Peaches to Roxy
Some things are just meant to be

This is how it was for Sherry Akins and her two boys when they came to the Peninsula SPCA to visit the petting zoo and instead were caught by a pair of loving eyes peering out at them from a cage in the dog room.  With only three legs, Peaches, a pit bull who was recovering from a specific leg amputation won the Akins' hearts with her sweet temperament and soft, cold, dark nose.  She received surgery only weeks before, after she was brought into the SPCA with a broken leg.  Her operation was the first of its kind conducted at this shelter and was a complete success.  This would not have been possible without The Little Bear Fund, which saved her life.
 
Sherry and Stan Akins adopted Roxy and from day one, she has felt completely at home.  This new member of the family enjoys hanging out with the two Akins boys and Beza, an older, rescued dog.  Whether lounging around or running outside, Roxy has become the center of attention.  Stan laughingly recalls how adaptive Roxy was the first week, climbing stairs and going slowly on and off the backyard deck.  She knows exactly where her bed is and has been eating well, re-building her strength.  Even when the family gave their new companion her first bath in the hot summer air, Roxy proved to be cooperative and completely adorable.
 
In the past, the family has been used to owning big dogs like rottweilers and boxers, but this is the first Pit bull Stan Akins has owned.  Stan says he couldn't be happier! 
 
All Peaches' friends at the SPCA wish her the best of luck in her new home as Roxy!
 
Click here for more information about the Little Bear Fund.


All They Need Is Love
King and Queen came to the Peninsula SPCA in December 2007. They were older dogs, nearly 5 and 6 years old and inseparable! Things were not looking good for the royal couple, however, since it is difficult to find homes for middle aged dogs. Both dogs were put into foster care through the Animal Rescue of Tidewater (ART). Luckily, Annette and Keith Curtis were looking for a dog needing to be rescued and found King and Queen on the ART website. The Curtises were not looking for a puppy or any dogs that would take too much energy since Annette and Keith work during the day. Annette figured that two dogs would be good company for each other and their age would help with the energy factor. "I felt strongly about caring for dogs that desperately needed a home and were less likely to be adopted," said Annette. The two dogs were an immediate pick and were renamed Max and Sky. Both dogs are very calm and well behaved and all they want to do is be loved. Sky has become very curious and often enjoys the outdoors more than Max, who can usually be found relaxing on his new bed-which is all his own! Max usually tries to be the "boss" and controls Sky's use of toys by taking charge. The Curtis' family takes a regular evening stroll with their two new friends who often get worn out-but enjoy the attention nonetheless. Max and Sky are enjoying a nice, quiet life with their new parents. The Curtis' children are all grown, but come back to visit. When there are visitors, the two dogs are happy to find new attention but are very polite and do not jump up or bark at the people. "They were very quiet to begin with, but are obviously feeling more settled and will bark at the neighborhood dogs," mentions Annette. After their old dog Brandi was put to sleep in January, the Curtises missed having a dog in the house. Max and Sky have helped them fill this void and have proven to be the perfect companions for Annette and Keith Curtis.

Forever Happy In A Forever Home
Leo, a grey cat with beautiful bright eyes, came to the Peninsula SPCA in Oct of 2007. Veterinarian Dr. Emily Beichel and her vet staff fell in love with him before finding out he tested positive for FIV-the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus behaves much the same way that HIV (AIDS) does in the human body. It is not contagious to humans or other species, but only through deep bite wounds resulting from fighting or rough play. It is very difficult for cats to spread and fortunately, many cats will have a normal life span and never show any symptoms. It definitely had everyone at the Shelter worried.

Luckily, Marketing Manager Vicki Rowland also fell in love with Leo and was able to officially adopt him this past Valentine's Day. He shows no outward signs of being an FIV positive cat and as long as his health is maintained, he will remain that way. "He is a big lover," Vicki says. "He loves to cuddle with me on the couch while I watch TV!" Leo also enjoys playing with other FIV positive foster cats within his new house. He has shown himself to be a big talker, meowing to his heart's content and his new home has proven to be a perfect match. This gray shadow will always be a kitten at heart, soaking up the attention of anyone that enters his domain. "He is the perfect companion," Vicki boasts, "-forever happy in his forever home!" Click here to learn more about adopting a shelter cat and view our adoptable cats online!