Spay Virginia

02/20/2026

⏳ Countdown to Conference – Only 33 Days to Go!

We’re excited to spotlight our powerful keynote session:
Turning Off the Faucet: Why Spay/Neuter Still Matters Most

Speaker: Brianna Lovell Myers
Executive Director, United Spay Alliance

Spay/neuter remains the most effective tool for ending the crisis of pet overpopulation — the only true upstream solution that improves outcomes not just for individual animals, but for shelters, rescues, veterinary providers, and entire communities.

While many tools work downstream to respond to animals already in crisis, spay/neuter is the intervention that prevents that crisis from compounding in the first place.

In this candid, field-informed keynote, United Spay Alliance will share a “state of spay/neuter” update grounded in national data, on-the-ground experience, and emerging trends. We’ll explore what has shifted in recent years, which strategies are showing promise, and where critical gaps remain.

This session will also highlight key initiatives underway, including:
• Hands-on surgical training in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) techniques
• Outreach and engagement with public health officials
• Advocacy efforts like Feline Fix by Five, emphasizing the importance of when animals are altered — not just if

If we can truly get a handle on pet overpopulation, imagine what becomes possible:
✨ Dramatically fewer animals without homes
✨ Far fewer lives lost simply for lack of space
✨ Relief from the relentless cycle of kitten season
✨ More time and resources to provide thoughtful, individualized care

This is a session you won’t want to miss.

📅 Register today and reserve your hotel room before they fill up:
https://www.vfhs.org/annual-conference-1

Please join us for the 2026 VFHS Annual Conference at the welcoming and pet-friendly Hotel Madison and Shenandoah Valley Conference Center in Harrisonburg, VA. The hotel rooms and meeting areas are beautiful and spacious! Our collection of inspiring speakers will captivate you, and the opportunities...

02/19/2026

The VFHS Annual Conference is coming up in just a few short weeks. Cat's Cradle is excited to host the VFHS Conference Welcome Paw-ty.

Please join our host agency at their Coffee & Cats Cafe and at the Cat's Cradle Intake Center.

The Coffee & Cats Cafe is within walking distance from the Hotel Madison and the Intake Center is just a couple miles away!

Please RSVP with the QR code below.

Coffee& Cats Cafe Address: 122 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg
Cat's Cradle Intake Center: 1775 Huffman Street, Harrisonburg

02/05/2026

📣 CE Credits Available at the VFHS Annual Conference! 📣

Attending the VFHS Annual Conference this March is a great opportunity to earn 11.5 hours of approved CE credit while learning from animal welfare leaders from across the region.

Our conference agenda is updated in real time, so you’ll always have the most current information on sessions and speakers. To view the latest schedule, visit our conference page and click the red “2026 Agenda” button:
🔗 https://www.vfhs.org/annual-conference-1

🐾 Calling all Animal Control Officers (ACOs):
If you know ACOs who are looking for CE opportunities, please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your contacts!

📅 VFHS Annual Conference | March 25–27
📍 Harrisonburg, VA

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please join us for the 2026 VFHS Annual Conference at the welcoming and pet-friendly Hotel Madison and Shenandoah Valley Conference Center in Harrisonburg, VA. The hotel rooms and meeting areas are beautiful and spacious! Our collection of inspiring speakers will captivate you, and the opportunities...

02/03/2026

VFHS 2026 Annual Conference is coming up in March.

Here's a quick sneak peek at our event and sessions. We are so excited to be able to offer 11.5 hours of CE Credit for ACOs at this year's conference.

See full agenda on our website. https://www.vfhs.org/annual-conference-1
(Dates and times are subject to change so check back for the final agenda)

https://whova.com/portal/registration/vfhsa_202604

01/22/2026

🐾 SpayVA Grant Applications Are Open! 🐾

SpayVA is now accepting applications for spay/neuter grants to be awarded at the VFHS Annual Conference in March. These grants help reduce shelter intake and euthanasia by supporting local, community-based spay/neuter efforts—especially in under-resourced areas of Virginia.

