We are proud to announce our beloved volunteer Anne, is our 2017 nominee for Mud Bay’s Volunteer of Excellence Award! Cast your vote today to help Anne take the win she deserves! If Anne gets the most votes, she and Homeward Pet will each receive $1,000.

“My husband and I have already decided that if I do win, I will donate my $1,000 back to the animals of Homeward Pet,” Anne shares.

For more than 21 years now, Anne has been one of Homeward Pet’s most dedicated and compassionate volunteers. She’s here every Friday morning in her big yellow raincoat, ready to help walk and socialize the dogs.

Anne has done it all at Homeward Pet. She has donated, fostered, volunteered and adopted six of her very own four-legged friends from the shelter. She is one of the many volunteers who have helped Homeward Pet become one of the leading animal-welfare organizations in Washington State and we could not be more thankful for her generous commitment to the animals.

Here are a few quotes and testimonials from staff that speak to the amazing impact Anne has had at Homeward Pet over the last few decades.

“Oh, I just remember one of the first times I met Anne, she was sitting on the floor by the volunteer entrance door, talking quietly, soothing one of our shy small dogs.  She was just so patient and kind.  Just talking away, like to her best friend, which I guess says a lot about how she treats animals!” ~ Joan, Accountant

“Anne has the amazing ability to adapt to the dogs she walks each Friday. When big dogs with tons of energy come through, Anne can easily go stride for stride with them and return them to the shelter with their tongues hanging out of their mouths from exhaustion. The same can be said when a shy or under socialized dog comes in. Anne can often be found in our reading corner with a dog in her lap speaking softly and comforting the dog until they feel safe and relaxed. She embodies animal lover, caretaker, and advocate in every way.” ~ Sheila, Development Manager

“I love that Anne supports HPAC in many ways, including buying tiles for each of her pups.  There is a section of 4 of them together and she has really cute little names and/or stories that go with each one of them and why they have that nickname.  You  should ask her about them.” ~ Karin, Clinic Manager

Cast your vote today for Anne before voting closes on August 6. 

“Ruby is a social butterfly – always ready to greet you with big tail wags and tons of kisses.  She will turn your bad day into the best day!” -Kimberlee, Animal Behavior Coordinator

Recently voted “Best Kisser” by the 2017 graduating class of Homeward Pet’s Dog Behavior Team, Ruby is an affectionate, eager-to-please 5-1/2 year old Lab.  Ruby enjoys going for walks (but she loves car rides even more!), and likes to play and chew on her toys.  Most of all, Ruby enjoys keeping her people company.  In her foster home, Ruby thrives on consistency, and has adapted easily to routine: play time, walk time, meal time, sleep time, and her favorite of all times, sofa time!

Ruby would prefer to be the only pet in a quieter, adult-only home (apartments and condos would be a little too busy for her).  She is learning to not guard her food and toys from people, and is making excellent strides in her training.  She’d love someone to continue working with her to help her reach her full potential. In return, she will reward you with endless love and companionship.  Come in to learn more about her and see if Ruby is a match!

**Ruby is currently in a foster home.  Please contact us directly to learn more about Ruby and to schedule a time to meet her**

Sometimes a parent’s teaching moment can turn into a lifelong passion.

When Ann Hart walked through the doors of Homeward Pet nearly ten years ago, she did so with the intention of teaching her daughter a valuable lesson about the importance of giving back to the community. That first trip to the shelter ignited a decade long passion for the homeless animals of Homeward Pet.

Growing up in the company of her family’s Dachshunds, Ann quickly learned the significant role animals play in the lives of their human companions. As Ann grew older, so did her dedication to protecting that sacred bond, but rescuing and rehabilitating adoptable pets wasn’t always at the forefront of Ann’s work.

“There was a time when I had Bull Terriers from a breeder,” Ann shared. “But animals I have adopted from the shelter like Baxter, who I’ve had for sixteen years now, they never forget that day.”

Today, Ann dedicates her time to advocating for animals and the environment. She is deeply involved with rescues and works to help organizations like Homeward Pet overcome challenges like limited resources and funding. This in part, encouraged Ann to create the Ann M. Hart Foundation which focuses on making a larger impact in the community.

The Ann M. Hart Foundation most recently funded the expansion of Homeward Pet’s Low-Cost Public Spay & Neuter Program to include $5 cat spay and neuter surgeries for pets of families-in-need. When we asked Ann why spaying and neutering pets was important to her, she responded with one of Benjamin Franklin’s infamous quotes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Ann knows that shelters are overflowing and the more we can do to prevent unplanned litters, the better chance we have at stopping pet overpopulation in its tracks. Low-cost spay and neuter services are one of the best solutions to this problem.

According to the United States Humane Society, 6-8 million pets enter the shelter system in the U.S. each year, and only a fraction of them find homes. If more animals are spayed and neutered then pet homelessness and euthanasia rates will diminish. 

Homeward Pet’s Low-Cost Public Spay & Neuter Program is dedicated to serving pets and their families in our community. We are an aid for seniors living on fixed-income, young families whose resources are stretched and individuals living with disabilities who may depend on government programs to supplement their earnings. When Homeward Pet provides essential programs to our neighbors, we create a safer and healthier community for all pets.

Homeward Pet has spayed and neutered 135 community cats and dogs so far this year, and our goal is to perform $5 spay and neuter surgeries for as many as 600 cats over the next three years, all thanks to our grant from the Ann M. Hart Foundation. Homeward Pet is thrilled to partner with Ann in serving fragile populations, and we are excited to see how the program will continue to grow.

If you or someone you know is interested in taking advantage of Homeward Pet’s Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Program, then please click here to learn more.

We encourage you to share this program with others, and to educate your network of family and friends about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

Thank you to Ann and the Ann M. Hart Foundation for changing lives every day.

Roxie and Mimi have a few things in common. Both charming seniors have big smiles, playful personalities and endless tail wags…and they share the same chronic medical condition. But your support set these two sweethearts on a path to health and happiness. 

During Roxie and Mimi’s intake exams, our vets became suspicious that these two ladies weren’t just packing on a few extra pounds. Their abdomens were enlarged, their fur was patchy and thin, and they were riddled with skin issues. Basic treatments were started, and as we continued to monitor their health and behavior, we noticed other symptoms like frequent drinking and urination, and an increased appetite. Lab tests were performed which confirmed what our veterinary team suspected from the start.

Roxie and Mimi had Cushing’s disease, which occurs when the body produces too much Cortisol—a hormone that helps manage stress. Cushing’s is common in older canines, but is often difficult and costly to diagnose. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments to help manage the condition, but each case is different and it takes time to determine the right medication and dial in the dosage for each animal.

Thanks to amazing supporters like you, Homeward Pet had the necessary resources to help Roxie and Mimi through each step.  Today they are healthy, happy pups. Both have already found their forever homes with kind-hearted caretakers, dedicated to managing their condition with daily oral medication and regular testing to monitor changes and adjust medication.

Roxie and Mimi are just two of the many animals who have received extraordinary medical care through Whoopi’s Fund for Special Needs Animals. Already this year, Homeward Pet’s veterinary team and partners have provided a number of homeless cats and dogs with major surgeries, ultrasounds, expensive medications, extensive treatment plans and emergency vet care.

You can make a life-changing difference for even more animals needing medical aid and attention by making a meaningful gift today.

Thank you for creating bright futures for nearly 2,000 cats and dogs every year, especially those who need extra time, care and support. Together, we can continue to create new beginnings for more animals in-need than ever before. Read more about Whoopi’s Fund for Special Needs Animals here.