Volunteer Spotlight

Bringing in Big Bucks at the Big House

When she first approached us with the idea of holding a fundraiser at her house, Mary Boyer had no idea how large the event would become. Initially intended to be a nice fundraiser and adoption event, the Woofs N’ Purrs Adoption Event and Fundraiser turned into a showcase of the lake and surrounding area’s biggest attractions.

It only takes one brief conversation to recognize Mary’s charisma and passion. But the depth of her energy and dedication to animal rescue became increasingly apparent the closer we got to this event. She spent countless hours day and night recruiting vendors, authors, artists, and the lake’s favorite vet to the event. She called, texted, emailed, and visited. She completed and filed extensive paperwork. She advertised and invested. And did you see the wine and beer glasses? Oh my! Yes, Mary designed and ordered those, too.

Mary spent the months leading up to this event pouring her blood, sweat, and tears, quite literally, into ensuring that this event was a success. And it was. Lake residents flocked to see the inside of “the Big House” with so much history, to visit the almost 30 vendors set up on sight, and to cuddle with the sweet BHS puppies and kittens. In total, the event raised more than $5,000 for Bedford Humane Society. At least one sweet foster baby found her forever home at this event. And the importance of animal rescue in our community was highlighted.

We thank you, Mary, for giving us such a tremendous gift. 

Special Cats Make Great Pets

Consider Adopting an FIV + Kitty….

Like many other groups who rescue cats, BHS is looking for homes for wonderful cats with an added special consideration. We have cats which have tested positive for FIV that otherwise healthy and loving.

FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, sometimes also called Feline AIDS. This is a virus that causes depression of the immune system of infected cats, making them more susceptible to diseases they might otherwise fight off quickly. Despite the similar name, FIV is different from HIV and is not contagious to any person. It is spread primarily through bite wounds, during fights, rough play, and breeding.  It is possible, but not likely to spread from an infected mom to kittens during delivery or nursing.

FIV is diagnosed by a blood test, but sometimes further testing is necessary to be sure of the infection, especially in kittens. Unfortunately cats vaccinated against the virus will test positive and there is currently no test to tell between true positive and vaccinated.  There is no cure for the disease.

Gayle is a super sweet boy hoping for a forever home of his own.

Many time the infected cat does not appear ill. The most common mild symptoms are subtle, like not eating well, not grooming, or inflamed gums.  More severely affected cats may lose weight, stop eating, have enlarged lymph nodes, and/or develop one or a combination of symptoms due to the secondary infection(s) they cannot fight off.  These cats can develop blood disorders, chronic diarrhea, eye disorders, seizures, or cancer. Most cats can live long lives with the virus, if they are well protected from other diseases and get early treatment for any signs of illness.  An FIV-positive cat especially needs its recommended vaccines, deworming, and protection from fleas and ticks. Annual or twice a year exams by a veterinarian are recommended. To protect the infected cat, keep him or her indoors. This will also protect other cats from disease spread. Veterinarians strongly advise against feeding raw food diets or allowing hunting for FIV positive cats due to vulnerability to bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

To keep everyone healthy, we usually recommend placement of FIV positive cats into households where they can be the only cat or will live with other healthy FIV positive cats. The virus does not live long outside the infected cat, but good hand washing and discarding or bleaching supplies are recommended when handling any cat with an unknown status. Cats should be keep isolated from one another until all are tested negative.

Adoptable Spotlight

The Cattyshack Crew

They came into our foster program as feral kittens in April of 2012. They were quite hissy and reluctant to be touched. Two years later, they are a happy group of cats hoping for forever homes. They were labeled the Cattyshack Crew when they all went to foster in an outdoor cattery called the Cattyshack. While they share some common traits, their love for dogs, for example, each is quite unique.

Meet Chrissy, the beauty of the bunch. She is more independent than her siblings, rarely asking for cuddles but tolerant of petting. She is most welcoming of new cats and adjusts most quickly to new environments.

Jack is what I call Chrissy’s twin. Their markings are so similar that it took me weeks to tell them apart easily. Jack is a chatter box. He walks around chatting about random things, mostly treats. He is the most open to being held and has become quite the snuggler.

Andy has taken the longest to adjust to new people, but he blossomed once inside a foster home. He was often found napping with the resident dog or romping with the other cats. I call him the purr monster because he was always the first and loudest to start purring when I’d get their breakfast ready.

