PWSPCA News

Pet Food Pantry Now Open!
Donation Need=High
The Prince William SPCA has sponsored a new Pet Food Pantry for needy families in the area. The pantry is located in the front lobby of the Manassas City Animal Adoption Center and is open during their normal business hours. They are located 10039 Dean Dr. in Manassas, Va. Needy families in Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County may visit the pantry twice per month for this service. There is no cost to participate but quantities are limited. The pantry is in need of cat food and dog food donations! If you can donate any items, please take them directly to the pantry. Follow the donation procedures posted to receive a receipt for your donation. Click here for a collection box sign.

Humane Education Available to Elementary Schools
The Prince William SPCA is once again offering elementary school classrooms gift subscriptions to the newspaper, KIND (Kids In Nature’s Defense) News. The publication encourages good character with an emphasis on kindness to animals, respect for the environment, preservation of natural habitats and good citizenship. It comes in three editions to accommodate a range of reading levels: Primary edition (grades K-2), Jr. edition (grades 3-4), and Sr. edition (grades 5-6). Teachers may change the edition they receive at any time. In 2009, 80 classrooms participated in the program with no cost to the schools. The Prince William SPCA will offer this program free of charge to Prince William County, Manassas City and Manassas Park elementary school classrooms starting in September 2009. Advance reservations are required and space is limited to 100 classrooms. Registration for 2009 is now closed. Contact the PWSPCA for information on the 2010 program.

Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Clinic a Success!
The Prince William SPCA hosted a Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Clinic on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Prince William Animal Hospital. 56 pets were microchipped and 85 pets were vaccinated for rabies. Another clinic will take place this spring, so watch for information if you missed the last one. A big "Thank you" goes out to the wonderful staff at the Prince William Animal Hospital for volunteering their time on a Saturday afternoon for this clinic.

203 Pets Adopted in 1 Month!
The Prince William SPCA teamed up with the Prince William County Animal Shelter on the Home for the Holidays pet adoption campaign. From Thanksgiving through New Years Eve, 203 pets were adopted, 93 cats and 110 dogs. The PWSPCA sponsored the adoption fee (total of $4,060) and the spay/neuters for unaltered pets were covered by sale of pet-friendly license plates in our community. Thank you to everyone who adopted a pet!

Thanks for Attending! The 3rd Annual Pet Adopt-A-Thon and Fall Festival held on October 18, 2008 at the Prince William County Fairgrounds was a success! Photos CLICK HERE. For a list of exhibitors and links to their websites, CLICK HERE. To link to the official web site, CLICK HERE!

Thank you to everyone for participating in the 3rd Annual Prince William SPCA Great Pumpkin Dog Walk. This year's Walk was held in memory of Stephanie Dawn Kirpes. Photos CLICK HERE.

PWSPCA Sponsors Humane Education Program in Elementary Schools in 2008
Thank you teachers and schools!
In September, 74 classrooms in Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County will receive gift subscriptions to an award-winning classroom newspaper, KIND News. The Prince William SPCA is proud to adopt these classrooms and hopes to add more in 2009!

A semi-annual informational publication sponsored by the Prince William SPCA.
~Download our latest newsletter (Winter/Spring 2008)
Download the Summer/Fall 2007 issue here.
Download the Winter/Spring 2007 issue here.
Download the Summer/Fall 2006 issue here.
Download the Winter2005/Spring 2006 issue here.
Download the Summer/Fall 2005 issue here.

PWSPCA Partners with ACTS on Operation Turkey Project
ACTS is hosting "Operation Turkey 2007" and helping needy families in our community. Since families include pets, the PWSPCA will be collecting pet food and treat donations so that the furry family members can celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, too. It may be tempting to share turkey bones and scraps with your pets but it is not healthy for the pet and can cause choking. Instead, choose wet or dry food or snacks, and save the turkey bones for soup! The pet food drive will run through November 17th. You may take your donations directly to ACTS or drop off your donations at the PWSPCA Annual Meeting on November 15th at 7 PM at the McCoart Building's Potomac Room. Best items to donate are: wet food in cans/pouches, dry food in small bags or treats of any size.

Other Publications and Resources:
Spay/Neuter Flyer
Pet Identification Flyer
Welcome to the Community Flyer
Volunteer Application
Membership Form
Kids Club Form
Donation Form
Corporate Sponsor Form

Free Bookmarks!

Promote Spay/Neuter - Stop Animal Cruelty

To order your bookmarks, please send an e-mail here.

For a PDF of the bookmarks, click on images below.