📅 Application deadline: February 7 at 5:00 PM
⚠️ Late applications will not be accepted
✔️ Applicants must be current 2026 VFHS Organizational Members in good standing

The application has been simplified and is available via a Google Form on our website:
🔗 https://www.vfhs.org/spay-neuter-grant-program-1

💙 Want to help make these grants possible?
Donations to SpayVA or other VFHS programs directly support lifesaving work across the Commonwealth. Every dollar helps prevent unwanted litters and keeps pets in homes.

✨ Not a member yet? Visit our website and click JOIN at the top of the page to become part of the solution.

Questions? We’re happy to help—just reach out!

Our 2026 Spay/Neuter Grant Program is made possible by the incredible folks at Tito's Handmade Vodka, Two Mauds Foundation, and a very generous private donor. We are tremendously grateful for their continued support.

01/20/2026

The Virginia Federation of Humane Societies (VFHS) today announced that its High Five VA program has received a $20,000 grant from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to improve the health and adoptability of animals housed in shelters across Southwest Virginia.

High Five VA is a lifesaving transfer initiative that strengthens Virginia’s animal welfare safety net by moving animals from under-resourced shelters to communities where resources and adoption opportunities are significantly higher. The program focuses on improving animal health and readiness for transfer, expanding partnerships, and improving outcomes for Virginia’s animals.

With support from the ASPCA, VFHS has been working alongside Southwest Virginia shelters for several years to improve animal health, create and foster progressive programs, and improve animal outcomes.

Rural shelters face unique challenges, including limited financial resources, geographic barriers, and reduced access to veterinary care.

“This ASPCA grant will allow shelters to expand their transfer capacity, helping more animals move into homes and ultimately saving more lives,” added VFHS vice-president Jill Mollohan.

For more information, visit www.vfhs.org.

01/15/2026

Lobby Day Registration Link: https://forms.gle/kcTJGtcbHKSTEAWz9

08/13/2025

Aug 19, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

03/27/2025

Sing Your Balls Off, Virginia and team up to win even more spay/neuter money at the VFHS Annual Conference.

Thanks to a very generous donation made In Memory of Al and Eileen Miller, the prize money has gone up.

First Place is now $3000, 2nd Place is $2000 and 3rd Place is $1000.

GET YOUR SONG CHOICES TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Gather your colleagues and get ready to compete for spay/neuter money at the VFHS Sing Your Balls Off Karaoke Competition. This event will feature YOU and your team members performing the song of your choice in a competition against teams from your fellow shelters and rescues across Virginia to win spay/neuter funds and prizes.

Times are tough out there, we know. What better way to build some positive fun energy with your fellow warriors for animals and win spay/neuter money while doing it!

A panel of judges will award prizes for first, second, and third place winners!

Event to be held along with a Pizza Party on Wednesday, April 2nd at 6:00 PM in the VFHS Conference Exhibit Hall (Hotel Madison Ballroom).

Email [email protected] to sign up and submit your song choices by Monday, 3/31.

What better way to bond with your colleagues for a good cause?

Registration is still open for the conference on our website at www.vfhs.org.

02/13/2025

VFHS in the news! Many thanks to WVTF, Virginia’s Public Radio, for the great press about SB903, which will bring some much needed regulations for pet shops:

“Today’s bill was great. Not a lot of people were howling about it," Senator Bill Stanley told Radio IQ. "And it wasn’t rough to get out.”

02/12/2025

The Kittens are Coming! https://wix.to/HkPYq77

‘Kitten Season’ is almost here, and in some places it has already arrived - or never stopped! Get prepared for kittens now in order to help all your kittens in the future. This webinar will cover what you can do now to prepare and will provide need-to-know information to save more kittens! From administrative level planning, to increasing your foster care team, to essential kitten-care information (whether in the field, in foster homes or in the shelter), this session will address preparation and best practices, leaving you with plenty of ideas to make this kitten season one of your best yet! There will be time for questions, and information about where to find additional, trusted kitten resources will also be included.

Presented by: Rosemarie Crawford

Feb 18, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

01/09/2025

Join us for an exciting online event, "The Kittens are Coming!" on February 18, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Prepare for positive outcomes and connect with fellow enthusiasts! Don't miss out!
Check the details here:
https://wix.to/Ke1YGGn