delicious coffee from O Jardim Brazilian Cafe, located next to Let’s Go Pet Care. (If you go, try one of their donuts-wonderful and warm!)

February 24 & 25 2011 Clinicsartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:09-04:00

25 02, 2011

The cost of FREE (part 1)

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A main component of Spay Hampton Roads is the Norfolk Pet Project, a long-term program that provides free spay/neuter to targeted neighborhoods based on income levels and calls to Animal Control. Most publicity for homeless pets focuses on animals at shelters or on the streets, with the goal of finding homes for them. We are trying to take a step back to get to the root of the issue: that more animals are born than there are homes for. Who can help us get there? The humans charged with caring for these animals. If an explanation of how spay/neuter can save the lives of multiple animals and that the procedure can be done at a cost lower than expected (and sometimes for free), we believe people will decide to have their pet spayed/neutered.

What is the value of FREE, though? Let’s look at the costs associated with PETA’s SNIP and ABC vans, with whom we contract for surgeries. These mobile clinics already offer very reasonable prices for surgeries and general veterinary services for anyone with a pet.

Cat spay/neuter: $40

Dog spay/neuter: $70

$40 can buy 8 packs of cigarettes; $70 can buy a full tank of gas for a large truck or SUV. For the amount of money you might spend on coffee or fast food in a month, you could help your pet and save lives.

While the Norfolk Pet Project provides free spay/neuter for qualifying residents, there is a tangible, immediate ($40, $70) value to that service.

The cost of FREE (part 1)artanimals2011-02-25T15:51:39-05:00

22 02, 2011

All About Rabies

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The City of Norfolk’s animal shelter, Norfolk Animal Care Center, will be offering free continuing education lectures in 2011, the first of which is tomorrow evening, February 23. The discussion is entitled “All About Rabies.” Come to learn more about the disease, the importance of keeping your pets current on vaccinations, and more. There will be a brief Q&A after the lecture.

This lecture will begin promptly at 6PM and will be held at the Fairlawn Recreation Center located at 1014 Kempsville Road, Norfolk, 23502.

All About Rabiesartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:09-04:00

22 02, 2011

Happy Spay Day!

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Today is the 17th annual Spay Day. How are we celebrating? By having two clinics this week!

Residents of Park Place, Kensington, and Lamberts Point/ODU are eligible for FREE spay/neuter for their dogs and cats. Please register online or call 456-1215.

Happy Spay Day!artanimals2011-02-22T15:56:23-05:00