Friday, April 29, 2011

Upcoming Events!

Can't see clearly through your windshield because of the pollen? See your way to helping the animals by driving (carefully!) over to Salty Paws for their carwash this Saturday, April 30th!

The carwash will be held at the Salty Paws clinic from 12-4pm and all donations will go to the Peninsula SPCA!



And don't forget to put your paws up to register for the Peninsula SPCA's Paws for a Cause! Sign up today by going to http://www.peninsulaspca.com/dogwalk/index.html!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Paws For A Cause Is In Four Weeks!

Paws For A Cause Is In Four Weeks!

Have you signed up?

Peninsula SPCA's Paws for a Cause is asking you to support our cause and help raise money for our animals by having fun with your animals!

(And did we mention that you can "walk" with your cats in our virtual walk?)

The earlier you register, the earlier you can begin collecting pledges. Set an aggressive goal for yourself or your team and encourage your friends and family to match that goal! You'll be surprised at how many of them will take you up on that challenge!

Want to get your company involved as well? Form a team with others at your company and get your boss involved as well-maybe they'll even match your team's pledges!

There are so many prizes you can win by registering and starting to gather pledges, why wouldn't you join Paws for a Cause?

You could win these amazing prizes!

$50 - $99 1 Raffle Ticket & Event t-shirt
(Pre-register before Saturday, April 30th and you will receive a FREE event t-shirt )

$100 - $249 Event t-shirt & 2 raffle ticket & Peninsula SPCA's 2011 Pet Calendar

$250 - $499 Event t-shirt & 3 raffle tickets, SPCA item, Peninsula SPCA's 2011 Pet Calendar

$500 - $999 Event t-shirt, 4 raffle tickets, SPCA item, Peninsula SPCA's 2011 Pet Calendar, & $25 SPCA Pet Adoption Gift Card*.

$1,000 & above Event t-shirt, 5 raffle tickets, SPCA item, Peninsula SPCA's 2011 Pet Calendar, $50 SPCA Pet Adoption Gift Card, and entry into the drawing for the 2012 Paws for a Cause SpokesDog!

* (Adoption gift cards can be redeemed for SPCA merchandise and/or can go towards the cat or dog adoption fee.)

The Paws For a Cause event schedule can be seen below and also found at http://www.peninsulaspca.com/dogwalk/index.html.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Happy Birthday!

Happy early birthday to all you SPCA lovers and supporters who haven't yet had your birthday in 2011! Want an awesome birthday party idea? Have your birthday party at the Peninsula SPCA's Petting Zoo! Some kids (and adults) have mini ponies and donkeys at their parties, but you could have a whole zoo!




The Peninsula SPCA has everything you could possibly need for a rockin' party, from a covered shelter, grill, freezer, ten picnic tables and so much more, not to mention all the animals!




The Peninsula SPCA has goats, llamas, chickens, otters, and more! To schedule your birthday party, go to http://www.peninsulaspca.com/zoo.html for more information.

Make your birthday party the envy of all your friends and let the Peninsula SPCA wish you the happiest birthday of all!




Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Kitten Season



Kittens are born completely helpless. During their first few weeks of life they depend on their mother's care, but sometimes, mothers and kittens don't have a home and many kittens from the Peninsula SPCA don't have a home to live in or a mother to take care of them.

There is a great need for foster parents for our incoming kittens this kitten season. These little kittens cannot take care of themselves and need willing and nurturing fosters to show them the love and care that they so desperately need.

There are two Foster Care Interest Meetings coming up so please come join us even if you're not sure about fostering!

Saturday, April 30th 1:30pm
Peninsula Health District Auditorium
416 J Clyde Morris Blvd Newport News
(located by Riverside Hosiptal)

Saturday, June 25th 10:30 am
Peninsula Health District Auditorium
416 J Clyde Morris Blvd Newport News

Please open your home and hearts to our helpless kittens. They're so longing to love you back and learn that their lives can be full and happy. Thank you for fostering!


