Lady and Lucky are

two old timers who

came in together one

afternoon in early De-

cember.

Their people were

moving and, unfortu-

nately, Lucky and La-

dy were being left be-

hind. The chubby

Labrador mix and ro-

tund Beagle were an

odd couple to say the

least, but they adored

each other’s company

and staff and volun-

teers all had their fin-

gers crossed that

someone would be

kind enough to keep

the old retirees togeth-

er.

Lucky and Lady did

everything together,

sleeping in the same

run and playing in the

same yard and sweet-

ly accepted treats.

Lucky, the beagle,

loved to bound

around his kennel run

and he had never met

a squeaky toy that he

didn’t like.

Lady fed off Lucky’s

happiness.

The two loved to go

on walks together and

waddle around the

play yard.

It is rare to see some-

one who is willing to

take two dogs home at

once and even rarer to

see someone willing

to take in two retirees

in their twilight years.

But fortunately, for

Lucky and Lady, it

was their “lucky” day!

They both went home

to a family with chil-

dren and lots of love

to spare for these

sweet elders.

The family came in

not one but THREE

times to visit with

their new fur-ever

friends before they

adopted, each time

falling more and more

in love with their

sweet, happy faces.

Congratulations

Lucky and Lady!

Lady and Lucky

March 1, 2013

Volume 8, Issue 8

Pet Tails

Inside this issue:

Speed Dating for Dogs 2

Wildlife Dilemma 2

Spring-Time Safety Tips 3

Animal Spotlight 4

Some Animal Facts 4

Get to Know Your Breed 5

Meet the Staff 6

Facebook/Twitter 6

Meet the Volunteers 7

Kudos to Our Youth 8

Meet the Officers 8

Volunteer Opportunities

and Miscellaneous 9

Virginia Beach Animal

Care & Adoption Center

Volume 8, Issue 8 Page 2

Speed Dating for Dogs

During a weekly supervisor's meeting last March, Supervisor J.Hewes told the group of a "Speed Dating" for dogs adoption event that had been done at another shelter. The idea was to have dogs brought out to po-tential adopters by volunteers and let the adopters spend about two minutes with each dog. Then the adopters would pick a dog or two that they liked more than the others and spend much more time getting to know the dog(s). The supervisors loved the idea and decided to use the event for the shelter's monthly adoption special for February of

2013. They also decided that cats would be BOGO that day since cats are probably not good "speed dat-ers!" After much publicity, the "Speed Da-ting for Dogs and BOGO Cats Adop-tion Event" occurred on Saturday, February 16, 2013. The shelter was marvelously outfitted with Valentine's Day decorations and many volun-teers attended, eager to help. Local florist Wayne Jones provided carna-tions for the adopters and Twisted Sister cupcakes wanted adopters to enjoy a free cupcake to celebrate their new FURever Friend. However,

when the doors opened at 10a.m. only a handful of people trickled in. Had the threats of foul weather kept them away? Never-the-less, adopters did come throughout the day and we adjusted the speed dating a little by walking adopters to each dog cage for two minutes. By the time the doors closed at 3p.m. 18 dogs and 6 cats had found FURever homes! It turned out to be a great adoption day after all was said and done!

Animal control responds to hundreds and thousands of wildlife calls a year. Anywhere from wildlife in traps, pesky rac-

coons in the trash bins, opossum in the garage and fox that get a little too close for comfort. Among these calls we also get the all too

frequent, the sun is out, and so is the wildlife, there must be something wrong with it. Allow us to take the time to clear up some of

these long standing problems and misconceptions.

People love wildlife, this we all know. They are fun to watch, we love to

watch them grow, and we enjoy seeing them in their natural environment. Another

thing people love to do is to feed wildlife. What could be wrong with that? Leftovers in

the fridge that are going to go bad anyway, I’ll just put it outside and let the nightly

critters have at it. As harmless as this may sound it actually contributes to the overall

problem we hear so much about. The wildlife has honed in on this guilty pleasure we

people seem to have. They have learned that your neighbor leaves cat food out, that the

person down the street loves to put bird seed out, and that you never close your trash

can lid. Why go out and hunt for a meal when we make it so easy for them?

