The 10 Commandments for Pets

This was forwarded by a volunteer. I thought it was sweet and it does make you stop and think about your relationship with your pet. I hope you enjoy reading it too.

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment.You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understandyour voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurtyou, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so. ALWAYS!

An Adoption Story

About a year ago, my husband and I adopted our dog Bob from the SPCA shelter in Norfolk. I found his picture on Petfinder and wanted to see what he was like in person. My husband had wanted to wait to adopt but after seeing his picture he too was a little curious. So we drove to Norfolk and filled out all the required paperwork to have a visitation session with Bob. After spending time in the room with him, feeding him from a KONG and trying to get him to calm down enough to let us pet him we decided to adopt him. Bob was only 30lbs but he was very sweet. We fell in love with him. At that shelter they required you to have a written form from your apartment complex that you had paid your pet fee and had told them of your adoption plans. Naturally we did not know everything about the adoption process until after we had decided to adopt. It was an intense few days trying to get our paperwork together and finding a time when my husband and I were both not busy with work to take everything in. I was really worried someone would adopt him before we could get back. We managed to work everything out and two days later Bob was homebound.

The adjustment period was very intense for the first two weeks. We had done the research on Bob's breed, English Pointer, and had learned a lot. I would suggest people research the breed of dog before they adopt because it really helped us to understand what to expect. Bob is a very high energy dog who requires A LOT of exercise, patience and love. We had only been living with our cat Ziggy who requires attention on his time unlike Bob who enjoys constant attention. While Bob had tested well with cats in the shelter our cat Ziggy was not quite as receptive to Bob's attentions. So he hid out in our bedroom for a week or two. We kept Bob out so Ziggy could relax. It was difficult for Bob to refrain from sniffing at the door but he managed it. Eventually they came to enjoy each others company and now often share our bed for nap time while we are not home. They also enjoy playing together. Wrestling, catching bugs and chasing games make up their list of common interests. During the first two weeks of Bob's time with us I was afraid it was not going to work out because of the issues our cat had with him but all they needed was time. I am happy to say that Bob has been living with us for a year now and he has made friends with not only Ziggy and the dog park dogs but everyone he meets. He is a sweet and loving boy who only needed a nice and loving home.

For people who are considering adopting a pet I would suggest a shelter animal. You will be surprised at what a wonderful and loving animal you will bring into your home and life. Bob is full of endless love and we are constantly learning new things about him.

If you have an adoption story and pictures to share please send it to pspca1@gmail.com. We would love to tell your story so that others will see the joys of adopting!

Baking Dog Biscuits: A Family Affair

Baking the whole family can do!!! These are the requirements for the Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits:

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup skim milk

Preheat oven to 375 degreesIn a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk. Add wet mixture to dry, and mix well. Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll out to 1/4-inch thick and cut out shapes. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool on a rack and then store in an airtight container. Makes 30 large dog treats.


I swapped skim milk for soy. I also didn't use a cookie cutter because I don't have any. I handshapped these and I think they turned out well.


Tada! Now you have healthy, homemade treats for your favorite companion. My dog offered to taste test each one...just to make sure they were safe to eat. Thanks for your help, Bob.

Happy Endings at the Peninsula Family Day

It was a happy ending for two SPCA dogs during the “Sunday in the Park” Family Day held at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News on July 20. Toby, a male beagle and hound mix, and Hula, a female rough collie mix, were both adopted and went home happily with their new families.

The Family Day provided a great venue for the adoptable dogs to meet and greet families and hobnob with other dogs that attended the event. Even the sweltering heat did not hamper Toby, Hula and lovable senior dogs Lucy and Lany from mingling and charming park visitors.

The Peninsula SPCA joined other local groups for an afternoon of crafts, music and other fun activities. PSCPA product lines such as shirts, caps and chip clips were sold that day, while Petting Zoo tickets and “paw tattoos” were given out to lucky visitors. But what made the day for the PSPCA were the adoption of Toby and Hula, which both have found a loving forever home.

Cross posted on Out of the Shelter.

The truth about FIV

Hi, my name is Jellybean and I am FIV positive. While many people believe this is a death sentence for me and other affected cats, I am here to dispel the rumors.

What is FIV?

FIV or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a retrovirus in the same family as the human AIDS virus, with a few significant differences.

How common is FIV?

"In the United States, approximately 1.5 to 3 percent of healthy cats are infected with FIV. Rates rise significantly-15 percent or more-in cats that are sick or at high risk of infection. Because biting is the most efficient means of viral transmission, free-roaming, aggressive male cats are the most frequently infected, while cats housed exclusively indoors are much less likely to be infected." (Cornell Feline Health Center)

How is FIV spread?

"The primary mode of transmission is through bite wounds. Casual, non-aggressive contact does not appear to be an efficient route of spreading FIV; as a result, cats in households with stable social structures where housemates do not fight are at little risk for acquiring FIV infections. On rare occasions infection is transmitted from an infected mother cat to her kittens, usually during passage through the birth canal or when the newborn kittens ingest infected milk. Sexual contact is not a major means of spreading FIV."(Cornell Feline Health Center)

What can I do to help keep my cat healthy?

Confining your cat to the indoors helps to keep them from bacteria and other harmful fungi that can affect your cats weakened immune system. This also prevents them from spreading the disease to other cats. Secondary infections are responsible for most diseases associated with FIV. Check ups with your veterinarian every six months help to track your cats health and maintain its wellness. Feed your cat a well balanced diet and keep a close eye on their health. Any changes in weight or overall wellness should be reported to your veterinarian.

How long will my FIV positive cat live?

It is impossible to determine how long any animal will live. As long as you remain vigilant and feed them a well balanced diet with regular veterinary visits your cat could potentially live as long as any other cat. There is no proven shortening of life expectancy with FIV cats.

I am 2 years old now and healthy. I love to play alone or with other people. I am very energetic and would love to have someone to play with me and love me. While I am FIV positive and should not be brought into a home with uninfected cats I can still be a single home pet or live with other FIV positive cats. Please consider giving me and other FIV positive cats a chance! We are still a lot of fun and will make sweet and lovable companions. If you are interested in learning more about me come visit me at my home, the Peninsula SPCA! Just ask for Jellybean my number is 16854. I look forward to meeting you.

For more information on FIV check out Cornell's amazing online brochure: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fiv.html