Dogs Deserve Better

ADOPTED: PUCA 🎉

Puca came to Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge from a local shelter with a chronic cough and more than a few hard days behind her. She had every reason to shut down. Instead, she just kept showing up — tail wagging, heart wide open, ready for whatever the day had.

That spirit? It never left her. And now she's healthy, thriving, and she never has to wonder where home is again.

This girl landed in a forever family who adores her. A DDBBR alumni sister to grow with. A big yard, a full house, and a front row seat to the good life she always deserved.

Some dogs find a home. Puca found her people, people who put her front and center in their celebration of her gotcha day. This one is really big, and the entire DDBBR team cannot be more thrilled for this life-loving gal.

Here's to you, Puca — may every day be as good as you made ours. 🧡

Today’s No Empty Bowls Pet Food Drive was a success! 🐾

We served 70 households caring for 159 dogs and 237 cats (including 5 community cat colonies).

A huge thank-you to our amazing volunteers who spent their morning serving our community: Carol, Deb, Jim, Danny, Heather, Kendell, and Molly. Your dedication makes a difference for so many families and their beloved pets.

A special shout-out and heartfelt appreciation to Puppy Food Bank for their monthly shipment of Purina One dog food, and to Tractor Supply Co. in Staunton VA for providing generous discounts on cat and dog food. Your support helps us stretch every dollar further, allowing us to assist even more families in need.

Thank you to everyone who helps keep pet bowls full and pets with the families who love them. ❤️🐶🐱

✨❤️IVY IS HOME!!❤️✨

From the backseat ride with her new bestie to full on couch cuddles with dad, Ivy has wasted absolutely no time claiming every single member of her forever family as her own.

This girl has nanny dog instincts in full effect. She's been glued to her little girl's side- sprawled out on the rug together, snuggled up on the sofa while she colors, and basically never more than a paw's reach away,

Pure gentleness🥰

And it doesn't stop there. Mom's getting kisses in the kitchen and dad? Well, Ivy decided the recliner fits two just fine!

To anyone who has ever believed the myths about pit bull breeds- look at these photos. This is who they are. Sweet, devoted and caring.

Ivy, we are so proud of you, sweet girl. You deserve every bit of this love.

Three cheers for Ivy and her new Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge family!

Hip Hip Hooray!
Hip Hip Hooray!
HIP HIP HOORAY!

🎉 THIS IS A BIG DEAL! 🎉

Our longest stay pup — nearly 2 years with us — has finally been adopted…

CHUBBS, WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER FOR YOU. 💛🐾

Chubbs came to us after being born into an accidental litter and spent the first 6 months of his life living in a small pen with all of his siblings. Because of that, it’s no surprise that the world felt big and scary to him.

He spent a long time in boarding while we searched for the right foster — not just any home, but the one that could truly see him and help him grow. When that home finally came along, we knew things were about to change.

Chubbs needed a special person to bring out the best in him… and that’s exactly what he got.
And now? He gets that person forever.

Vanessa — we cannot thank you enough for the care, patience, and dedication you’ve given Chubbs. We know it wasn’t always easy, but you never gave up on him. You brought out the dog we always knew was in there.

There is nothing better than knowing he doesn’t have to start over — that he gets to spend the rest of his life with the person he trusts most.

This one means everything. 💛

Today we were able to get two more community cats in the city of Staunton VA spayed with Mobile Vet Solutions 🙌

A huge thank you to an amazing Staunton community member, Heather, who has been tirelessly working to help the local community cats, and to Cat's Cradle for graciously allowing us to fit two female community cats into their spay/neuter clinic today.

Every spay and neuter makes a difference in a community already overwhelmed with outdoor cats, helping prevent even more unwanted homeless litters in the future.

💛 Sometimes everything just falls into place. 💛

And for Lacy… it truly did.

If you’ve been following along, you know Lacy came into Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge’s program with a severely broken jaw — something she had been living with for far too long. She needed immediate, major medical intervention.

At first, things felt uncertain. We were calling specialists and surgeons, only to hear the same thing over and over — consults weren’t available until June or July, and surgery would be even further out.

And then… everything changed.

