NEWPORT NEWS—The Peninsula SPCA will celebrate 85 years of helping people and pets in Hampton Roads by hosting a special Open House Birthday Party on Saturday, July 15 from noon to 3pm. The event will be held at the PSPCA, which is located at 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. in Newport News.
Those interested in joining the festivities will be treated to a goodie bag. Cupcakes will be available for visitors and pupcakes will be provided to the shelter dogs as part of the celebration. Guests will be able to enjoy cornhole, participate in a scavenger hunt, check out the new animal enrichment area that was built by Dominion Energy volunteers, and learn about the many community resources the PSPCA provides, including their low-cost clinic, barnyard petting zoo, humane education programming, and more. There will also be fun birthday photos with the PSPCA’s resident donkeys, Starsky and Hutch, and every visitor to the party will receive a free raffle ticket for a Chewy gift basket. A small display that highlights the Peninsula SPCA’s origin and varied history will also be on display for guests to see.
“We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate 85 years of helping the Peninsula’s pets and people,” said Megan Steele, Peninsula SPCA’s executive director. “It is amazing to see how the organization has evolved over the years, from its humble beginnings in 1938, when a small group of animal lovers created the Peninsula Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That one act of kindness has grown into the organization we are today, with the help of many board members, executive directors, staff, volunteers, and community support along the way. We are celebrating this milestone with, and for, all of them and the many pets and community members we helped over the last eight-and-a-half decades.”
The Peninsula SPCA kicked off its anniversary-year events in March with the Fur Ball, its largest and very popular fundraiser. Other events that will take place this year include a new golf tournament titled “Who’s Your Catty?” at the Golden Horseshoe’s Golf Course in Williamsburg on August 2; Barktoberfest on October 7 at Mill Point Park in downtown Hampton, and a special alumni picnic for past and present adopters. The date of the picnic is still being worked out.
The Peninsula SPCA began 85 years ago out of community members showing kindness and compassion to animals. In honor of this milestone, the Peninsula SPCA is reaching out to the community to participate by sharing acts of kindness on social media (#PSPCAKindness), and by sharing upcoming supply drives and fundraisers. Any local businesses who would like to help are encouraged to reach out to Jessica Geary by calling 757-595-1399 x 103, or by emailing jessica@peninsulaspca.org.