About Us

Helping Animals in Our Region

PETA reaches out to animals in Virginia and North Carolina with a program called the Community Animal Project (CAP). We realize that some people cannot afford to provide for their dogs and cats, some do not know how, and some just don’t care.

CAP staff and volunteers provide low-cost or free spaying and neutering and transport animals to veterinarians for deworming and other badly needed treatments; they even bathe and groom dogs who have lived outside for years, all the while giving out the love and affection that these eager-to-please animals crave. They always explain why companion animals need to live inside the house with their families and, if there’s a willing ear, help people make that transition.

It doesn’t always work. We may wonder why someone bothers to keep a dog at all when the lonely, frustrated animal is chained out of sight behind the house 24 hours a day, but many people refuse to change—their actions, or lack thereof, are cruel but often still legal. When this happens, our caseworkers, determined to improve animals’ lives, do everything they can to make the animals more comfortable. They build, repair, and weatherproof doghouses, then fill them with fresh straw bedding. If the homeowner will allow it, our caseworkers build or repair fences so that chained dogs can have freedom to run around the yard. In other cases, they provide a running line and a harness with a swivel so that chained dogs can exercise without getting tangled.

And they don’t give up. Our caseworkers return to check on the animals and replace old bedding, check the doghouses, and make sure the animals have food and water. They continue to educate—politely—and urge reluctant humans to be real companions to their animals.

You can improve the lives of dogs and cats suffering from cruelty and neglect by donating to CAP.