We called Virginia Veterinary Centers Short Pump at just the right time and were able to get Lacy in for an immediate consult. Then, in what can only be described as incredible timing, a surgery cancellation opened up — and Lacy was able to have her procedure scheduled just days later.

The cost of her care was a concern, but once again, this community showed up. 💛

An anonymous donor stepped forward to cover the majority of her surgery, and so many others contributed what they could. Because of that, we only needed to cover less than $1,000 of her total cost.

Lacy’s surgery was a success. She recovered beautifully and went to a medical foster — a retired vet tech who gave her exactly the care she needed.

And now, the best part…

Lacy’s foster officially adopted her. 💛🐾

She knew from the start that Lacy would be a special needs dog, and still felt called to give her the love, patience, and lifelong care she deserves.

From pain and uncertainty… to safety, healing, and a forever home.

Sometimes, it really does all come together. 💛

Page county Felony animal cruelty case update: The link below has an article with details from yesterdays court proceedings. We were in the courtroom over 2 hours. We are happy the judge certified this case to a grand jury.

On February 1st a female blue tick hound named Phoenix was found deceased on a short chain to a plastic doghouse without straw bedding or a windbreak. The temperature was 19 degrees with solid ice and snow on the ground.

The other 4 surviving dogs were also living on short chains without adequate dog houses. One of those dogs was Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge’s sweet old man in the photos below, Morty. He is a senior blind dog who came to us with a laundry list of medical challenges. Morty is feeling much better now after veterinary care. It’s hard to believe with his age & medical condition he survived being left on a chain in such brutal cold weather. He’s a tough little old man.

We will continue to show up as this case moves forward. We are demanding justice for Phoenix and the 4 survivors.

Next step: June 3rd 1:30. Grand Jury to determine there is enough probable cause to certify the charges.



https://www.whsv.com/2026/05/14/page-county-animal-abuse-case-certified-grand-jury

🎉 VERY BIG, VERY EXCITING NEWS! 🎉

Just before his one-year intake anniversary… JET IS ADOPTED! 🐾

Jet came to Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge from a heartbreaking hoarding situation in Patrick County, where he was seized alongside nearly 50 other dogs. He had been living in a tiny pen with no door — no way in, no way out. The pen had actually sunken into the ground, and we had to dig him out to get him free.

And yet… Jet came out of that pen as happy as could be. From day one, he was just grateful — soaking up love, attention, and of course, treats.

Jet went straight into foster, where he waited… and waited. He showed up to adoption events, where everyone admired his big ears and sweet personality. He even rolled up in style in his foster mom’s motorcycle sidecar — because yes, he’s that cool.

But still, no application

Until one day, we got a message asking if he’d be at our adoption event at Cave Hill Brewery… and from there, everything fell into place.

Now, Jet is living his best life in a big farmhouse, with two human siblings, a big yard to run in, and all the love he deserves.

His story is incredible, and we are so grateful he finally found his way home. 💛🐾

Update: Page County Felony Animal Cruelty Case (court details in photos below)

Tomorrow at 1:00 PM at the Page County Courthouse, there will be a court hearing for the two individuals charged in connection with the death of a female dog named Phoenix this past winter. The address is 116 S Court St, Luray.

Phoenix was found deceased at the end of a chain during extreme freezing temperatures. Four other dogs were also seized from the property that night.
Pictured below are the dogs rescued from the same property, all of whom were found living outdoors in those dangerous conditions. We’re grateful to share that all four are now safe, loved, and thriving with their respective rescue organizations:

• Morty — Dogs Deserve Better Blue Ridge
• Auggie & Zippy — Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)
• Dudley — Roanoke Valley SPCA

Tomorrow, we will be there to honor Phoenix’s life and advocate for justice in her death.
It is important that we continue bringing attention to cases like this and to the ongoing plight of chained outdoor dogs in Virginia. We also hope to raise awareness about the existing animal welfare laws and encourage law enforcement agencies and courts across the state to fully enforce the protections advocates have fought so hard to pass.

We are deeply grateful to Page County Animal Control and the Commonwealth’s Attorneys involved in this case. Their professionalism, dedication, and hard work have not gone unnoticed and are sincerely appreciated.