Every year at the Richmond SPCA's Fur Ball, which benefits our Cinderella Fund for sick and injured orphaned animals, we auction off the opportunity to serve as our mascot for the coming year. This year, Joey will represent the Richmond SPCA's dogs and cats at lots of fun Richmond SPCA events. Photo of Joey courtesy of Kaycee Deen Photography.

Joey's Story
Hi, my name is Joey, and I’m the Richmond SPCA mascot for 2009-2010. I’m so excited to be a representative for an organization I love being involved with. I have met so many new animal friends at the Richmond SPCA and hope to help all of them find forever homes. Now, let me tell you about myself. I am an 11-year-old Labrador retriever who lives here in Richmond with my mom and my canine girlfriend, Baby Girl. I met the love of my life, Baby Girl, at my grandpa’s house. She had been dropped off in the middle of the woods out in the country. It was love at first sight so I brought her home with me and she has been here with me ever since.

I have lived a great life. Everyone says I’m spoiled. I have a toy chest full of my favorite toys and I get to sleep with mom and Baby Girl every night. I take trips to Chesapeake Bay a lot to go swimming. I also get to take car rides just for fun, eat treats and bones, and even go get doggie ice cream sundaes. I want all of my new animal friends at the Richmond SPCA to find homes, too, so they can experience all of the love and good times I have. I am also a fighter because I am a two-time cancer survivor. This year, instead of getting my usual filet mignon for my birthday, I had to have surgery for cancer. I think I should get two filet mignons next year.

Due to my cancer, I lived with extreme sneezing attacks for six months. They were so bad I would accidentally hit my nose very hard on the floor. I also had nose bleeds several times a day. Eventually I got so run down, I just wanted to sleep and didn’t want to swim anymore - which is one of my favorite activities. With the help of my mom and a team of amazing veterinarians, I am now in remission, but I no longer have a rubbery wet nose. It took me a while to heal from my April 2009 surgery, but now I don’t have any sneezing attacks or nose bleeds. I can smell the world again and now I can go swimming like I used to. I feel so much better.

If there is anything I hope to teach humans it’s this; all animals, regardless of illness, disabilities, special needs, or bad things that have happened to us, have so much love to give. We all deserve a special place to call home and people to share our love with. I can’t wait to meet you all and for you to meet my animal friends at the Richmond SPCA. Come out and see us!

Woof,

Joey

Mascot Archives
Nemo