The Roanoke Valley SPCA Reopens Its Doors

Nearly 3 months after it closed its doors, the Roanoke Valley SPCA opened back up Monday.  Extensive renovations took place during that time which forced the animals to go to temporary foster homes.  Staff members were displaced, too. 

I interviewed SPCA Marketing and Communications Director Julie Rickmond about the need for the renovations and how the upgrades will help them further their mission of pet adoption, retention, and education services in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

Why was the renovation needed?

Rickmond-“Prior to renovations, our 20+ year old roof and HVAC system were failing. Whenever it rained outside, it literally rained inside the building because our roof leaked so badly. In fact, for several months, nearly a quarter of our dog kennels had to be shut down because they leaked. We only have 11 big dog runs and 12 small dog/puppy runs, so this greatly affected our capacity to care for pets in need. In addition, our HVAC system was also failing. The 7,800 pound unit was so old that repair parts were no longer made or available. So we were desperately in need of replacements for both the roof and HVAC system!”

What will allow the SPCA to do now that you couldn't do before?

“Now that we no longer have a leaking roof, ALL of our dog kennels are open again! This will allow us to take in and care for more dogs in need of sheltering. In addition, while this renovation was in process, we thought it would be a great time to make additional improvements. We installed solar tubes in rooms with animals that have little or no natural lighting. Not only does this help to provide lighting in these rooms if our power goes out, but it also helps the pets in our care receive a great dose of Vitamin D and all of the other healthy benefits that come from natural lighting (maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm, regulating body temperature, etc.) We've installed new devices in our dog rooms that will absorb odors and help to reduce certain viruses and bacteria in the air which should provide a cleaner environment for these pets. These were donated by GPS Air, so we're very thankful for them! Our duct work has also been cleaned out and we've had new insulation installed which combined with the new, more efficient HVAC system should lower our heating and cooling bills.”

Where did the animals go during the renovation?

“Before we closed, we did a big push to get pets adopted, but those who were not went out to foster homes. We had no heat in our shelter during these renovations, so we couldn't have pets in the building during this time. We really have to thank the fosters for opening up their hearts and homes to pets during this extended period of time. Some fosters even facilitated meet and greets and several pets were able to be adopted while we were closed!”

 What was the cost? How much is still needed?

The total cost of these essential upgrades reached over $600,000, and we are still in need of additional funding to cover the expense. We are incredibly grateful for the contributions that have made this project possible. To date, we’ve raised approximately $100,000 of the $600,000 required. However, we face a challenging reality: the remaining funds will need to come from our investments and savings, leaving us without a rainy-day fund for future emergencies. This is a concerning position for an aging facility that endures significant wear and tear from daily use. Maintaining an emergency fund is vital to ensure we can address unforeseen issues without compromising our mission.”

Were there any challenges for the project?

“Weather definitely impacted the timeline of this project. Ice, snow, rain, wind, and extremely cold weather delayed our reopening nearly a month.” 

“We want everyone to know that we are incredibly grateful for their support, donations, and patience during this project. We are absolutely thrilled to have our shelter operational again so that we can help more pets and people in need. And although we have our physical shelter open again and we can take pets in who truly need sheltering, we also want to remind our community that we have a variety of pet safety net programs to help keep pets in their loving homes so that they do not have to come into a shelter. We strive to be a first resource, not a last resort, and we hope that pet guardians will reach out at the first sign that their pet may be struggling!”

Beverly Amsler

Beverly Amsler is the owner of The Well-Trained Dog & Pet Care. She has been a professional dog trainer, dog walker, and pet sitter since 2014.  Beverly is a Certified Dog Trainer through the Victoria Stilwell Academy and a Certified Professional Pet Sitter through Pet Sitters International.  She is a member of the Texas Pet Sitters Association and the Association For Professional Dog Training.  Before starting her business, Beverly spent more than 30 years as a journalist for newspapers, magazines, and radio and television stations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, and Utah. Learn more about Beverly.