Albert has always been the leader of the crew. Aside from his already adopted sister, Janet, Albert has always been the most confident. He readily explores his surroundings and is quick to flop on his back asking for belly rubs.

Each of these cats would do well in a foster home with other cats and dogs. Like most cats, they will require time and patience while they adjust to a new home. But in time, they will make wonderful forever companions to some very lucky homes.

June is Adopt A Cat Month

Think dogs are more fun? Think again!

Cat owners are quick to point out that their feline family members not only have as much personality as dogs, but they are far easier to maintain. They make excellent pets for those that do not have the time to spend walking a dog or that worry about leaving their pet crated for hours while they are at work each day. Cats are far more flexible with the amount of time their person spends at work. (They spend much of their day napping, anyway. They may not even notice you’re gone…)

Want that special furry friend to greet you happily at the door when you get home each evening? Yeah, cats will do that, too. While they don’t demand as much of your time, they still love to see you when you come home. I have two that come running when I return home from a day running errands.

Think you’ll miss out on play time if you opt for a cat instead of a dog? Think again. I’ve had several foster cats that relish a good game of fetch.

And if you already have a dog, don’t believe the stereotype that cats and dogs don’t get along. Most of my foster cats adore my large, drooly dog. And my large, drooly dog enjoys playing with them in return.

So, what have we learned? Cats are low maintenance. They just want daily food, water, and a quick scoop of the litter box. Cats are social. They vary as much in their personalities as dogs and people do. Cats do love you. They enjoy cuddling on the couch with you while you read.

Ready to adopt? We have some fabulous felines just waiting for a forever home. Whether you’re looking for a laid back fat cat or a spunky young entertainer, we’ve got the perfect companion for you. And why not adopt two? Cats do better in pairs so they can entertain one another while you’re not home. 

Susie is Just One of Those REALLY Special Dogs

Some of them are just REALLY special, you know?

Susie is one of those. There's just something about her. Maybe it's those sweet, brown eyes. Maybe it's her resilience. Maybe it's the way she happened into our lives.

Susie came to us after her person was unexpectedly hospitalized and there was no one left to care for her. When we met her, she was kenneled outside, alone, in the middle of winter, with only occasional visits from a concerned neighbor.

Still, she never lost her beautiful love for people. Today, you would never know that she spent so much of her life kenneled outside. She is house trained and sleeps in a crate at night. She is good with the dogs, cats and horses at her foster home. She is a people dog and loves to have her belly rubbed. She also has very good manners with children.

As a March Adoption Madness All Star, Susie is available at a reduced adoption fee of just $50 during the month of March!

Click here to submit an adoption application to meet this very sweet girl!

Andy is Looking For His All Star Home

Andy is looking for his All Star home

Andy and his siblings have been with BHS since they were kittens. They came to us as feisty little ferals and have blossomed into some of the sweetest, most loving cats we've known. 

In the past, Andy has been very cautious in new environments and around new people. He seems to be coming out of that, though, settling in much more quickly around new people.

Curious about the ear tip? Like his brother Albert, Andy was originally set to be a barn cat and was ear tipped at the time of his neutering. Since that plan fell through, Andy has become increasingly social and would now do best in as an indoor cat. He has grown quite accustomed to the comforts of indoor living.

Andy does well with other cats and he is especially fond of the big dog in his most recent foster home.

As a March Adoption Madness All Star, Andy is available at a reduced adoption fee of just $20 during the month of March!

Click here to submit an adoption application to meet this very handsome boy!

Sarah is Confused!

Sarah is confused. She's an All Star and she hasn't been adopted yet?

Sarah is a sweet & very friendly girl who is looking for her forever home. She is a wonderfully well-behaved girl at home. Her size makes her intimidating to would-be burglars, but her sweetness makes her welcoming to visitors. 

Her one downfall is that she gets a little too excited at adoption events and wants to talk to everyone. Literally. She will just bark and bark at whoever she can see. Not a mean, vicious bark, but a "Hey! Come talk to me!" bark. At home, however, she is mostly just calm and quiet.

Sarah is crate trained, microchipped, stands about 22" at the shoulder, and weighs 55 pounds. She is energetic, playful, and walks well on a leash. She loves to play ball and is good with other dogs and cats.

As a March Adoption Madness All Star, Sarah is available at a reduced adoption fee of just $50 during the month of March!

Click here to submit an adoption application to meet this very sweet girl!

Tila is a Princess AND an All Star!

I'm not just a March Adoption Madness All Star. I'm a Princess, too!