We don’t just leave food out at night; it’s easily accessible at all times. This

leads to our second biggest complaint. Why is this raccoon walking around in my gar-

age and why is this fox meandering through my yard during broad daylight?! The larger our city grows, the more space we consume.

It’s safe to say, with the size of our city we are sharing more and more of it with the city wildlife. Although we may not be used to

seeing wildlife all the time, they are sure use to seeing us. As the city has expanded, wildlife over the years has become increasingly

bolder and less afraid of our presence. Making food so easy to come by in our own backyards does not help with this problem. We

get up in the middle of the night sometimes for a snack, so do they. Our night vs. their night is just different.

With this being said, any alarming, unusual behavior displayed by wildlife should be reported. Signs

of alarming behavior can be extreme aggression, confusion, extreme lethargy (if any wildlife allows

you to walk right up to it without fleeing, that is usually not normal behavior), or if an animal looks

sickly (extremely underweight, wheezing, having trouble breathing, discharge from nose or eyes).

We can all do our part with the wildlife problem. Please pick up any dog or cat food bowls that are

left outside, secure your trash can lids, do not throw any old food out into your yard or woods, and do

not feed the ducks or geese. Our number one recommendation is to enjoy the wildlife from afar; in no

way should anyone ever attempt to lure wildlife closer or feed wildlife out of your hand. Any other questions or concerns, or if you

would like advice as to how to wildlife proof your yard or residence please call or you may visit the wildlife game and inland fisher-

ies website: www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/urban/

Wildlife Dilemma

Volume 8, Issue 8 Page 3

Spring-Time Safety Tips

Spring has sprung, and with the change

of season, our thoughts inevitably turn

to Easter celebrations, spring cleaning

and much-needed home improvement

projects. But the new balmy weather

can prove not-so-sunny for curious

pets—or their unwitting parents. Before

you embark on seasonal chores or out-

door revelry, take inventory of potential

springtime hazards for your delicate,

furry friend.

Easter Treats and Decorations

Keep Easter lilies and candy bunnies in

check—chocolate goodies are toxic to

cats, dogs and ferrets, and lilies can be

fatal if ingested by our furry friends. And

be mindful, kitties love to nibble on col-

orful plastic grass, which can lead to an

obstructed digestive tract, severe vomit-

ing and dehydration. Moreover,

while bunnies, chicks and other festive

animals are adorable, resist the urge to

buy—these cute babies grow up fast and

often require specialized care!

Screen Yourself

Many pet parents welcome the breezy

days of spring by opening their windows.

Unfortunately, they also unknowingly

put their pets at risk—especially cats,

who are apt to jump or fall through un-

screened windows. Be sure to install

snug and sturdy screens in all of your

windows. If you have adjustable

screens, make sure they are tightly

wedged into window frames.

Buckle Up!

While every pet parent knows dogs love

to feel the wind on their furry faces,

allowing them to ride in the bed of pick-

up trucks or stick their heads out of

moving-car windows is dangerous. Fly-

ing debris and insects can cause inner

ear or eye injuries and lung infections,

and abrupt stops or turns can cause

major injury, or worse! Pets in cars

should always be secured in a crate or

wearing a seatbelt harness designed

especially for them. In the City of Virgin-

ia Beach allowing an animal to ride in

the open bed of a truck is against the

law unless it is secured inside a crate!

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradi-

tion in many households, but be sure to

keep all cleaners and chemicals out of

your pets’ way! Almost all commercially

sold cleaning products contain chemicals

that are harmful to pets. The key to

using them safely is to read and follow

label directions for proper use and stor-

age.

Home Improvement 101

Products such as paints, mineral spirits

and solvents can be toxic to your pets

and cause severe irritation or chemical

burns. Carefully read all labels to see if

the product is safe to use around your

furry friends. Also, be cautious of physi-

cal hazards, including nails, staples,

insulation, blades and power tools. It

may be wise to confine your dog or cat

to a designated pet-friendly room during

home improvement projects.