Past News....................

Potomac News’ Charity Photo Contest Gallery and Silent Auction to benefit the Prince William SPCA
9 AM - 8 PM Mon. – Thu. and 9 AM - 5 PM Fri.
NOVA Manassas Campus: Howsmon Hall (outside the cafeteria)
NOVA Woodbridge Campus: Seefeldt building (4th floor)
Photo Contest Update: Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo. The entries are in and the judging is now taking place. Winners will be notified shortly and invited to attend a special reception on September 7 at the Manassas NOVA Campus from 7 PM – 8:30 PM. The gallery of winning photos will be displayed at both Manassas and Woodbridge NOVA Campuses starting August 20 (see times and locations above). You may view the photos and begin bidding on them at the silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Prince William SPCA.

Pet Food Drive
The Prince William SPCA is coordinating a pet food drive to benefit Action in Community Through Service (ACTS). ACTS is a community organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence, and to help people achieve self-support in the Prince William Area. The Prince William SPCA will set-up a pet food collection area at the Potomac Nationals Dog Days of Summer Game on Sunday, August 26, 2007. The Prince William SPCA is accepting unopened bags of non-perishable wet and dry food for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.

Let's Make Easter Happy for Bunnies, too!
Over the next few weeks, thousands of local adults will be tempted to buy an Easter rabbit for a beloved child, godchild, grandchild, niece, or nephew. And a few months from now, our local animal shelters will be, as they are every year, inundated by a flood of cast-off bunnies. If you want to make a child’s Easter happy, don’t give a live rabbit unless you know it will be loved and cared for throughout its natural life. If there’s any doubt, give a stuffed or, better yet, a chocolate bunny instead. Let’s all make Easter happy for bunnies, too! The Prince William SPCA asks that everyone who is considering buying a rabbit this year stop and think about important facts:

First, although rabbits can make wonderful pets, they are naturally fragile and timid. An active child who expects a cuddly pet can easily terrify or even injure a rabbit.
Second, rabbits are not low- maintenance pets. They require as much love, attention, and car as a cat or dog and will live ten years or more. Don’t give an Easter rabbit to a child unless you know that the child’s parents will be happy to take on a decade-long commitment.
Third, a new rabbit will cost $300 for a cage and other necessary equipment. On-going expenses include grooming, food, toys, and other supplies. Rabbits need the same routine veterinary care as cats and dogs and need to be spayed or neutered at a cost of $100 or more. Additionally, expect to pay $20 a month for unforeseen expenses, such as emergency veterinary care and care for elderly pets.
Finally, pet rabbits cannot be set "free". It is a death sentence for them as they are not able to defend themselves in the wild and usually die of starvation or exposure to the elements, or are preyed upon by other animals.

OK, so you were not planning on getting a bunny but think that you might add a live chick to the Easter basket? You will want to think again. While they are cute, owning chickens is illegal in the city of Manassas and many areas of Prince William County. Your best bet is to stick with the marshmallow variety.

Spay Day USA Scheduled for February 27, 2007 - PWSPCA Offers 27 Spays/Neuters for $27 each!
Spay Day USA is a national campaign to promote spay/neuter as a simple, humane and effective way to end the tragedy of euthanizing homeless pets. This year, Spay Day was on February 27 and the Prince William SPCA is celebrating by offering 27 spay/neuter procedures for $27 each to low-income residents of the community. Any resident of Prince William County receiving public assistance or who has limited income is eligible to apply. The PWSPCA will subsidize the cost of the 27 procedures, which can range between $100 and $270, depending on the size, sex or type of pet. In October 2006, the PWSPCA created a Spay/Neuter Endowment Fund with $10,000 of the organization’s reserves and will use some of the money to cover the cost of this program. The program is open to low-income residents of Prince William County, Manassas or Manassas Park. Feral cats and pets currently in a rescue group or shelter are not eligible. Applicant must be the owner of this pet. One cat or dog will be considered per household. Approved applicants will receive a certificate for a spay or neuter at the cost of $27 at Stonewall Veterinary Clinic in Gainesville and Blooms Crossing Animal Hospital in Manassas Park. Questions about this program may be directed to the PWSPCA via e-mail at pwspca@pwspca.org or through the hotline at 571/222-0033.