 

Hello my name is Tila. I am a sweet and loving 5 year old Shar Pei mix. I weigh in at around 50 lbs. I am spayed, micro chipped, and up to date with all of my vet care. 

I am such a good girl. I am VERY patient and tolerant of my 4 year old foster sister and her puppy. We play dress up a lot. I do love children very much, though I get a little rambunctious when I play with other dogs. I do chase cats if they run, but if they stand firm I learn to leave them be. 

I love my foster family but would really like to find my forever home. I am an inside dog and am house broken. I do not like being confined so I have my own couch and bed in the living area. I'm a princess, after all. 

Although I was crate trained, I had to stay in one a very long time, so I did not do well when my foster mom crated me. I would really like to have a fenced yard so I can run loose instead of going out on a leash all of the time. I need a forever family who can be patient and understanding of my past. I promise I will love you with my whole heart if you do the same for me. If you would like to meet me at my foster home, please submit an application and my foster mom will call you.

As a March Adoption Madness All Star, Tila's adoption fee is just $50 during the month of March!

CLICK HERE to submit an adoption application and meet Tila!

Joplin is Ready For a Better Life

 

Do you recognize this girl? We're calling her Joplin. She's not a big fan of cameras. But she is a big fan of the lady that saved her life.

Last week, Joplin was hit by a car. Thankfully, she was rushed to Blue Ridge Animal Hospital where her injuries were attended to. She was combo tested (negative, yay!) and vaccinated. 

Now Joplin will be joining the family of BHS fosters unless or until she is reclaimed by her family. We will hold her until her stray hold time is up and then she will be available for adoption.

She is estimated to be about 6 months old with unusually soft fur and is reportedly very sweet, despite her recent trauma. She holds no grudge against those that accidentally hurt her. And she may have a family missing her, though without a tag or microchip, we have no way of knowing. But we do know that she is ready for a better life indoors where she doesn't have to scavenge for food or shiver alone on a cold night. Where she doesn't have to fear getting hit by a car or fight for her survival.

While her rescuer has offered to pay for some Joplin's care, she is limited in what she can do. We are committed to help with the costs of her care, which will include her spay, microchipping, and additional vaccinations if she is not reclaimed. If you would like to help with Joplin or other cases like hers, CLICK HERE to donate now.

2014 March Adoption Madness!

To help some of our longer-term foster animals find their perfect forever homes, we are running another March Adoption Madness special this year. 

Select dogs will be available for a $50 adoption fee.

Select cats will be available for a $20 adoption fee.

Not looking to adopt? You can help by sharing with friends and family.

Tweeting For Rescued Animals

Do you have a Twitter account?

Use Twitter to help us rescue more animals.

Follow us on Twitter @BHSVA and help us share tweets like this one!

If you love a #GreatPyrenees, check out Bear. This #AdoptableDog is looking for a forever home of his own. pic.twitter.com/rvUSPPdi8H

— BHSVA (@BHSVA) February 20, 2014

BHS Receives McCausland Grant for 2014

Bedford Humane Society is excited to again be a recipient of the McCausland Trust grant award. This grant is crucial to the continued operation of the many unique programs we offer to the Bedford community.

Foster Care & Adoption Programs 
The funds from this grant help us continue to keep our adoption fees as low as possible while still providing high quality of care for our foster animals. This is particularly critical when foster medical costs far exceed that of regular care. All of our fosters are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. We also combo test all of our cats and test all of our dogs for heartworm. Some animals also require significant medical treatment. The funds received from this grant allow us to avoid passing all of these costs onto adopters. Visit our website at www.bhsva.org to see our current adoptable pets.



Emergency Funding Programs
By helping us maintain our emergency fund, we can help ensure that animals in need of emergent medical attention are not left untreated simply because of their owners' inability to pay.

Forgotten Felines Program
Through the continuation of our Forgotten Felines program, we can offer extremely low cost

spay/neuter and rabies vaccination to feral cats throughout Bedford County. This approach is critical to reducing the feral population and the number of cats being euthanized at the pound. Cats that are fixed through this program are ear-tipped for easy identification. If you know of a feral population that is not yet fixed, call us at 540-586-6100 for details about this program. 



Subsidized Spay/Neuter Services

The key to reducing the number of animals that end up at the pound is spaying and neutering family pets. Our low-cost spay/neuter program is open to all Bedford residents. Continued funding of this program is critical to our mission of ending pet overpopulation in this area. Do you have a pet that needs to be spayed or neutered? Visit our website to learn more about this program and submit an application.