Let Your Garden Grow—With Care

Pet parents, take care—fertilizers, insec-

ticides and herbicides keep our plants

and lawns healthy and green, but their

ingredients aren't meant for four-legged

consumption and can be fatal if your pet

ingests them. Always store these poi-

sonous products in out-of-the-way plac-

es and follow label instructions careful-

ly.

Poisonous Plants

Time to let your garden grow! But be-

ware, many popular springtime plants—

including Easter lilies, rhododendron and

azaleas—are highly toxic to pets and can

easily prove fatal if eaten.

Ah-Ah-Achoo!

Like their sneezy human counterparts,

pets can be allergic to foods, dust,

plants and pollens. Allergic reactions in

dogs and cats can cause minor sniffling

and sneezing as well as life-threatening

anaphylactic shock. If you suspect your

pet has a springtime allergy, please visit

your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Pesky Little Critters

April showers bring May flowers—and an

onslaught of bugs! Make sure your pet is

on year-round heartworm preventive

medication, as well as a flea and tick

control program. Ask your doctor to rec-

ommend a plan designed specifically for

your pet.

Out and About

Warmer weather means more trips to

the park, longer walks and more chanc-

es for your pet to wander off! Make sure

your dog or cat has a microchip for iden-

tification and wears a tag imprinted with

your home address, cell phone and any

other relevant contact information. Ca-

nines should wear flat (never choke!)

collars, please.

If you suspect your pet may have come

in contact with or ingested a potentially

poisonous substance, contact your local

veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison

Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Rabbits are small mammals found all over the world.

A male rabbit is called a Buck and a female rabbit is called a Doe.

Rabbits can be housetrained to live indoors.

They have fragile bones and must be treated with care.

Baby rabbits are born blind and hairless.

Rabbits can learn to come when called by name.

Cockatiels can live to be 20 years old.

They are very gentle and calm birds.

Cockatiels are native to Australia.

They love to eat apple and orange slices.

A cockatiel can learn to whistle simple tunes.

Cockatiels are very social birds and need lots of interaction.

Fumes from cookware with Teflon can hurt your bird.

Handfed cockatiels are more likely to talk.

“Treasure”- Domestic Short Hair (Female)

I’m a 1 yr old very affectionate little girl and I love having my head rubbed. I am easygoing, curious, and playful so I would provide hours of entertainment for you.

“Mack”- American Staffordshire Terrier (Male)

I am an 8 month old who is 45 pounds of happy puppy. I knows basic commands, I like other dogs, and love to play with balls and toys. I am going to grow up to be a handsome dog.

“Buggs”- American Rabbit (Male)

I’m extremely sweet and very active. I love to hop around and I am litter trained. I will make a wonderful companion for your family!

Page 4 Pet Tails

Beagle

Beagles are members of the

Hound family.

Dogs similar to beagles can be

traced to ancient Greece.

Beagles have one of the best

developed senses of smell. As a

test, a mouse was placed in a one

acre field and the beagle found

the mouse in less than a minute.

The long ears and large lips trap

the scents close to the nose.

Beagles have an even temper and

gentle dispositions.

They are generally obedient but

are easily distracted by smells

around them.

They are excellent with children

and generally get along with

other dogs.

Maine Coon

Maine Coons are thought to be

descendants of cats that trav-

eled with the Vikings.

They are one of the largest

breeds of domestic cat.

Their coat is soft and silky.

The Maine Coons are known as

the “gentle giants”.

They possess above-average in-

telligence making them easy to

train

They are known for making loud

vocalizations that include chirp-

ing, chattering and “talking

back.”

They are playful and affection-

ate throughout their lives.

Maine Coons have dense, water

resistant fur that is shaggier on

their underside for extra pro-

tection in the snow.

Pet Tails Page 5

Volume 8, Issue 8 Page 6

Meet the Staff

Have you “liked” us on Facebook? Do you follow us on Twitter? One of the easiest ways for us to let potential adopters

know about the many adoptable pets at the shelter is by using social media. We post information about adoptables and

current events at the shelter. So join the 2050 people already “liking” us on Facebook and our 601 Twitter “followers”

as we get the word out! Find us at www.facebook.com/VBanimalcareandadoptioncenter and @adoptablePetsVB on Twit-

ter and join in the conversations, and while you’re at it, invite your friends too. The more who know, the better the ani-

mals have at finding FURever homes!

