News & Blogs

Giving Tilly a Second Chance at Life

Submitted by Goochland Pet Lovers

This past summer, a Goochland resident came home from the beach to find a dog abandoned in a crate on her back deck. She had no access to food or water and that week was sweltering with temperatures in the high 90's. To say Tilly was not in great shape would be an understatement.

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Coronavirus from a Dog's Perspective - How to Help Your Canine Family Members with the Transitions

Submitted by Goochland Pet Lovers
Let's face it, our dogs love to be around us. All of the time! The new human need to shelter in place, work from home (if able to work at all), and limit social interactions may be your dog's idea of Utopia. If most dogs could decide, we would never go back to our pre-COVID 19 routines. But, what happens when restrictions begin to be lifted?
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Goochland Pet Lovers receives $25,000 grant

Submitted by Goochland Pet Lovers
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GPL Partner Spotlight: Punch

Submitted by Goochland Pet Lovers
Charlie Connell has gone from a designer/photographer to the Principal of Punch. Punch specializes in brand development along with print and digital design with the goal of connecting their clients to their consumers. Charlie was even awarded Ad Person of the Year in 2011 and his creative team has numerous Cannonball Awards – the area’s most prestigious advertising award.
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Partnership between Pet Lovers, Animal Protection remains strong

Submitted by Tim Clough

Many Goochland residents know of the public/private partnership between Goochland County and Goochland Pet Lovers (GPL).  This collaboration resulted in a successful capital campaign, where Goochland Pet Lovers raised over $1.5 million that allowed the County to add an adoption wing to  the new Goochland County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.

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Choosing the Most Appropriate Pet (May 2019)

Submitted by Sara Grattan

Dear future puppy adopter,

Almost every day I see a new Facebook post from a rescue advertising a young beautiful pure-bred dog.  The ad goes something like this: “beautiful, energetic, young German Shepherd looking for his forever home…”  What happened to the family that purchased the cute little puppy?  Most likely they did not plan on how much time, knowledge and money it would take to care for a young puppy.  As my mother would say, God made puppies cute for a reason because they take so much work.

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“March” into Pet Toxin Awareness Month (March 2019)

Submitted by Dogter Jack

HOWLo everyone! Did you know that March is Pet Toxin Awareness Month? Being an Emergency Dogtor, I see many animals every week that have been exposed to a toxin in and around the home. People are unaware many of these substances can be harmful to their pets.

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Why Adopt a Hound or Beagle? (February 2019)

Submitted by Sara Grattan

Goochland Animal Shelter regularly picks up abandoned hunting dogs.  38% of the dog population for 2017 and 2018 were hunting hounds or beagles. The high number of hounds and beagles can be contributed to two issues.  The first is hunters releasing their unwanted dogs at the end of hunting season.  The second reason is people who are against dog hunting will illegally remove collars and I.D.’s and release the dogs in another jurisdiction where the owner won’t check. Whatever the reason, most rural counties in Virginia have a large number of hunting dogs in their shelters. 

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GPL's Medical Fund (February 2019)

Submitted by Dogter Jack

Hello Everyone! I would like to introduce myself-- I am Dogtor Jack. Two and a half years ago, I was found by Hanover Animal Control, severely starved, dehydrated and neglected while chained in an abandoned backyard. Needing immediate medical care, I was taken to Veterinary Referral and Critical Care in Goochland. In addition to severe emaciation, I had fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites and heartworm disease. My attending doctor, Erica Ditzler, fell in love with me and I was soon adopted into her family. Dr.

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