Monday, April 25, 2011

Get a Gucci from the SPCA!

Love the designer name brands? You could walk away today with your very own Gucci from the Peninsula SPCA! Strut your stuff with a Gucci at your side and you'll have heads turning with every step!

The best part about this Gucci is that, not only will she carry things around for you (balls, play toys, newspapers) she'll also love you forever!

Come into the Peninsula SPCA today and adopt your very own Gucci!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Hit The Home Gym With Your Dog!

Everyone wants to get in shape for summer, but you don't need to go to the gym! Below are fun exercises you can do with your dog to stay in shape!

Exercising With Your Dog
(taken from http://www.petsplace.co.za/humour.htm)

"You've seen those ads on TV promising amazing results from all sorts of contraptions. Well, there's no need to invest in fancy equipment. If you have (or can borrow) a dog, you have everything you need to get in shape now!!! The following exercises can be done anywhere, anytime.

Inner Thighs: Place the dog's favorite toy between thighs. Press tighter than the dog can pull. Do not attempt bare legged - dogs who favor shortcuts to success will just dig the toy out. You could be damaged.

Upper Body Strength: Lift the dog - off the couch, off the bed, out of the flower bed. Repeat, repeat, repeat. As the dog ages, this exercise is reversed - onto the couch, onto the bed, into the car and so on.

Balance and Coordination, Exercise 1: Remove your puppy from unsuitable tight places. If they're too small for him, they're certainly too small for you. Do it anyway!

Balance and Coordination, Exercise 2: Practice not falling when your dog bounds across the full length of the room, sails through the air, and slams both front paws into the back of your knees.

Balance and Coordination, Exercise 3: (for use with multiple dogs) Remove all dogs from lap and answer the phone before it stops ringing.

Balance and Coordination, Exercise 4: (alternate) For older dogs, attempt to cross a room without tripping over the dog. Get off your couch without crushing any part of a sleeping elderly dog.

Upper Arms: Throw the ball. Throw the squeaky toy. Throw the Frisbee. Repeat until nauseous.

Upper Arms: (alternate) Tug the rope. Tug the pull toy. Tug the sock. Repeat until your shoulder is dislocated or the dog gives up (we all know which comes first).

Hand Coordination: Remove foreign object from dog's locked jaw. This exercise is especially popular with puppy owners. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Remember, this is a timed exercise. Movements must be quick and precise (think concert pianist) to prevent trips to the vet, which only offer the minimal exercise benefit of jaw firming clenches.

Calves: After the dog has worn out the rest of your body, hang a circular toy on your ankle and let the dog tug while you tug back. WARNING: This is feasible only for those with strong bones and small dogs. Have you taken your calcium supplement today?

Calves: (alternate) Run after dog - pick any reason, there are plenty. Dogs of any size can be used for this exercise. Greyhounds are inadvisable.

Neck Muscles: Attempt to outmaneuver the canine tongue headed for your ear, mouth, or eyeball. This is a lifelong fitness program. A dog is never too old or too feeble to "French Kiss" you when you least expect it."

And if you don't have a dog to do these exercises with, consider adopting one of the wonderful animals from the Peninsula SPCA, like Shadow!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Foster Homes Needed!

The Peninsula SPCA needs your help getting animals ready to find forever homes!

Many of the animals that have come to the SPCA are too young or too small (under 2 lbs or 8 weeks of age) to be adopted out immediately.

They need some extra care and nurturing before leaving the caring arms of the SPCA, but because there are so many, the SPCA needs extra hands and homes to help prepare these special animals for their new homes!

Some of the animals at the Peninsula SPCA have come from bad situations and have health issues, are too shy, or are too scared to be adopted right away. These animals need to be flooded with love and learn that there really are wonderful people that will care for them before they can be adopted out.