GIVE US A “LIKE!”

Meet Brittany Upshaw ... Brittany, whose nickname is Britt, is one of our newest Animal Care-

takers having been at the shelter for a little over a month. Her hometown is San Diego, Cali-

fornia. Brittany attended school in Califor-

nia, most recently the University of Califor-

nia, Santa Barbara. She earned a Bachelor

of Science in Zoology.

Brittany’s area of expertise is dogs! She

worked with Dachshunds at her last kennel

and she had a pack of them that would fol-

low her around. She grew up knowing she

wanted to work with animals and is glad she

can say she loves her job.

Brittany’s favorite part of her job is helping

animals get adopted. This is what Brittany

says about her work … “Most people say they

couldn’t work at a shelter because they’d take every dog home (and believe me I want to!). But

it’s actually really rewarding when each animal finds a new forever home. “

When asked what her most memorable moment was working with animals she said “ I’d have to

say it was one of the first reclaims I had done at the shelter. A couple had come in looking for

their Rottweiler, which had been missing for a couple of days. I could tell they were worried

about the well-being of their dog. We happened to have a ‘Rottie’ in intake at the time, and as I

brought them back, the dog started to wiggle around in the kennel as soon as he heard their

voices. As soon as I brought him out to the lobby, he jumped on top of them and showered

them with tons of kisses. I know it’s just as exciting for the dog to be reunited with the family

as it is for the family themselves!”

Meet volunteer Amy Spilka-Solares ...

This is Amy’s story …

My name is Amy Spilka-Solares. I have three children, four cats, and a dog. I grew

up right here in Virginia Beach, graduated from Florida State University, attended

and graduated from Widener University School of Law in Pennsylvania and then

moved to Canada for a few years when I first met my husband. I have always been

a big animal lover, probably got it from my dad whom I spent a lot of time with

growing up.

My beloved cat, KC, got very sick at the end of 2009. By March of 2010 I had to

say goodbye to him. I had found him 13 years prior to this and immediately I knew

he was going to be mine.

About a month after I had to say goodbye to KC, I went to a shelter to give a do-

nation in memory of him. I walked through the cattery thinking I’d be ok. I didn’t

make it past the third cage when I saw a cat that looked so much like my KC-boy.

I stopped and started crying right there in the shelter. I adopted him right then

and there as well. I walked out of that shelter w/ my new cat and an application to

volunteer. I never thought I could handle volunteering because I thought it would

be too hard to see all the animals in the cages day in and day out. I knew I’d want to take them all home. But I started

anyway. A year and a half later, I decided to switch shelters and started volunteering at Virginia Beach Animal Care and

Adoption Center.

As a volunteer, I have always seen my ‘job’ so to speak as helping these

animals cope with living in a cage until they are adopted. I also feel the

more time I spend w/ them, I’d be that much more capable of helping

potential adopters adopt the right pet for their family and lifestyle.

I learn on a daily basis from people I have met and garnered so much

respect for, including staff and other volunteers.

I love playing with the dogs. I love walking the dogs. I love running with

the dogs. I train for my marathons with these

dogs. I also love sitting w/ the cats every once in a while! Some of

these animals are stuck in cages for so long, daily, weekly, monthly, that

a little time outside makes a world of difference to them... and to a

much greater amount than I ever realized, to me. I also don’t mind doing some dirty work like cleaning up after them.

I'm very lucky to have a job with flexible hours and children who are in school which allows me to go to the shelter al-

most daily to help. Whenever I can, however, I do bring my children w/ me to the shelter. They are also animal lovers.

They love to sit and play w/ the cats and dogs.

My hope is that my passion for animals is seen by them and they emulate this in their own lives. My hope is that my em-

pathy and compassion is passed on to them and that one day, they will take it upon themselves to help those who cannot

help themselves. I hope I am passing along the incredible feelings you get when you give your time and energy to help

others in need, including animals, and that it can truly make your heart smile, like it does mine, almost every day.

Meet the Volunteers

MYRON, a VBACAC alum. Wendy was trying to get pictures of this little 5 yr old pittie

who didn't stop for anything..except a hug, I

guess! Myron was adopted.

