ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)– The Roanoke Valley SPCA will be closed for approximately six weeks beginning December 23 as the building undergoes several major repair projects.
That meant the shelter was tasked with placing the 30 cats and dogs in its care in foster homes while the construction is going on.
The community came through, adopting the final two dogs the day before the deadline to have every animal out.
“The last few days were getting a little stressful,” said operations director Erin Dams. “We were worrying about some of our big kids who were left, and we were really excited to have a really wonderful response these last few days.”
The shelter put out a last-minute plea on social media to get its last two dogs, Beowulf and Samantha, adopted and both were accounted for just a few hours later.
‘Clear the shelters,’ initiatives are not uncommon around the holidays, but for the RVSPCA, it was necessary as the building needs a new roof and HVAC system.
“We actually have about a quarter of our dog kennels that we haven’t been able to use for several months up to a year or more because it rains in the dog kennel,” said Dams.
The pets are expected to be fostered for six weeks while renovations are going on but the staff is hoping that a few of the foster cases will turn into full-on adoptions.
“We’re very hopeful that several of these fosters will turn into adoptive homes even if that’s not necessarily the plan right now,” said Dams. “I think it can be tough to take care of a pet for six weeks and not fall in love.”
The RVSPCA is still looking for a few more fosters to take over pets whose current fosters are not able to keep them for the entire six-week period.
The organization also will not be able to do any animal intake while the building is closed but the phone lines will remain open to provide resources to anyone who finds a stray animal.
They are hoping to re-open the building in mid-February.