All foster homes will be provided with all necessary supplies and medications. Fill out an application by going to http://www.peninsulaspca.org/newfoster.html. Once the application has been received, a Foster Coordinator may visit your home to verify that it's suitable for animals.

Won't you please help us prepare these animals for their forever homes?

"We live compassionately, and while we can't right all of the wrongs in the world, we'd like to make the world a better place for animals one pup at a time. We want to show them that there is love and kindness in the world, and that they deserve to be treated well. Once we settled into our home and realized that we had the right set up to be involved in this program, we applied right away. The joy of nursing ananimal back to health and bringing the light back to their eyes, is absolutely incredible and we're thrilled with our decision to foster."
~ The Swingles

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

UNO's Fundraiser

Everyone needs to eat, right? Why not eat at UNO's and raise money for the animals! This Saturday, April 23rd, 2011, UNO Chicago Grill in Newport News will donate 20% of your check to the Peninsula SPCA!

Simply pick up a flyer from the Peninsula SPCA at 523 J Clyde Blvd Newport News VA and bring your lady, gentleman, kids, and friends to UNO's!

And while you're picking up your flyer from the SPCA, come visit our lady, Lady Baby! You can't bring her to UNO's for dinner, but you can take her home!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

A Menu That Is Sure To Please!

Hungry for love and affection? We've got the Menu that will keep you coming back for more and more!

Add 1 cup of attention
1 heapting spoonful of love per day
A pinch of warm snuggles

And what have you made?

A new friend!

That's right, Menu, the cat, is waiting for you right now at the Peninsula SPCA!

He's a small one-year-old domestic shorthair mix looking for a new family! Come see him today!


Monday, April 18, 2011

Cool Down with a Frostie!

It's hot outside! Come home and chill with a cool frostie, but don't go to Wendy's! Go to the Peninsula SPCA at 523 J Clyde Morris Boulevard Newport News VA and pick up your very own Frostie!



Frostie is a 2 year old Siamese cat just waiting for someone to adopt her and bring her home. She's very sweet, fully litter trained, and loves to have her ears rubbed. Come by and visit Frostie today!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Last Day To Vote!

Today is the last day to vote for the Peninsula SPCA!

We have just one more change to be entered into the ASPCA's $100K Challenge, where we could have the chance to win up to $100K! The goal of the ASPCA Challenge is not to just win the money, but to save more lives. Please help us enter the ASPCA's $100K Challenge by going to www.votetosavelives.org and vote by

1. Selecting VA, Peninsula SPCA from the drop down list
2.Enter your email address
3.Enter the security code (to make sure you aren't a computer)
4.Press vote!

If you want to help the Peninsula SPCA save even more lives, please consider adopting your next forever friend from the Peninsula SPCA. You can view all the available pets by going to their website at http://www.peninsulaspca.com.

Pets like Popeye here (below) need you to vote to save lives just like his.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Get Off the Couch and Vote!

Get off the couch and vote!



Or if you have a laptop, you can vote while on the couch :-)

There are only two more days left in the qualifying heat for the Peninsula SPCA to be entered into the ASPCA’s $100K Challenege! If voted into the challenge by their community, they could win $100K to help animals!

So how can you help? Just vote!

1. Go to www.votetosavelives.org Select VA, Peninsula SPCA

2. If this is your first time voting, you will receive a confirmation email. Please confirm your email.

3. Share this event with your Facebook friends and ask them to vote for the Peninsula SPCA, Virginia.

Want to connect with other voters? Go to https://www.facebook.com/PeninsulaSPCA to view and comment on other posts from voters!

Thank you for your votes!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Don't Just Lie Down and Give Up!


The Peninsula SPCA is currently in 55th place and we only have until Friday to get to 50th place! But we can get there. If every single person votes again today, and gets at least 2 friends to vote today and tomorrow, we can get to 50th place and be entered in the ASPCA $100K Challenge!

