Portsmouth Humane Society

08/03/2025

Weekend update from Dr. Pepper!

It’s been about two weeks since we first introduced you to this Very Good Boy. He’s on medication to help him feel good, and he’s staying happy and spoiled. Foster Dad Tom is making sure Dr. Pepper continues to live a spoiled, quality life until it’s time to say goodbye.

ICYMI - Dr. Pepper was a stray that’s microchipped to a company that went out of business (and failed to ensure that their clients’ records were available to other databases 🫠). We knew there was something very wrong with him right away, and we took him for a visit to Caring Hands Animal Hospital: Suffolk.

Really quickly, Dr. Deoudes informed us that he was likely dealing with lymphoma, and his prognosis was poor. We reached out to Foster Dad Tom while we were at the Vet, asked him to take on a dog that absolutely would not be curable, and would likely need to be euthanized sooner rather than later, and Foster Dad Tom said “I’ll be at the Vet in 10 minutes. (Because Foster Dad Tom is the best, he paid for the test to confirm that Dr. Pepper DOES have lymphoma. 😭)

Dr. Pepper is feeling just fine for now. We know his story is sad, and it hurts to know this magnificent beast doesn’t have much time. But Dr. Pepper’s story deserves to be told. He does not need to live in the shadows because it might hurt feelings. Dr. Pepper deserves to be seen and loved by as many people as possible, and he deserves to live a full, quality life. And most importantly, he deserves to have a home and a family until he no longer has a quality life. It is an honor and a privelage to be able to give Dr. Pepper a home in his last days or weeks. We cannot do this for every terminally ill animal we meet, but Foster Dad Tom has made it possible for Dr. Pepper. Dr. Pepper has a family bigger than most dogs, that consists of Foster Dad Tom’s whole household, friends and neighbors, the shelter team, his Vet team, and our community, that sends him love and support.

If you want to keep up with Dr. Pepper, check out the link in comments for Foster Dad Tom’s TikTok channel where he shares videos of Dr. Pepper, his other foster Percy (this IS available for adoption), and tons of other shelter pets Foster Dad Tom meets when he comes to the shelter.

08/02/2025

New Cats, who dis?

These fabulous felines just settled in at PetSmart - Hilltop Every Day Adoption Center! Do this Cat-urday right and swing by to meet the best cats in town! Athena, Robin and Aphrodite just moved their litterboxes to Virginia Beach!

Can’t adopt? Our PetSmart Adoption Centers are always looking for volunteers to care for the kitties and help them find new families! Email [email protected] to get started!

08/01/2025

It’s Foster Furr-iday!

Meet Aloe - a stunning low-rider ready to rock your world! He’s been in foster care healing from a skin infection, soaking up the sun, and digging his toes in the sand. He’s a sweet guy with great house manners to match his great personality!

He’ll be at the shelter THIS WEEKEND to meet you! Come on down Saturday or Sunday 12 PM - 5 PM to meet him, and bunches of other awesome dogs.

Are you currently fostering a Portsmouth Humane pet? Drop their photo and fun facts in the comments to introduce them to our followers! 👇👇👇

07/31/2025

We’ve got amazing Veterinary Partners, and we’ve got incredible foster families!

VCA Airline Boulevard Animal Hospital just happens to be BOTH! How lucky are we to have amazing this Veterinary Team say “yes!” to help homeless pets.

Even better, if you adopt one of their fosters, you have a veterinary team that you can use for your kitten’s care that has known your pet from the beginning of its life!

(Spoiler alert - they are REALLY GREAT at kitten fostering, and they raise the SWEETEST babies. You won’t want to miss out on these babies when they’re ready for homes!)

Dreaming of tuna and chasing lasers... 💤🐾

07/31/2025

Old Man Brodie got neutered yesterday, and he was really feeling his meds when he got back to the shelter. 😴😴😴

07/30/2025

There’s never not some very broken animal rolling into the shelter. 🫠

Caring Hands Animal Hospital: Suffolk is always there to decode whatever medical mystery we throw their way. 🤪

07/30/2025

What do you call a tower of cats?

07/30/2025

Excuse me, what is this sweet old lady doing here?

No, your eyes do not deceive you. This sweet lady golden mix is looking for a soft place to land. Shes 8 years young and ready to meet you today! Just ask for Arlow!

07/30/2025

Oh man, we forgot to show you the bush kittens we mentioned the other day. They’re REAL cute, especially if they think you’re not watching, they get even cuter. They hug and groom each other - super cute. But if you’re staring at them with a cell phone in your hand and you’re leaning over them in their kennel trying to snap a picture, they put on their best “deer in headlights” pose.

Anyhow, Sunday when the staff was on their way out to head home, they realized there were floofs in the bush and had to create a human barricade to rescue these teeny weenies and get them to safety.

07/29/2025

Do you recognize me?

This very good boy was pulled out of the water at the marina today by Portsmouth Animal Control.

He’s feeling pretty puny, but he’s getting cared for at Caring Hands Animal Hospital: Suffolk.

If you know this Very Good Boy, please reach out to us so we can reunite him with his family.

07/29/2025

Ah, true lunchtime treat! We’re excited to have D Lee’s Freezies at the shelter today to treat the team!