Animals at SPCA need visitors

Lee Easton Jr. Charlottesville
Published: April 12, 2008

I had some time the other day to visit the SPCA at 3355 Berkmar Drive.
It is a very nice building, and the people are friendly and gracious. The place is very clean, and there are things you can buy for your pet at decent prices, but it is a sad place.
You go through the doors to the animal area.
There are many cats and dogs, and many of them are beautiful animals.
I first went through the cat area, and all of the cats came to the front of their cages and wanted me to scratch their heads through the wires.
One of the cats, a black and white one, looked into my eyes the whole time I was there as if to say, “Please take me to your home. I will curl up on your lap and purr and keep you warm.”
Someone had dumped the cat there because they were moving to a place that didn’t allow animals.
Then I went to the dog area.
There they sat in their cages looking at me, some wagging their tails high, some low; one sat in the corner as far away as he could with his tail between his legs. Obviously an abused animal where he lived before.
They looked into my eyes and seemed to be asking, “Why am I here? Would you please take me with you? I will be a good companion for you for a long time.”
There are little buckets of small goodies and you can feed the dogs. They take the treat and then kiss-lick your fingers in gratitude.
Have you visited that sad place? The animals would love to see you. It will give you a spiritual lift to visit them.
By the way, don’t expect to see Jonathan there, the one-winged seagull. His spirit has taken wing and he is gone.
But go there.
See the animals, thank the people, especially the volunteers who come daily and walk the dogs and pet them and love them.
If you have room for one of these animals, take one home. They will thank you in many ways. The love they will give is many ways worth the small expense.
When I left I put some money in a small bank to help offset the expense it takes to run the SPCA. It was the least I could do.