It’s so easy, why wouldn’t you vote? Just go to www.votetosavelives.org, choose Peninsula SPCA, VA, enter your email address and that’s it!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Say Cheese!

Have you seen our dogs and cats? No? Well, you can see them now on our live webcams! Simply go to the links below and you can watch the adorable dogs and cats of the Peninsula SPCA all day and maybe even find your new forever friend!

http://www.gadzoo.com/dailypress/Pets.aspx

Can’t adopt a dog or cat? You can still help support the Peninsula SPCA by voting for the Peninsula SPCA in the $100K Challenge

1. Go to www.votetosavelives.org Select VA, Peninsula SPCA

2. If this is your first time voting, you will receive a confirmation email. Please confirm your email.

3. Share this event to your Facebook friends and ask them to vote for the Peninsula SPCA, Virginia.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Vote for the Peninsula SPCA Project

The Peninsula SPCA in the Daily Press!

Thanks so much to the Daily Press for writing a fantastic article on the ASPCA's $100K Challenge promoting the Peninsula SPCA! The article is copied below and the original can be found at http://www.dailypress.com/news/newport-news/dp-nws-making-a-difference-0410-20110409,0,6701716.story.


The Peninsula SPCA is competing for thousands of dollars in grants for their shelter

NEWPORT NEWS— The Peninsula Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has entered a challenge to help save the lives of more animals in their facility.

The first phase of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 100K Challenge kicked off April 4, and will run through April 15. It's the qualifying heat, where shelters that get the most votes from the community move on to compete for thousands of dollars in grants.

During this phase, people in the community can go online to http://www.votetosavelives.org and vote for their favorite shelter. The top 50 shelters with the most votes out of the 93 that are competing will move on to the next phase of the competition.

"The second phase of the competition is where the real work begins," said Vicki Rowland, marketing director at the Peninsula SPCA. "During this phase, we have to save at least 300 more animals during the months of August, September and October than we did in the previous year.

The prizes the Peninsula SPCA is competing for will help the shelter with its day-to-day duties.

"We're participating in the competition because we want to increase adoptions in our shelter, increase the quality of care for our animals and return more lost animals back to their owners," Rowland said.

Currently, the shelter houses more than 150 animals, and has the capacity to hold 243.

"We're always creatively thinking of ways of how we can move forward and do better for our animals," Rowland said.

The Peninsula SPCA is hoping, with enough votes and participation from the community, to win the $25,000 Community Engagement Award. The award will be given to the shelter that gets the most community members involved in adopting animals.

In total, the shelter could win between $3,000 and $130,000 in prizes.

"We win regardless in this competition, whether we receive the money or not, because we'll be working with the community to save more lives," said Rowland. "It's not about the money for us, it's about saving more animals, and this challenge acts as a good motivator for us to do that, and helps garner more attention for the shelter."

As of Friday, the Peninsula SPCA had 1,165 votes, ranking them 56th out of 93 shelters.

The Peninsula SPCA is one of only two Virginia shelters registered for the 100K Challenge. The other is the Roanoke Valley SPCA.

"We definitely need the community's help. We need them in order for us to rise to the challenge," Rowland said. "We're really encouraging everyone in the community to participate in some way, whether it's voting online or coming to the shelter and adopting an animal."

The shelter has seen an increase in owner surrenders recently, which makes doing well in the competition even more important to them.

"There's a high cost that's associated with caring for the animals we have on a day-to-day basis," said Rowland. "The last thing we want is to have to euthanize an animal because we don't have the space for them."

One of the ways the Peninsula SPCA is combating this problem is with their Live Pet Webcams. The webcams allow people to see the animals at the shelter, without ever having to step foot in the SPCA.

"Our doggy webcams are helping us raise awareness of all the special animals we have for the public to see, and hopefully adopt into their homes," Rowland said.