Prince William SPCA Established a New Spay/Neuter Endowment Fund
October 24, 2006 -- The Prince William SPCA announced Saturday that it has established a Spay/Neuter Endowment Fund and dedicated $10,000 of its reserves to help stop pet over population within the region. It plans to develop a program to offer reduced cost spays and neuters for companion animals in the community. Spaying and neutering pets lowers the number of animals that end up in the local shelters. Many of these animals never find homes and are instead euthanized. Prince William SPCA President Melissa Korzuch and Nancy White of the Manassas Journal Messenger newspaper made the first private donations. To make a donation to this fund, please mail your check, made out to the PWSPCA to: PO Box 6631, Woodbridge, VA 22195.

Prince William SPCA Names First Humane Hero Award Recipients
April 29, 2006 - The Prince William SPCA is pleased to announce that it has awarded the first Humane Hero Awards to two outstanding individuals within the animal welfare community. Sergeant Lorie A. Shetley, Animal Control Bureau for Prince William County Police Department and Susan C. Caskey, Animal Control Officer 1st Class for the City of Manassas Animal Control Services & Adoption Center were honored for their commitment and dedication to the welfare of companion animals. The presentation took place at the Manassas City Animal Adoption Center on Saturday, April 29, 2006. Both received a plaque during the event to commemorate their achievement. On February 2, 2006, Caskey and Shetley departed for Mississippi to assist the Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM), an organization devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They returned on February 5, 2006 in the very early hours of the morning, carrying with them dogs that were separated from their human families and some that were born after the storms in neighborhoods that do not exist anymore. They traveled in a new Prince William County animal control truck that is equipped with heat and air-conditioning. Their commitment to caring for the displaced animals as well as local animals in Prince William County and Manassas was the reason Caskey and Shetley were selected for the award. (In the above photo from left to right: Prince William SPCA President Melissa Korzuch, Joan Strawderman and Susan C. Caskey of the City of Manassas Animal Control Services & Adoption Center, Manassas Chief of Police John J. Skinner, Lorie A. Shetley and Sam Newsome of the Prince William County Animal Control Bureau.

Manassas City Animal Adoption Center Open House a Success
Manassas City Animal Adoption Center welcomed spring with an Open House on April 29, 2006 from 10 AM - 3 PM. The event was planned to promote animal adoptions and to give the community an opportunity to visit the facility, which opened last April. During the event, they adopted out 3 dogs and 4 cats. Activities included a rabies clinic (where 34 animals were vaccinated), animal adoptions, tours of the Adoption Center, refreshments and pet licensing sales. The Prince William Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PWSPCA) hosted a booth with baked goods for pets and people, vegetarian chili, activities for the children and raffles. During the Open House, a special presentation of the first-ever "Humane Hero" award took place at 1:00 PM. This award, sponsored by the Prince William SPCA, was created to honor city and county animal control officers and shelter workers. The Manassas City Animal Adoption Center is located at 10039 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20110, Phone: 703.257.2420, Email: animalshelter@ci.manassas.va.us, Website: www.manassasanimaladoptioncenter.petfinder.com, Hours of Operations: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:00am-1:00pm and 4:00pm-6:00pm, Wednesday: 5:00pm-7:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am-1:00pm, Sunday and Holidays: Closed

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Past news......
Prince William SPCA is Helping Shelter Pets this Holiday Season! December 2005
This time of year, seeing animals in shelters is even more sad and disheartening than any other time of the year. The PWSPCA hopes to change that with several programs designed to get animals out of shelters. First, when you are watching television, please be on the look out for the new PWSPCA Public Service Announcements that promote animal adoption and spay/neutering. The 30-second ads will run on several cable channels, including Animal Planet, the Prince William County Government channel and City of Manassas channels. We are hopeful that they also may make their way to NBC! Special thanks to all the wonderful people who made this project possible! To download an Internet-friendly version of the PSAs, please click here: 1.) Shelter PSA 2.) Spay/Neuter PSA.

Second, Animal Adoption Trees will be placed around the County and City of Manassas. These holiday trees will be decorated with paper ornaments that have a photo of a cat or dog that is up for adoption at the Prince William County Animal Shelter or the City of Manassas Animal Adoption Center. A complete list of locations will be available soon.

Finally, the Prince William SPCA is proud to announce its partnership with the Prince William County Animal Shelter on the Home 4 the Holidays Animal Adoption Campaign. All animals adopted from the shelter between Thanksgiving and New Years will be eligible for a free spay/neuter, while funding lasts. This project is made possible by donations received from the animal-friendly license plate sales. In addition to having their pets spayed or neutered for free, adopters also will receive 1 month of free pet insurance, a goodie bag and information on caring for their new pet. For a listing of the pets available at the Shelter, please visit www.pwcshelter.petfinder.com