Pet Tails
Virginia Beach Animal
Care & Adoption Center
Gunner ID# 1410-1539
In early September 2015, Inez,
Volume 23, Issue 23
one of our Shelter Clerks, reNovember 1, 2015
ceived a phone call from a Chesapeake resident. She advised that
Inside this issue:
she had found a sweet, brindle PitPet Safety For Holidays
tie near her home. She stated
that the dog was very friendly and
came right up to her. She checked Barking Dog Code
around her local Chesapeake neighAnimal Spotlight
borhood for the owners, yet to no
avail.
Some Animal Facts
The finder then realized that the Pittie had a collar with a VBACAC rabies
tag. She in turn contacted us to inquire if the dog may have been adopted
from us. Inez traced the rabies tag and determined the dog was adopted
here in October of 2014. His name is Gunner, male neutered, brindle Pittie. Inez recalled him as being one of her favorite Pitties’ and very sweet.
Inez notated the finder’s contact info and called the adopter’s listed for
Gunner. She inquired if Gunner was missing and the owner advised that he
had gotten out earlier that day and the family had been frantically searching
for him. He provided permission to release his contact info to the finder. He indicated he lives close to the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach line and this
is how Gunner ended up in Chesapeake.
Gunner was reunited with his furr-ever family by days end. It just goes to
show you that even city lines and boundaries cannot stop our staff and citizens working together to reunite our animals with their families.
2
3
4
4
Get to Know Your Breed
5
Meet the Staff
6
Meet the Officers
6
Meet the Volunteers
7
Facebook/Twitter
7
Volunteer Opportunities
and Miscellaneous
8
Pet Safety for Holidays
The holidays are quickly approaching, but unfortunately, the festivities can post some risks to
our furry companions. See the tips below to ensure your pet’s safety this holiday season.
Holiday Meals
If you’re going to share turkey with your pet, make sure that the piece provided is thoroughly cooked and boneless. Raw or undercooked meat may contain salmonella bacteria
and poultry bones may splinter and cause blockage or perforation of the intestine.
No stuffing. Many turkey stuffing mixes contain sage. Some herbs like sage contain essential oils and resins that can lead to gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression when consumed in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to these effects.
Don’t allow your pets to overindulge in “people food”. This could lead to stomach upset, diarrhea, or even worse- an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis.
To distract your pet from the temptation at the table, offer them their own little feast
such as Nylabones, for-pet chew bones, or their usual dinner with a few tidbits (try
sweet potato or green beans).
Decorating Tips
Try placing your Christmas tree in a corner and out of your pet’s path. If that doesn’t keep
your pet from trying to jump on the tree, you can place aluminum foil, or something else
that creates noise, on the tree’s bottom limbs to warn you of a potential pet-in-tree disaster.
Be sure to hang tinsel and ornaments out of your pet’s reach. Ingesting tinsel or ornaments
can pose a choking risk or lead to intestinal blockage, which generally requires surgery to
remedy. Shards from broken ornaments may injure paws, mouths, or other parts of your
pet’s body.
Holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia plants are poisonous to pets and must be kept out reach.
If decorating with candles, burning candles should be placed on high shelves or mantles and
out of the way of wagging tails. Fireplaces should be protected with screens to avoid
accidental burn injury.
For additional information visit:
http://www.petmd.com/dog/seasonal/evr_multi_christmas_safety#
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/thanksgiving-safety-tips
Volume 23, Issue 23
Page 2
Barking Dog Code
Sec. 5-532. - Barking dogs.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep a dog without exercising proper care
and control of such dog to prevent it from disturbing the peace of others by
barking in a loud, continuous or untimely manner. Any person, whether as
owner, tenant, occupant, lessee or otherwise, in charge or control of the
property where such dog is kept, or the owner of such dog, shall be responsible for exercising control of such dog under this section.
It shall be the duty of any animal control officer or police officer, who may find
any dog disturbing the peace of others by barking in a loud, continuous or untimely manner, to advise the owner of such dog, or the person in charge or
control of the property where such dog is kept, to exercise proper control
and care of such dog to prevent it from barking in such manner. If such owner or person refuses to cooperate with the police officer or animal control
officer, or is unable to prevent such dog from barking in such manner, or if
the animal control officer or police officer is unable to locate any person on
the property where such dog is kept, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer or police officer to take such dog into possession. The impoundment provisions of section 5-400 of this chapter shall be applicable to and
followed by animal control officers, the bureau of animal control and police
officers upon taking possession of any dog under this section.
