Virginia Kincheloe remembered for animal passion

Kincheloe devoted her life to animals

Virginia Kincheloe remembered for her sass and passion for animals

BY SHAYNA JACOBS
Fredericksburg Free Lance Star

Date published: 7/12/2008

BY SHAYNA JACOBS

Virginia Kincheloe would sometimes stop owners arriving with pets at the Spotsylvania County Animal Shelter.

With her signature sass, she would tell them the animals had only a 50-50 chance of ever making it out of the shelter. And many times, she would adopt the pets on the spot.

That's the way friends at the Virginia Kincheloe Spay/Neuter Clinic and the Spotsylvania shelter remembered her yesterday, a day after she died at the age of 78.

"She was straightforward and didn't care," clinic receptionist Ashley Harshman said. "She was like everybody's grandma."

Kincheloe was well-known locally for her animal-rescue work and her advocacy of spaying and neutering pets. But her love, and protection, of animals began early, said daughter Kimbra Kincheloe.

As a 10-year-old girl in Texas, Virginia witnessed two men abusing a kitten, and though she was "shaking in the knees" she approached them and rescued it, her daughter said.

"She never missed an opportunity to pitch a story about the importance of spaying and neutering animals," Kimbra Kincheloe said. She was even delivering that message to hospital nurses this week, "up until her last breath."

She spent more than 15 years pushing for a spay and neuter clinic before seeing her dream realized in 2000. The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors named the clinic for her as a tribute to her work and persistence.

"It was among the happiest days of her life," Kimbra Kincheloe said.

The facility offers low-cost spay and neuter services in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted and euthanized animals.

Virginia Kincheloe also owned real-estate and restaurant businesses and was involved with organizations such as Lionhearts Inc. and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, among many others.

She is survived by two grown children and three grandchildren.

She also leaves more than 100 animals in foster care at her Spotsylvania estate, including 40-60 dogs and cats and nine horses.

"She knew the names of every one of them, their stories and what shelter they came from," said Tammy Basenback, office manager at the spay/neuter clinic. "They were her life."

The animals will continue to be cared for by the volunteers and caretakers already stationed there.

Shayna Jacobs: 540/374-5000, ext. .5617
Email: [email protected]

<span style='font-family: Microsoft Sans Serif'><span style='font-size: 14pt'>May you rest in peace dear Virginia. I know you are at the bridge right now being greeted by the fur kids from your past and the many that knew your heart was with them.
Buddy, your German Shepherd, the one you pulled from the Spotsylvania Shelter when know one else would, now lives in harmony at your farm, so grateful you gave him that one extra chance.
Your angel wings are with you now, as you watch over all of God's creatures.
Don't worry Virginia, we'll continue where you left off.</span></span>