Pet Food Distribution Program
Our Pet Food Distribution Program helps struggling families feed their pets. Our goal is to keep pets out of the pound and in their loving homes during times when families may be experiencing financial hardship.

Humane Education Program
Humane education is key to raising awareness of what we do and reduce the number of animals that end up in the pound every year. At the core of this program is spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership to reduce the number of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

For more information on any of our programs or to volunteer, visit our website at www.bhsva.org. You can also contact us by phone at 540-586-6100 or by email info@bhsva.org.

Thank you for your continued interest in our efforts to end pet overpopulation in Bedford and find safe, loving homes for homeless pets. 

Blue Belle: Sweet Sixteen All-Star

Blue Belle

2013 Statistics

Born: ~2011

Weight: Medium

Breed: Domestic Medium Hair

Adoption Fee: $20 during March Adoption Madness

Career Stats:  My name is Blue Belle, I am a loving 1 year old girl who so desperately seeks a home. I was found at a dumpster by a volunteer. I begged her to take me home and she did. During my checkup I was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia. I am currently healthy otherwise and showing no symptoms of my disease. I am desperate to find a loving home where I can live out my life and with a family that understands my disease. 

Career Prospects: I must be in a home as an only cat, or with other Feline Leukemia positive cats. I am such a love bug that I would like a lap of my own and not have to share it!

Watch Blue Belle's special dance in this episode of BHS Desperate Housecats (Blue Belle's segment starts around 5:15):

If you're interested in meeting Blue Belle, you can visit our Headquarters during office hours. Email info@bhsva.org for more information. Or submit an adoption application at www.bhsva.org/adoption-home.htm.

McCausland Trust Grant Award

Bedford Humane Society would like to thank the McCausland Trust for a grant award that will help support the following programs in the Bedford area:



Foster Care & Adoption Programs 
The heart and soul of our organization, fostering and adoption allows us to provide homes to companion animals that may not make it out of the pound.

Emergency Funding Programs
Because we know that emergency vet care can place a strain on struggling families, our Emergency Fund allows us to help families seek emergency care for their pets when they may not otherwise be able to afford it.

Forgotten Felines Program
Stray and feral cat populations continue to be an area of concern in Bedford County. Our Forgotten Felines Program allows us to offer extremely low-cost spaying/neutering and rabies vaccination to reduce the number of cats and kittens ending up in the pound.

Subsidized Spay/Neuter Services

One of our biggest missions is preventing more who will need us by spaying and neutering. Our subsidized program allows families to access spaying/neutering for their pets at low-cost.

Pet Food Distribution Program
Our Pet Food Distribution Program helps struggling families feed their pets. Our goal is to keep pets out of the pound and in their loving homes.

Humane Education Program
Humane education is key to raising awareness of what we do and reduce the number of animals that end up in the pound every year. At the core of this program is spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership to reduce the number of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

Max: Elite Eight All-Star

Max

2013 Statistics

Born: 2008

Weight: ~30 pounds

Breed: Shar-Pei mix

Adoption Fee: $50 during March Adoption Madness

Career Stats: Max came to us along with Susie and Tila after their person was hospitalized and there was no one left to care for them. We found him living in a small crate, very underweight and starved for attention. When we brought him out of his crate, he was clearly thankful and happy to be outside. Since his time in foster with a change in food, Max has moved back to a healthy weight and looks forward to a happy life in a forever home of his own. 

Max gets a greeting from Tila, his former housemate.

Career Prospects: Max is a sweet, gentle boy who gets along well with other dogs. He would love a family of his own to enjoy the rest of his life with.

You can see adorable Max asking for attention during the Winter Wonderland Adoption Event in the video below. He makes his appearance around the 2:00 minute mark.

Submit or download an adoption application at http://bhsva.org/adoptions-home.htm

March Adoption Madness Update

March Adoption Madness is well underway and things are getting exciting!

We've had one All-Star adopted so far and we're so happy for sweet Holly.

Take a look at the rest of our All-Stars available for a significantly reduced adoption fee during the month of March!

Elite Eight All-Stars available for only $50 adoption fee during March:

 

 

Our Sweet Sixteen All-Stars available for only $20 adoption fee during March:

 
 
 
 
 
Visit http://bhsva.org/adoption-specials.htm for more information or read more about highlighted All-Stars on