Pet Post: Fall 2023 edition

Dear Friend,

As I write you this letter, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the work we do — together — to advance the mission of our beloved organization.

Earlier today, I toured a guest through our facility, and at the end of his visit, he told me he was blown away by the scope and impact of our programs. He had no idea how much the Richmond SPCA does to help animals and people.

Indeed, the breadth of our programs and services is astounding. We rescue, shelter, train, medically rehabilitate and adopt thousands of homeless dogs and cats each year.

And while we work hard to find adoptive homes for pets in our care, we work equally as hard to prevent other animals from ever becoming homeless. That’s why we deliver a wide range of vital programs that support pet guardians.

Through our full-service Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital — the only one of its kind in Central Virginia — we provide low-cost healthcare for pets of families who otherwise struggle to afford it. Our free pet pantry gives people facing financial hardships access to food, ensuring their pets never go hungry. We offer free and low-cost services in our satellite Smoky’s Spay & Neuter Clinic, guaranteeing free-roaming, community cats are sterilized along with pets being adopted from government shelters and other private rescue groups. We give expert behavioral support through our Behavior Helpline, free boarding to pets of people who are temporarily unhoused, pet training classes and more.

Demand for these essential services is growing, and the Richmond SPCA, as our region’s full-service humane resource center, is working hard to meet the need and build capacity. We’re adding more staff, renovating our facilities, expanding key programs and services and partnering with more agencies than ever before.

As we move forward — delivering more help and hope to people and pets who need it the most — we ask for your support. Please consider a gift today to fuel our mission.

And if you want to see your donation in action, come for a tour. Let me show you around our humane center so you can see firsthand the profound difference you are making in the lives of animals and the people who love them. I promise you will leave inspired by the crucial work your contributions, for which we are deeply grateful, make possible.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Tamsen Kingry

Chief Executive Officer