In January of this year, a pair of pitbulls came into the care of the Fluvanna SPCA (FSPCA), neglected, emaciated, and undersocialized. Through the efforts of the SPCA staff and the Fluvanna County Animal Control, Chai and Choppo have become two healthy, happy dogs.
“Our real heroes are our shelter staff and Animal Control Officers. They see animals that are in dire need and arrive in such bad shape. These people don’t shy away from these tasks and don’t give up. They are always ready to receive these animals and put on a brave face (even if they are crying on the inside) to let these animals feel confident that they are in a safe and loving environment,” said FCHS teacher and SPCA volunteer Melody Morgan.
The FSPCA and the animal Control Officers (ACOs) work to prevent animal cruelty and shelter homeless or neglected animals, providing them with care and love until they are given a permanent home through adoption. They promote humane animal treatment through clinics, community pet food pantries, and education, further acting as advocates for animals in need.
Morgan said that during Chai’s and Choppo’s time at the shelter, SPCA staff have used a wide variety of toys and training devices to keep the dogs’ days full and lively and prepare them for life in a forever home.
“There are so many things to worry about [the treatment of local animals] that go on that I’m unable to change or to even just see an immediate positive impact, except for volunteering at the shelter,” said Morgan. “The minutes you spend with the dogs mean the world to them, and even if it’s just a 10-minute walk, it’s still showing them that people can be kind and loving. That small interaction can add up to dogs learning to walk well on a leash and how to interact with others, which can lead to adoptions and especially adoptions that stick,” she added.
She said that Chai and Choppo are resilient, friendly, and loving dogs, despite their difficult beginnings, and that the SPCA staff are proud to see them play around the yard, greet others with wagging tails, and snuggle in for cuddles. Their journey to becoming healthy and goofy dogs has been life-changing to witness.
“It can take days, weeks, or sometimes even months to help these animals overcome their past lives, but day in and day out, the staff undertakes this job very seriously and with all the enthusiasm and love one would hope these animals know from here on out,” said Morgan. “Our animal control officers here in Fluvanna go above and beyond as well. Every day, they are working to make sure animals in our county are safe and taken care of, and are not afraid to intervene when they believe an animal is not in a thriving environment. Our shelter also offers so many opportunities to help our dogs be socialized and ready to find their furever homes,” she said.
As a result of the strict regulations that apply to animals in the shelter’s care when they are involved in a court case, Chai and Choppo have been on a tightly restricted activity plan for over the last 100 days. The dogs can only do on-property walks and supervised time exploring the yard, interacting with specific individuals approved by law enforcement. They were not allowed to be seen by the public or other dogs, limiting their opportunities further. As a result, Morgan said, ensuring the mental and physical health of Chai and Choppo had to be met with creativity and dedication from the behavior and clinic teams at the Fluvanna SPCA.
The FSPCA is encouraging residents to help find Chai and Choppo a home. They invite people to share and tag anyone they know who might be interested in Chai and Choppo’s story, or in adopting them, on social media platforms. You can also visit https://www.fspca.org/ for information regarding the FSPCA’s mission and opportunities for volunteering.
“Anyone interested can apply to be a doggie day out volunteer and, if approved, can take a dog out of the shelter for the day. It can be to the park, winery, brewery, farmers market, etc. This allows the dogs to practice socializing while also giving them some time away from the shelter, and also maybe letting others see them and become interested in adoption,” said Morgan.
