Virginia is home to moderate weather, which makes it the perfect climate for getting outdoors year-round. There are few better ways to enjoy the sun and great outdoors than by walking outside with humankind’s best friend. If you’re looking for the perfect addition to your adventures or you just want to get involved in the animal community, look no further! Here are five nonprofits that support furry friends in the Shenandoah Valley.
1. Cat’s Cradle
Based in the Shenandoah Valley, Cat’s Cradle is an animal rescue for cats and home to Harrisonburg’s first cat cafe, Coffee & Cats. Coffee & Cats was established to give cats a place to play while encouraging adoption. Animal lovers can play with a variety of cats for $20, all of which goes towards the spay/neuter program. The efforts at Cat’s Cradle places over 600 adoptions and transports 200 cats to shelters in need of adoptable animals each year.
To learn more or volunteer, visit its website or follow on Facebook and Twitter.
2. Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA
The Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA (RHSPCA) is a private nonprofit animal shelter committed to improving animal welfare. It works to end pet homelessness and animal suffering through adoption and advocacy. Serving the community since 1973, RHSPCA manages the Community Cat Program, in which it works with community members to monitor the outdoor cat population and rescue barn cats in need.
To learn more or volunteer, visit its website or follow on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Anicira Veterinary Center
Anicira Veterinary Center provides free veterinary care and pet food to thousands of pets across the United States. Anicira provided over 2,435 pets with free care in 2022 and continuously works towards making pets happier and healthier by delivering high-quality, affordable veterinary care. Don’t have a pet but want to support this organization? Anicira accepts donations for several programs, including:
- Pit Fix: Anicira offers $40 spay/neuter surgeries to pit bulls and pit bull mixes in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Manassas and Manassas Park.
- Pet Food Pantry: To ensure that no pet goes hungry, Anicira’s pantry provides meals to thousands of animals in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
- Sashi’s Fund: Sahsi’s Fund reduces animal suffering by helping pet families get access to veterinary care.
To learn more or volunteer, visit its website or follow on Facebook and Twitter.
4. Humane Society of Shenandoah County
Humane Society of Shenandoah County is a successful nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health, safety, welfare, compassionate care and protection of animals in Shenandoah County through education and community outreach. Helping the most vulnerable animals in the county, the Humane Society designs programs that are made for keeping pets from entering animal shelters.
Services include:
- Purring it Forward: assists families who find cats and kittens
- Veterinary assistance for low-income families
- Collaboration with rescue groups
- Networking with rescues and no-kill shelters
To learn more or volunteer, visit its website or follow on Facebook and Instagram.
5. Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center
Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center works to improve the lives of pets and pet owners in the community, functioning as a shelter that accepts stray, abandoned and owner-surrendered animals from Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro. Since opening in 2011, the center has successfully lowered euthanasia rates in the community.
Services include:
- Adoption Services
- Foster Programs
- Lost and Found Programs
- Animal Surrender
- Spay/Neuter Programs
- Trap, Neuter, Release Programs
- Community Assistance Pet Pantry
To learn more or volunteer, visit its website or follow on Facebook and Instagram.
