October Shelter Scoop

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Dear Friends,

The cooler weather seems to have slowed the intake of cats to the shelter with ‘only’ 200 cats and kittens coming into our care last month for a total of 300 animals. 19 of them were senior pets which is especially heartbreaking to see.  The older animals have a much harder time adjusting to the shelter environment and are more often suffering from neglect. Nearly 15% of dogs and cats coming into our care each year are over seven years of age (seniors).

All of the animals are special to us but the seniors always get a little extra attention from the staff and volunteers.  They like to spend more time on the dog walks and brushing the cats.  Only the more comfortable blankets are used and a little extra attention is given to their food prep.  I often find the best soft treats stashed in the food pantry for the older pets.  They tug at the heartstrings a little harder than the others.

More often than not, the senior animals come into our care with unaddressed medical concerns. The ones surrendered to us tend to be in better shape than the strays. More often than not the owners are giving up the pet because they have tried and can no longer afford the cost of veterinary care.

It typically costs us between $190 and $275 in veterinary expenses alone to get a dog ready for adoption.  Senior dogs on average cost $375 more.  Dental disease and X-rays are the most common reasons for offsite vet visits.  Joint supplements, pain medication and prescription diets also contribute to the added expense.  Their needs are unique and we do what needs to be done to ensure a positive outcome for them.

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month and to highlight the senior pets we are reducing all of their adoption fees to $7.  It is a myth that what someone pays to acquire a pet is an indicator of the level of care the pet will be provided.  It is the extra time our staff takes for all pets when performing adoption counseling that ensures the animals will be as loved in their new homes as they are here at the RHSPCA.

Help us find the perfect retirement homes for the seniors in our care by sharing our upcoming promotion.

Kind Regards,


Huck Nawaz

Executive Director

Working Cats. What Are They?

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When Taylor Marks moved to Elkton, Virginia to begin homesteading, she was looking for a way to keep pests out of her family’s garden without compromising their health by using harmful chemicals and pesticides.

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Microchips help lost pets get home

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After a year of being lost, Kona was returned to the RHSPCA. Her story serves as a reminder of why it is so important to microchip your pets.

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September Shelter Scoop

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Dear Friends,

September was even busier than August with 355 animals coming into our care (306 in August).  We had some great adoptions last month but were very reliant on our transfer partner shelters. Such is the case because the number of cats and kittens we take in far exceeds the number of adoptive homes available for them. Greater participation in community events this fall will give adoptions a boost and get the word out about our community cat vouchers.

We will have dogs available for adoption at a community event each weekend this month. The largest of these will be Subaru Loves Pets on October 15th at Bob Wade Subaru.  It’s a great way to showcase dogs that are sometimes overlooked in their kennels. I invite you to come out between 10am and 1pm and spend some time with us and our adoptable dogs and kittens.

Our community cat vouchers, free to residents of Rockingham County, help defer the intake of cats.  Each cat altered through the voucher is also microchipped and registered to the caregiver.  This ensures a responsible party for the cat and the opportunity to reunite the cat should it be brought into our care. We also offer resources to keep cats off your property for those that aren’t a fan of outdoor cats.

Pet reunification, adoption and transfer to partner shelters are the three ways we can create positive outcomes for the animals. We cannot rely on our transfer partner shelters forever.  Decreasing the number of animals coming into our care by offering community cat vouchers and introducing new programming to keep pets in their homes is sustainable.

It is the support and generosity of compassionate individuals like you that make all of our efforts sustainable.

Kind Regards,


Huck Nawaz

Executive Director

August Shelter Scoop

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Dear Friends,

Summer is always the busiest time for us and this year has been no exception.  We took 306 animals into our care during the month of August. Over half of those were kittens under five months of age. Spring, summer and fall all blend into one season for us here at RHSPCA… You guessed it – ‘Kitten Season’.

What’s unique this year during kitten season is we’ve seen a very significant increase in the number of dogs coming into our care.  Adult dog intakes are up twenty percent and we’ve seen twice as many puppies this year. The increase in intakes has not been unique to us, as shelters across the country have experienced higher intakes ‘post-covid’. The increase in dog intakes has been primarily strays. Owners surrendering the dogs to us have cited ‘financial hardship’ as the number one reason for surrender. Specifically, access to affordable veterinary care and inability to afford or find a place that allowed the owners to keep their dog.

Adult dogs and kittens are the costliest to create a positive outcome for. Cost of veterinary care for adult dogs is higher especially as many were surrendered to us with outstanding medical needs. The sheer volume of young kittens and their susceptibility to illness and disease contributes significantly to the medical expenses.

Kitten season will draw to a close, hopefully, by the end of October. We are continuing to provide Community Cat vouchers to residents of Rockingham County.  Proactively reducing the number of kittens being born is the only answer to Kitten Season. And let’s hope the increase in dog intakes this year is an anomaly and not the start of a ‘Dog Season’.

Kind Regards,


Huck Nawaz

Executive Director

Max’s Second Chance: A Have A Heart Success Story

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Without the Have a Heart fund, animals like Max would not get the help they need to live the long, comfortable lives they deserve.

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We’re Full. Let’s work together to help animals in need

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As of July 21, 2022, we are urging you to hold off on bringing in any pets lost or surrendered, or rescued strays. Our shelter is full!

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Presidential Pets

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President’s Day is a national holiday created to honor those who served as leaders of the state, yet one question still remains… What about their pets?

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