News Flash

October 26, 201 (ROANOKE, VA) - The Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection (RCACP) has received a new $13,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America. The grant has been earmarked to support the daily operations of the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection so they can continue helping homeless pets in the Roanoke Valley.

More specifically, the RCACP shelter operations grant is designed to enhance the front lobby area by providing a more welcoming space for citizens who are reclaiming animals and potential adopters. The current front desk area will be demolished on Sunday, October 28 and the renovation will begin on Monday, October 29, 2018. The new front desk area will have a new and improved working area to accommodate three clerical stations to assist citizens with their needs. In addition, there will be a large screen television in the lobby that will highlight the available animals, provide pertinent information regarding pet care, and advertise upcoming events. To minimize stress on the animals, potential adopters will also be able to view available dogs and cats on an iPad to receive more information about a particular animal prior to meet and greets.

Mike Warner, Interim Executive Director, explains “We are very pleased to be the recipient of this very generous grant from PetSmart Charities and excited to share our new and improved front lobby with our residents. Our current lobby space does not use space very efficiently and is awkward for interactions with our front office staff and citizens. We are looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our available animals with the feed to the Smart TV that will be installed in the lobby as well so that residents can view a bigger picture of the animal and pertinent information regarding that animal. One of the key features to adopting and/or reclaiming our homeless pets is to provide an atmosphere that is helpful to both the citizens and staff to encourage those activities. Our new front lobby is one step toward the goal of faster redemptions and more adoptions of available animals due to increased information access as soon as residents come in the door.

Media outlets are encouraged to contact Melinda Rector for video opportunities during the renovation on Monday, October 29, 2018.”

In the field of animal welfare, grant funding to support shelter operations and improvements can be challenging to come by. That’s why PetSmart Charities created this stream of funding that supports an animal welfare organization’s core sheltering operations and practices with a focus on programs that are both innovative and sustainable.
“We are proud to support RCACP’s work to increase the ease of adoptions for their shelter pets,” said Sima Thakkar, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities. “Thanks to our donors nationwide, PetSmart Charities is able to invest in projects such as RCACP’s that will result in reduced lengths of stay and more pets finding homes in the Roanoke Valley.”

Shelter Operations is just one of PetSmart Charities’ seven grant categories designed to support nonprofits that share a commitment to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets closer together.


Media Contact:
Melinda W. Rector
Director of Operations, RCACP 540-526-6843
mrector@roanokecountyva.gov