Paws Unleash Potential

Paws Unleash Potential We connect kids and dogs to unleash their potential! The human and canine bond lowers stress and anxiety levels.

Paws Unleash Potential provides children with positive relationships with dogs that improves health and well-being by increasing self-esteem, confidence, and empathy. The Paws Unleash Potential programs, PUP Readers and Virtual PUP, allow children to improve their reading skills and fosters a love of reading. Since our founding in 2006, the Paws to R.E.A.D.® program -now PUP READers- has provided in excess of 6,000 hours of tutoring to over 4,200 children in the greater Richmond area.

02/13/2026
02/13/2026
02/13/2026

ISO of a new block head friend?

Grotto is a ~4 year old Pit/Lab/maybe Chow? mix who was picked up as a stray in the western end of the county. He had no microchip or identification and no one came forward for him. Grotto is a big hugger who would very much like to not be at the shelter. Grotto has been reactive to other dogs in the shelter so we don’t recommend a meet and greet here or a house with any cats. He may do best as the only pet, where he can soak up all the love and attention for himself. Goochland Pet Lovers

02/13/2026
02/13/2026
02/13/2026
02/13/2026

***Adopted
Looking to add some GIANT puppies to your pack? From left to right we have Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountain, and Swiss Alps. These ladies are Livestock Guardian/Shepherd mixed, and are already 20lbs🤯 They are only about 9-10 weeks old.

Our mountain high bunch have been microchipped and had their age appropriate vetting. Since they are too young to be spayed, you do have to either live within the county or a surrounding jurisdiction. Adoption fee is $90 and includes a voucher that helps pay for their eventual spay surgery! Goochland Pet Lovers

02/13/2026

How can Audrey not find a great home today?? Just look at her sweet face and sassy outfit. Contact Richmond Animal League for info.

02/13/2026

Want to help an animal shelter’s longest resident get a break?

Coogee is our 5 year old pittie/bulldog/frog mix, and our second longest term resident. Coogee has been with us since August with very little adoption interest.

Coogee has the top dollar digz with us right now - he’s been upgraded from a run in the adoption kennels to a whole room that overlooks the lobby and parking lot. Some of his favorite visitors include the FedEx delivery driver, our vet techs son, a mother/son frequent flyer duo, and of course staff and volunteers.

How can you help Coogee out?

Even if you don’t feel ready to welcome another pup to your household right now, Coogee can go for a weekend or temporarily foster home to give him a break from the shelter and some decompression time in a house. (Preferably on your couch if you’re cool with that)

Coogee doesn’t ask for much - just a nice spot to relax, his breakfast and dinner hand delivered to him, and for you to not judge him if he steals the boots off your feet when he gets excited.

Coogee was in a storm foster with two other dogs several weeks ago. Coogee does great with cats at the shelter, but he did go into a foster to adopt home a couple months ago for one day and was a little too excited chasing the cat and little dog around the house.

We can provide all of his food and any necessities needed to help give him a break!

Goochland Pet Lovers

Thank you everyone for participating in our raffle. We appreciate all of your support. Congratulations to Landon W for w...
01/18/2026

Thank you everyone for participating in our raffle. We appreciate all of your support. Congratulations to Landon W for winning this beautiful quilt! A special thanks goes to Kareemah Hamdan for making such a beautiful quilt 🐾

We're thrilled to announce that Paws Unleash Potential has entered the 25th Annual NIA Photo Contest. Voting is now open...
11/13/2025

We're thrilled to announce that Paws Unleash Potential has entered the 25th Annual NIA Photo Contest. Voting is now open, please vote for our photo through the link featuring Team Wiley:

NIA’s annual 501(c)(3) nonprofit photo contest is back! All 501(c)(3) nonprofits can enter. $3,000 in cash prizes for 13 nonprofit winners!

Team Kimchi is ready to hear some stories this morning at
10/25/2025

Team Kimchi is ready to hear some stories this morning at

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2999 Darbytown Road
Henrico, VA
23231

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Connecting kids and dogs to unleash their potential!

Sprite's Humane Education & Research Organization

Sprite’s HERO provides vulnerable children with life-changing relationships with dogs that improve their health and welfare by increasing their self-esteem, confidence and empathy, and lowering their stress and anxiety levels. In our Paws to READ® program the benefits of these relationships allow children to not only improve their reading comprehension and skill, but to learn to love to read.

Since our founding in 2006 by Chris Miller and Sprite (pictured), the Paws to R.E.A.D.® program has provided in excess of 6,000 hours of tutoring to over 4,200 children in the greater Richmond area.