News Briefs
Get Organized in the New Year! Donate Your Gently Used Items to the WHS Thrift Stores
If you made a New Year’s resolution to clean out the stuff you no longer use, we can help! Donate your gently used clothing, jewelry, collectibles and furnishings (in good condition) to either of our two thrift stores. Both the WHS Thrift Store (548 High St. NE in downtown) and Helping Paws thrift, pet supply and boutique (3298 Lancaster Dr. NE) gladly accept donations during regular store hours. All proceeds benefit the animals at Willamette Humane Society.
Help 1 Million Pets Find Homes This Holiday
WHS has joined efforts with 2,500 shelters around the world to participate in the annual Iams Home For the Holidays pet adoption campaign, founded by the Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams. The campaign aims to place 1 million pets in homes by December 31.
Reports show that more pets are brought into homes during the holiday season than any other time of year. While many people believe that shelters and humane societies won’t adopt pets as “gifts,” that’s not completely true. “There’s nothing wrong with giving a pet as a gift,” says WHS Shelter Manager Jennifer Kaser. “Just be sure to involve the recipient in the decision making and adoption process,” she adds.
If you or someone you know is thinking of adding a pet this holiday season, be sure to check out the many wonderful animals waiting at Willamette Humane. Help them find a home for the holidays and for many years to come.
Why Older Pets Make Terrific Companions
Opening your heart and home to a mature adult pet can be a wise decision for a number of reasons, including:
Their physical demands are less. Senior pets need quality time and exercise, but the length and intensity of exercise periods is generally much less than a younger animal. A brisk walk around the neighborhood may be more appealing to an older pet (and its owner) than having to burn off energy with hours and hours of intense exercise.
Many have had previous training. Older pets already know how to live harmoniously with humans. At very least, mature adult dogs are almost always housebroken and cats prefer their litterbox. Seniors generally require a lot less supervision than younger animals, and are less likely to chew and scratch furniture and household items. Many dogs have had some obedience training and know basic commands.
What you see is what you get. With adopted older pets, you will usually know about any behavior challenges or health considerations before you adopt. In other words, there are generally few surprises and you aren’t waiting to see what develops. At WHS, we do our best to counsel adopters about any health, medical or behavioral issues a pet may have and can make recommendations about how to handle or manage them
Got a Smart Dog? Take Her to School! Sign Up Today for Winter Classes
Whether you’ve got a young, energetic dog who needs to brush up on her manners and learn basic commands, or you’re looking for a meaningful way to spend quality time with your canine best friend, you and your pooch are sure to benefit from a class at Willamette Humane Society. Whether it’s Puppy Kindergarten, Dog 101, or Tricks & Games, you and your dog will learn new skills and strengthen the bond between you. All classes are taught by certified pet dog trainer Annie Ingersoll, who makes classes fun and enjoyable for both dog and handler. Classes fill up very quickly, so register today!
Public Employees: Help the Animals Through Payroll Deduction
WHS is pleased to announce that we are now a member of Local Independent Charities of America (LICA), a non-profit federated fund raising organization that helps raise gifts on behalf of its member agencies through workplace employee fund drives. This means that, beginning in November, all federal, state and municipal employees can contribute to Willamette Humane Society through payroll deduction. If you are a public employee and would like to give to WHS through workplace payroll deduction, be sure to check the “Willamette Humane Society” box on your organization’s giving list, or contact your workplace giving coordinator for more information.
Beach Stay Benefits Spay/Neuter Clinic
Want to enjoy a stay at the Oregon Coast and help build the spay/neuter clinic at the same time? Craig and Cherie Cline, lead contributors to the WHS spay/neuter clinic, will donate the net income from each booking at their newly purchased condominium (called Sandcastles and Sunsets) to WHS’s spay/neuter clinic, when condo guests identify WHS as their chosen charity in the condo’s guestbook. The Clines will donate an additional $1000 to the spay/neuter clinic if WHS supporters collectively book twelve times in one quarter. The two-bedroom, two-bath condo is located at Pacific Winds Condominiums in Lincoln City and features a private deck with a hot tub, ocean views, two Select Comfort king size beds, stainless steel appliances, a gas fireplace, and other amenities. To book your stay, call Blue Pacific Vacation Rentals 1-877-459-3287 or visit their website. Be sure to ask for the Sandcastles and Sunsets condo. There is a two-night minimum stay. Sorry, pets are not allowed.