The animal control officer or police officer may issue a summons to any person
he finds in violation of this section.
Should you have any questions about this code, or any other animal control related laws please feel free to call 385-4444 and speak with an officer.
Page 3
Pet Tails
“Austin”- American Pit Bull 1508-1533
He is a beautiful, energetic 2 year old. He is
smart and knows lots of commands including
sit, shake, down, and stay. He needs someone
who loves him and the outdoor life.
Zero Lop Eared Rabbit 1503-1602
Zero is a perfect 10! She is very sweet and adorable.
She would be the perfect first pet for a child or companion animal for just about anyone. Come visit Zero
and she will win your heart.
“Pepe Penguin”- DSH 1506-0910
Pepe is about 2 years old, found as a stray.
He is sweet as can be and up to date with all
shots. He would love the attention of a family.

The Okapi bears stripes similar to the zebra but is
most closely related to the giraffe.
They were first reported being seen by Europeans in Australia in 1696.
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It is 5 feet tall at the shoulder, 8 feet in length with
a long neck and floppy ears.
The emu is a soft feathered flightless bird that can reach up
to 6.2 feet in height.
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Its coat is reddish brown with horizontal stripes
and rings around its legs and ankles.
They travel great distances, can sprint up to 30MPH and go
for weeks without eating.
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They are solitary animals living northeast of the
Republic of Congo in Central Africa.
The fathers incubate the eggs, sitting on them an average of
8 weeks, eating and drinking nothing, losing a considerable
amount of weight. He nurtures them as well.
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Extensive hunting for bush meat and skin have led
to a decline. The Okapi Conservation Project was
established in 1987.
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The emu is the second largest bird in the world by height.
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Page 4
Pet Tails
Siberian Cat
Italian Greyhound
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 The Italian Greyhound is the
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Page 5
‘The Siberian cat has been
present in Russia for centuries.
They have been noted
hypoallergenic for the last 10
years despite the long hair.
They are one of the largest know
domestic cats next to the Maine
Coon Cat.
They are strong, powerfully built
cats known to be extremely agile
jumpers.
The cats have three layers of
fur to protect them from the
weather extremes in Russia.
They are excellent parents with
the fathers helping to care for
the kittens if allowed near the
nest.
Siberians strongly bond to its
mate, are communal in nature,
and do better in pairs.
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smallest of sighthounds with its
origin unknown.
They are in the toy group based
on their weight though they are
larger than the other toy breeds
due to their slender build.
Their gate is distinctive and can
reach speeds up to 25MPH.
They have a fragile build and are
better served with adults or
families with older children to
avoid injuries.
They love to run and although
are good in country or city, they
need adequate exercise. They
have a high predator drive so it
is best to be on a leash.
Pet Tails
Meet the Staff
Meet Jennifer Held … Jennifer joined the VBACAC team five months ago
as an Animal Caretaker. She has worked in animal welfare for the past six
years and was a highly regarded employee in the organizations she worked
with previously, earning the employee of the month title.
Jennifer, nicknamed Jennatwista (a childhood nickname she earned as a
cheerleader), was born and raised in Richmond and earned her degree at
Virginia Commonwealth University.
She specializes in working with large breed/bully breed dogs and is human
and pet first aid certified. She is also certified to insert microchips and administer vaccinations.
Passionate about her work, Jennifer has dedicated her career to working in
animal shelters and fostering for a local rescue group. Her favorite part of
the job is seeing once-scared dogs come out of their shells and feel safe in their new environment.
She’s welcomed home each day by several pets of her of her own: a shepherd, two female pitbulls, a bossy
French bulldog, and two rats named Mikey and Kyle.
Fun fact: Jennifer’s dog Moose has a national novice title in the DockDogs competition. Go Moose!
Meet the Officers
Meet Supervisor Rebecca Franklin … Supervisor Franklin is a native of
Virginia Beach. She graduated from Tallwood High School and shortly
after started working for the City of Virginia Beach in May of 2000 as a
911 dispatcher. She married Andy in 2006, they moved to Suffolk and
their daughter, Tyler, was born in 2008.
She currently has four pets: AJ a blue heeler mix, Penelope the English
bulldog, Fiona the cat, and Gelato the guinea pig. All of her animals were
adopted from Virginia Beach Care and Adoption Center.