KITO, a VBACAC alum as well! I took Kito and my daughter

to an event at the Town Center in VB. Kito was adopted.

Pet Tails Page 7

Volume 8, Issue 8 Page 8

Meet the Officers

Meet Animal Control Officer D. Humphrey …

Humphrey is the product of a Navy family. Born in Norfolk, Virginia and settling in the rural section of Virginia Beach

known as Pungo at the age of 10. He was involved in the Virginia Beach 4 H Club for several years. He raised hogs, sheep

and steers. He went to school at Kellam High School and attended Forestry at Vo Tech. After graduating from high

school, he applied for a job position as Animal Caretaker with Virginia Beach Animal Control and was accepted in 1984.

He was a caretaker for about a year and was promoted to Ani-

mal Control Officer. During his long enjoyable tenure as an Ani-

mal Control Officer he attended the Virginia State Animal Con-

trol Conference twice. He successfully completed the Virginia

State Humane Investigators Course, and in 1999 he was pro-

moted to Animal Control Officer II. He has attended several

VACA conferences. He has attended the Southeast Rabies

Convention Seminar. He has Animal Hoarding Certification. He

has Euthanasia Certification. He has several computer courses

completed. He is currently a General Instructor, a Firearms

Instructor, and a certified ASP defensive tactics Instructor.

He teaches the firearms instruction to all new and current Ani-

mal Control Officers at Virginia Beach Animal Enforcement

Unit and thoroughly enjoys his job and the people he works

with .

KUDOS to our youth volunteers …

The youth volunteers put in a total of 2,028 total hours in 2012.

Youth volunteers who gave over 100 hours of service last year:

Nina Ruffin - 311.75; India Ayala - 157; Chanler Mitchell-Stadler - 154.25; Melissa White - 146; Bethanie Kirk - 134; Christine Nesbitt - 128.75; Ashley Morris - 124.75;

Keaton Gehry was close with 97.

Thank you for your service!

Next Meeting: March 17, Sunday

1pm-2pm New Adoption Counselor Orientation

2pm-3pm Adoption Counselor Training & Meeting

Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center

341 S. Birdneck Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

It’s the Law

Did you know … Regarding licensing animals … any

dog or cat four months or older is to be licensed.

Do you have a suggestion?

We’d like to hear it.

Please drop off sugges-

tions in our suggestion box

and we’ll post the sugges-

tion and the response in our newsletter.

Phone: 757-385-4444

Fax: 757-227-9687

E-mail: VBPDAC@vbgov.com

Volunteer

Opportunities:

Do you love animals and

want to give back to the

community? We have the

answer for you there are

many ways that you can

help, from walking dogs,

cuddling cats or advertising

pets that are up for

adoption. We also are in

need of foster homes to

increase the amount of

animals that we can serve.

Listed below are

volunteer opportunities…

Cat Room Volunteer

Dog Walker

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Jean Deliz at policeanimalsheltervol@vbgov.com. She’ll be

looking forward to hearing from you.

Volunteer Front Desk

Greeter

Newsletter Team Member

Adoption Counselor

PetsMart Cat Center Vol-

unteer

Foster Parent

Animal Transporter

Pet Portal (Petfinder)

Call Center Volunteer

Lost/Found Assistance

Volunteer

Small Animal Companion-

ship

Special Events Volunteer

Vet Assistant

Youth Mentor

Adoption Follow-ups

Hours of Operation:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday — 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. (reclaims only)

Thursday — 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shelter Statistics Jan

2013 Feb

2012

Feb

2013

Jan

2012

Dogs Impounded 306 253 269 230

Dogs Reclaimed 130 114 150 124

Dogs Adopted 109 81 121 70

Dogs Transferred 22 32 16 13

Cats Impounded 182 222 183 193

Cats Reclaimed 14 24 11 27

Cats Adopted 104 65 73 70

Cats Transferred 5 5 9 8

Other Companions Impounded 17 12 13 16

Other Companions Reclaimed 1 0 1 1

Other Companions Adopted 5 9 18 6

Other Companions Transferred 4 3 4 3