Middlesex Pet Friends for Life (MPFL) wishes you all a very Happy New Year. As we say goodbye to 2025, we reflect on the year past with all its highs and lows.
Throughout it all, our organization has been blessed to work with the best animal shelter ever. The Middlesex County Animal Shelter in Cooks Corner saw some wonderful changes in 2025. Through MPFL we acquired a professional dog trainer, Bev Spencer. With Bev’s guidance for both canines and humans our adoption rates have increased, and the dogs are a happier crew while waiting for their forever homes.
The new shelter manager, Barrett Worley, has implemented many new programs and has immersed himself in the loving care of the animals. He truly loves the animals and they adore him.
The shelter has an unusually dedicated staff who go above and beyond required duties on a daily basis. Wonderful volunteers assure that every dog gets walked and has playtime in the dog park adjacent to the shelter, seven days a week.
Volunteers Needed
We are still in need of volunteers. If your New Year’s resolution is to get more exercise, walking dogs is a fun way to do it. Call 804-466-1159 to join our team.
We are also in great need of kitty fosters. This is easy duty and so much fun. MPFL supplies everything needed and you have the fun and supply only TLC. Call 804-776-8098 to help a furry baby. Thanks to all who have already opened their hearts and homes to our needy babies.
Dedication
The year 2025 was a rough one with an infestation of parvo, a life-threatening disease, but with the dedication and diligence of the shelter staff it was eradicated and all the puppies have been adopted. MPFL provided funding for several major surgeries and medical treatments. Funding for all medical needs was thankfully provided by our wonderful supporters.
Several businesses — Greys Point Campground, Bethpage Camp Resort, Saluda Tractor Supply and Hartfield Veterinary Clinic have been very generous donors this past year. The Middlesex County community has proven to be an animal-loving citizenry, and we are very grateful for your support.
Love and loss
Sadly, 2025 saw the loss of one of the founders of Middlesex Pet Friends, Mary Wakefield Buxton. Mary was a driving force in establishing this organization from the first luncheon meeting of five of us at the Virginia Street Café in 2013 to becoming incorporated as an official nonprofit 501c3 organization. Mary made all the hard work in that process seem like fun. I remember her hardy laughter when we received the official notice and her saying, “Can you believe we’re a corporation?”
Have fun, Mary, over that Rainbow Bridge with all the animals you have helped.
Another original supporter and dear friend of Middlesex Pet Friends left us in 2025, Mary Lib Hoinkes. Mary Lib and her husband, Dieter, were always there to help when a special need arose. Thank you is not enough. You will be greatly missed Mary Lib, our friend.
Success
MPFL thanks all who have helped make this past year a success in helping our needy homeless animals. So goodbye 2025 and now hello to 2026. We’ll again be back at the Deltaville Farmers’ (Holly Point) Market in the spring and save the date of May 2, 2026, for the annual Low Country Boil Festival for the Animals fundraiser. It promises to be the best yet.
MPFL is a nonprofit, 501c3, all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting and improving the lives of the animals under the care of the Middlesex County Animal Shelter. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 145, Saluda VA 23149. You can also donate online at middlesexpetfriends@wordpress.com.
Have a peaceful and “purrfect” 2026.
(Cate Ogden is president of the Middlesex Pet Friends for Life Board of Directors. For information, email her at roc@va.metrocast.net.)
