RHSPCA announces opening of on-site Veterinary Care Center

The Rockingham County- Harrisonburg SPCA announced the opening of a new Veterinary Care Center set for this Spring.

This $500,000 investment will help significantly reduce the cost of preparing animals for adoption after citing the unprecedented need for animal welfare services in the region.

In addition to the investment, the project was made possible in part through the donation of a reconfigured former modular classroom at Broadway High School.

For six consecutive months in 2025, more than 140 dogs and 350 cats were in the cars of RHSPCA and over 100 of those animals were rescued from hoarding or neglect.

Most animals arrive with little to no medical history and less than 15% of dogs have up to date records upon arrival.

Through the Veterinary Care Center, they will be able to save lives by providing faster treatment including up to 75 feline surgeries per week and expanded services for soft-tissue surgeries, dental procedures, wellness exams, lab work, and diagnostic imaging.

The in-house services will also allow the expansion of the organization’s spay and neuter capacity to provide a long term strategy to reduce stray cats.

RHSPCA also cited nearly 1,200 per surrenders in 2025 and they believe many of those could have been prevented through affordable care.

For more information on the new Veterinary Care Center, click here.

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WASPCA receives grant to help struggling pet owners

The Winchester Area SPCA announced on Tuesday that they received a $5,000 grant from Newell Brands Charitable for the agency’s Pets for Life – pet retention program.

The funding will support pet food and financial assistance for critical issues affecting pet owners like:

  • emergency veterinary care
  • vaccinations
  • spay/neuter surgeries
  • pet deposits when their owners are forced to move

Lavenda Denney, WASPCA Executive Director said, “Funding from the Newell Foundation will allow the WASPCA to significantly increase its impact on animal welfare by helping pet owners in need keep their beloved pets instead of being forced to surrender them into the overcrowded shelter system.”

Newell Brands Local Impact Grant Program began in 2019 to help the company impact the communities where their employees live by allowing them to nominate and vote for local nonprofits.

WASPCA’s Pets for Life pet retention program keeps over 1,000 animals out of overcrowded shelters and with the families that love them by providing short-term financial assistance.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Winchester SPCA opens new spay/neuter clinic

amanda behan

Winchester SPCA will now offer low cost spay and neuter services at a new state of the art clinic.

The small clinic led by Dr. Mary Margaret Applin was funded through an investment from the Bowman Trust.

The clinic will focus on spaying and neutering with select other services available for add on including certain vaccines, ear cleaning, nail trimming, and a few minor surgeries.

All requests for services must be completed online as they do not accept walk-ins or have a receptionist to help reduce costs.

Cancellations made within 24 hours will result in your pre-paid appointment fee being considered as a donation.

Their online calendar is now open for appointments Tuesday through Friday with pet drop off scheduled for 8:15 am each day.

Click here for more information or to set your pet’s appointment.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Middletown enters partnership to help cat population

christmas parade canceled

Middletown announced that they are entering an alliance with the Community Cat Alliance  to conduct a canned and dry cat food drive for unowned cats in the area.

They have established a goal of 2,400 pounds of cat food by the end of April.

Donations can be dropped off at Middletown’s town offices at 7875 Church Street or Amazon orders can be sent directly to Mayor Charles Harbaugh at 7875 Church Street, Middletown, Virginia, 22645.

The Community Cat Alliance will use donations to feed unowned cat colonies.

The Alliance also traps, spays, and neuters outdoor, unowned cats to help control cat populations which can affect other wildlife in the area.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Local wildlife suffering from cat attacks

The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center is reminding residents of the problems associated with animals attacked by cats.

Animals attacked by cats that have received treatment have roughly a 30% chance of survival which is much higher than an animal left to fend for themselves.

Cat attacked animals may seem fine to release back into the wild but some injuries are not visible.

Cat bites can be small and not leave much blood but they can have bacteria which can cause a severe infection.

Adrenaline from the animal that was attacked can also make them seem healthy until the trauma takes full effect.

The best way to avoid attacks is by taking care of your cats.

Do not dump unwanted cats outside and make sure to spay and neuter your pets.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

National Kitten Day at SPCA

Tomorrow is National Kitten Day and the SPCA of Winchester, Frederick, and Clarke Counties are celebrating with an adoption special.

From noon to 5 pm at their locations, approved individuals can adopt a cat or kitten for just $10.

This campaign not only encourages the adoption of cats and kittens by raising awareness of the importance of adopting from shelters instead of purchasing one but also to remind owners to spay and neuter their pets to keep them healthy and reduce strays.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

11th Annual Tails on Trails

Photo by Janet Michael

The 11th Annual Tails on Trails 5k and 10k is today at Blandy Experimental Farm.

The walk or run is in support of the National Humane Education Society’s Spay Today program which provides nearly 4000 spay or neuter procedures each year at a reduced cost.

Participants can bring their dog along for the USATF certified 5k course that runs through the State Arboretum.

Check in and race day registration begins at 10 am with an 11 am start time.

For more information or to register, head to nhes.org/tails.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.