Another area the prize money could help with is in the shelter's journey to become an Adoption Guarantee Organization. As an Adoption Guarantee Organization, the Peninsula SPCA would commit to save all of the healthy and treatable animals, reserving euthanasia only for unhealthy or untreatable animals.

The shelter is already making changes to become an Adoption Guarantee Organization, with the board of directors recently adopting a plan that eliminates the use of SPCA facilities and services for animal control purposes by July 2013, according to their website. The change will allow SPCA officials to focus more on their mission of finding permanent adoptive homes for all of their animals.

The shelter will know if they've made it to the next phase of the competition April 18.

"We've saved 30,524 pets since July 2004, so together we are making a difference," Rowland said. "If we can get the community involved with this challenge, we can do even more for the animals we have now, and those that will be coming into the shelter."

How you can help

•Visit http://www.votetosavelives.org to cast your vote for the Peninsula SPCA. Voting is open from 9 a.m. to midnight every day, and multiple e-mail addresses are accepted on the site, allowing people to vote more than once per day.

•Anyone without access to a computer can come to the Peninsula SPCA to cast their vote. The SPCA is located on 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. in Newport News.

•Visit http://challenge.aspcapro.org for more information on the challenge. Visit http://www.peninsulaspca.org or call 595-1399 to find out how you can help the SPCA.



Friday, April 8, 2011



There’s a little card making its way around the Peninsula right now-Have you seen it? It’s the Peninsula SPCA’s voting card! Volunteers, staff, and animal lovers alike are passing this little card around to encourage the community to vote! If you want to help encourage the community, pick some cards up at the Peninsula SPCA and pass them out to friends, family, and new friends! And if you haven’t yet voted today, get your votes in! We’re counting on you to help us win one of the top 50 spots in the ASPCA $100K Challenge!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Love to be in the limelight? Take a picture of yourself voting for the Peninsula SPCA and you could be featured on our blog!

Step 1: Vote by going to www.votetosavelives.org

Step 2: Take a picture of yourself voting

Step 3: Send your picture to our facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PeninsulaSPCA

You could be featured on our next blog! Here are some of our featured voters below!







Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Our Wonderful Voters!

So many voters have sent us pictures and videos-but we still want more! Check out some of our voters below!






Want to send your own picture in? Snap a quick photo of yourself voting for the Peninsula SPCA in the ASPCA $100K Challenge and send it to us on our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PeninsulaSPCA) and you could be featured on our blog! Remember to vote each day at www.VotetoSaveLives.org until April 15th! Happy voting!

We Want To See You!

The Peninsula SPCA needs your help right away! The Peninsula SPCA is competing for one of the top 50 spots in the qualifying heat for the ASPCA $100K Challenge and the only way we can win one of those 50 spots is if you vote for us! Voting is “just effortless” as one Peninsula SPCA voter said on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PeninsulaSPCA). Every minute counts because we only have from April 4th through April 15th to be voted into the challenge, so please vote now! Voters can go to www.votetosavelives.org to vote once each day for the Peninsula SPCA or vote in the Peninsula SPCA lobby and help us enter the ASPCA $100K Challenge! Tables will be set up at other locations soon for easier voting. Voters can also go to the following websites to vote:

https://www.facebook.com/PeninsulaSPCA
http://www.peninsulaspca.com

If you’re already a voter and want to help encourage new voters, cards are available in the Peninsula SPCA lobby and can be handed out to all your friends, family, or future friends! The cards give details on the dates of the challenge and how others can vote. The Peninsula SPCA is also emailing donors and volunteers, so forward those emails on to all of your friends and family and encourage them to forward it as well! With your help, we will make it into the top 50!



Along with voting for the Peninsula SPCA, we want to see who our voters are as well! We’re asking everyone in the community to take either a picture or video and send it to us on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PeninsulaSPCA) letting us know that you voted! Simply take a picture of yourself “voting” for the Peninsula SPCA and tell us who you are! Here is one of our voters!