Highland SPCA An Important County Fixture Since 1996

Monterey, VA – The Highland SPCA has been an important fixture in Highland County since 1996. The organization operates Highland’s animal shelter and finds good homes for needy animals. Karen Brower is a dedicated volunteer.

Brower says the SPCA has recently been awarded grants for their work with animals. She says the grant money pays for spaying and neutering of animals that have been adopted from the shelter.

“Our first grant was for $5000.00 and that was just for dogs. And we did I believe it was for 49 dogs. Our second grant was from PETCO and that was for $5000.00 dollars and we did 88 animals with that grant, which were mostly cats. And we are planning to reapply for another grant from PETCO.”

Animals are being brought into the shelter at a fast rate. Long time employee and Shelter caretaker Harriet Manizone describes the animals currently at the shelter.

“Right now we have a beautiful, little female beagle that is in foster care. She is a sweet, little dog. And we’re fortunate enough to have her in foster care so she’s getting more socialized. We always seem to have lots of cats. I still have 2 little, male long haired kittens. One is yellow and white, one is gray and white. I have 2 solid, gray sisters. And then I have 2 males, one is yellow and white, one is buff and white. They are only about 6 months old but they are going to be very large cats.”

The adoption rate has been good for the SPCA thanks to an online service called Petfinder.com. This is a free service provided by PETCO that allows the shelter to display photos and information about animals that are currently at the shelter and are ready to be adopted.

“We are advertised now on petfinder.com for Highland SPCA. We also have our own Facebook that you can check out to see what just recently came in. It’s a way to see without coming to the shelter what we have.”

Recently, board members of the SPCA hired a part-time employee to assist Manizone with the shelter.

“We do have a new part time employee, Landon Vaughn. Going to help me out and do some weekends. Maybe do a few days so I can have a vacation. That’s been really great.”

Vaughn began work for the SPCA on January 8th. The Highland SPCA receives much of its funding from their benefit shop, The Attic which is located in Monterey. Brower describes the shop.

“The Attic is our benefit shop for the Highland SPCA. And it’s a unique collection of donated items with very reasonable prices. We try to have specials every now and then. As of right now we’re getting ready for our lamp sale. Which, we store all of our lamps upstairs until this time of the year.”

The Attic is open from 10-2 every day except for Sundays. The shop is staffed solely by volunteers and they’re currently looking for a Saturday volunteer.
Manizone says a lot of the animals in the shelter were abandoned on Highland County roads. She wants residents to know that the Highland SPCA is here to help.

“And we would like everyone in Highland to know if you have some animals that you are not able to care for anymore or having problems please let us know. That’s why we are here in the county. We had numerous animals dumped on the side of the road or even dumped out of our shelter. All you really need is to call me, pick a time and we’ll work something out for you.”

If you are interested in volunteering for the Highland SPCA you may call 540-468-3405 or for The Attic at 540-468- 3406.