Supervisor Franklin came to Animal Control in February of 2012 and was
promoted in May of this year. As an ACO she enjoyed not knowing what
animals she would be interacting with on any given day. As a supervisor, she enjoys getting to
know officers she works with on a different level and helping them flourish in their careers.
When she’s not working she enjoys running, photography, spending time with her family, and
doing anything that gets her outside. Supervisor Franklin really enjoyed being an Animal Control Officer and she is rising to the challenge of being a great supervisor.
Page 6
Pet Tails
Meet the Volunteers
Meet volunteers Cindy and Jim “Dog” Kuhn …
Jim is known as “Dog” because he is a career Navy Fighter
Pilot and he says with the last name Kuhn, it didn’t take his squadron mates long to crown
him Dog. He will retire in six months after 30 years in the Navy. (Editor Note: Thank
you for your service).
Cindy and Dog have been married for nearly 22 years, have moved nine times and have
lived in various cities throughout the US. In each location where shelters were available
they were active in their programs, mainly fostering motherless kittens and puppies.
When they moved back to the Virginia Beach North End four years ago, Cindy first
started with VBACAC, walking the little dogs. Dog got involved shortly thereafter, and
they make up a weekend morning dog walk team, Cindy gets smalls, Dog helps with medium
and big ones. Dog really enjoys walking the dogs first thing in the morning because they
really need to go, and he feels great having the opportunity to get them out—simple, but
critical at the same time. After everyone’s been out, Dog likes to take his current favorite and get them off leash in the large animal yard. The joy the dog’s show makes his
morning complete, and next morning, same thing. He loves it. Cindy and Dog are also a
foster parent home for small dogs, and that’s the part they love about working with
VBACAC, taking a very broken down dog and offering the best medicine, care, and love to get them up and running again.
They even note that, “inn fact Peggy, our current foster, was our Christmas card last year!”
Cindy states in a recent neighborhood volunteer spotlight “I have always been drawn to animals. I just love them. Every picture of me growing up has something cradled in my arms, a raccoon, a rabbit, a pig, a hamster … you name it! Volunteering at the shelter gives me the opportunity to give back, to help, and to encourage. For some reason, I am always
drawn to the worst case scenario: the dog who comes in scared, full of worms, matted hair, covered in fleas, bad
breath, and atrocious toenails. I just fall in love. With love, grooming, and special attention, I watch this poor, abused
creature emerge. It is amazing. Through time, their fur gets sheen, their eyes sparkle, their tails wag, and they smile.
And no matter what happened to this animal in their previous life, they are willing to give again, to love and to trust with
all their heart. It makes my heart sing.”
Cindy and Dog thoroughly enjoy volunteering at VBACAC and plan to keep doing it…”well…until the dog’s come home.”
GIVE US A “LIKE!”
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 Twitter and join in the conversations, and while you’re at it, invite your friends too. The more who know, the better the animals have at finding FURever homes!
Volume 23, Issue 23
Page 7
Volunteer
Opportunities:
Volunteer Front Desk
Greeter
Newsletter Team Member
Adoption Counselor
PetsMart Cat Center Volunteer
Foster Parent
Animal Transporter
Pet Portal (Petfinder)
Call Center Volunteer
Lost/Found Assistance
Volunteer
Small Animal Companionship
Special Events Volunteer
Vet Assistant
Youth Mentor
Adoption Follow-ups
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…
Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center
341 S. Birdneck Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-385-4444
Fax: 757-227-9687
E-mail: [email protected]
Cat Room Volunteer
Dog Walker
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Jean Deliz at [email protected]. She’ll be
looking forward to hearing from you.
Shelter Statistics
Dogs Impounded
Sept
2014
338
Sept
2015
215
Oct
2014
315
Oct
2015
292
Dogs Reclaimed
155
140
164
177
Dogs Adopted
121
98
148
87
Dogs Transferred
26
34
13
1
Cats Impounded
299
269
264
275
Cats Reclaimed
19
12
24
22
Thursday — 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cats Adopted
87
113
110
108
Cats Transferred
Other Companions Impounded
28
27
41
12
12
38
0
16
Saturday and Sunday — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Other Companions Reclaimed
1
0
3
1
23
17
25
15
2
1
0
0
Other Companions Adopted
Other Companions Transferred
It’s the Law
Did you know … It is unlawful for a person to, without
just cause, willfully impede or interfere with the duties
performed by a dog if the person knows or has reason to
believe the dog is a guide or leader dog.
Hours of Operation:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday — 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. (reclaims only)
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and we’ll post the suggestion and the response in our newsletter.