2015 Membership Drive Letter - Humane Society of the Ozarks

 January 2015 Dear Friends of the Animals, I hope you will join us in 2015 in continuing our mission to promote the humane treatment of animals by becoming an HSO member. Members receive discounts at select HSO events, our quarterly newsletter and information on upcoming events. Membership dues are payable each January. Your membership is appreciated and helps fund our programs, including low‐cost spay/neuter assistance, emergency vet care assistance, shelter/rescue outreach, cruelty prevention, adoption awareness, medical care for animals rescued from abuse/neglect situations and community education. Through our membership and donors, we are able to help animals like Shorty and Scotty. On a snowy day last February, Shorty, a Chihuahua, and 23 other dogs were rescued from a hoarding situation in Madison County. The dogs, mostly a mix of Chihuahua, Terrier and Shih Tzu, appeared extremely hungry. Their only water source was frozen solid, and despite the frigid temperatures, the dogs were kept outside without any shelter. In addition to suffering physical neglect, the dogs had never been cared for as part of a family. After consistent care and gentle attention, the dogs responded well and began to trust people. It was love at first sight when the Williams family met Shorty at the Fayetteville Farmers Market. For the first time Shorty knows what it feels like to be part of a family. Despite Scotty being a great dog with a huge personality, it took over eight months to find his forever home. HSO did not give up on Scotty and kept searching for that special person to give him the life he deserved. Scotty now enjoys a loving home with his Mom who happens to be a dog groomer and two sister dogs. Shorty’s rescue Humane Society of the Ozarks|1020 South One Mile Road, Fayetteville, AR 72704| 479‐444‐PETS These are just a few of the animals we were able to help over the past year. We also helped spay or neuter approximately 1,060 dogs and cats and provided $5,000 in funding to Spay Arkansas through our low cost spay/neuter program. HSO assisted 235 people in getting medical care for their critically injured or sick pet by providing them with an emergency vet care assistance voucher. We provided $6,000 to nine local shelters or animal rescue groups through our shelter/rescue outreach program. In addition, we took custody of several dogs to help ease overcrowding at the Gentry, Centerton and Madison county shelters. In partnership with Washington County Animal Shelter, we launched a feral cat (unsocialized to humans) trap‐neuter‐return (TNR) program. Cats are humanely trapped; sterilized and medically treated; and returned to the outdoor locations where they were found. If those locations are deemed unsafe or otherwise inappropriate, feral cats are relocated to barns or warehouses. Since the program began last July, approximately 300 feral cats were sterilized which stabilizes colony populations and improves the lives of the cats. Please join us in 2015 to continue saving and protecting animals, educating and supporting the community on responsible pet ownership and assisting local shelters and rescue groups. We are a 501(c)(3) local nonprofit organization and we do not receive any government funding. Your generosity is very much appreciated. Sincerely, JoAnn Traw Director of Fundraising & Special Events Scotty (right) with his sisters Humane Society of the Ozarks|1020 South One Mile Road, Fayetteville, AR 72704| 479‐444‐PETS