Heart Connections - June 2024

We're thrilled to share 114 pets were adopted this month! Our thanks to adopters and all of our social media followers for liking and sharing posts featuring pets available for adoption. Check out a few of the happy families above!

June 2024 Shelter Snapshot

The generous support of staff, volunteers, and donors enables GMHS to provide daily care, cover special medical needs, foster animals in homes as needed, and arrange transportation to adoption-guaranteed partners.

GMHS is always eager to welcome new volunteers to the team. The hours are flexible, and each moment spent volunteering is important. Whether you have two hours per week or two hours per month to share, it all makes a huge difference to the homeless pets waiting to meet their match. GMHS will even schedule one-on-one training to help you find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you.

If you are ready to make a difference in our community, email Volunteer Coordinator Waynette Petty to discuss how you can lend your time and talents in support of the mission of GMHS.

Kids of all ages are invited to GMHS to read to our shelter pets this summer! Participants can share their love of books, improve their reading skills, and help enrich the lives of our shelter animals while earning fun prizes until August 18! Most animals find the human voice to be comforting and soothing, while they provide no judgement to the reader presenting.

Simply stop by GMHS Tuesday-Sunday of each week from 12-5 PM! We have books and pillows all ready for you.

Compassionate Community

Amelia collected donations for the homeless pets of GMHS for her 10th birthday! What a generous and compassionate young lady. The pets and GMHS team thank you, Amelia, and wish you a paw-fect birthday!

In the spring and summer months, shelters and rescue groups are flooded with kittens. The most vulnerable of them are “bottle babies,” very young kittens who have been abandoned or orphaned and need to be bottle fed, in addition to receiving other special care. One of their needs is to be kept warm, which is where these rice socks come in handy. Thank you to all our friends who joined us at GMHS to make rice socks! Our kittens are so grateful.

We are so grateful for junior pet advocates! Easton (left) presented a donation on behalf of Thousand Trails of Chesapeake Bay and Evelyn, Dalia and Tessa (right) from Cub Scout Wolf Den Troop 175 made rice socks for our kittens! We appreciate your kindness!

Kittens come to us in all sorts of ways. Sometimes, when they arrive, they aren't in the best shape. Merlin came into our care when he was found in the median of Route 17 in Gloucester. Thanks to the support of our community, each pet who comes into our shelter receives the medical care they need. 

Donations can be made online, over the phone (804-693-5520), and mail

(P.O. Box 385, Gloucester, VA 23061). 

GMHS is neither affiliated with any national animal welfare organizations nor receives funding from the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. GMHS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID# is 51-0206238. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Shelter Pet Spotlight - Cupid

Cupid is a senior Jack Russell Terrier mix who is looking for his perfect match. Why do we say perfect? Well, Cupid can be a little judgmental of people at first, hence his sassy side-eye of a look he is giving in the photo.

Cupid is a dog that enjoys the presence of people he knows and feels more comfortable with. How do you get to that point with Cupid? Patience! Some dogs are quick to make friends and engage with people. Other dogs, like Cupid, prefer people to go slow with him and build trust before you can get to the point of cuddling with him.

Cupid has become friends with team members here with patience, lots of treats, and bonding time. They share that Cupid is playful and loves toys, he has silly quirks, enjoys going for walks, and will lay down beside you to be petted and fall asleep. While Cupid may take a little more time to warm up to you, we promise in the end it is worth it! 

A HOMELESS PET IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO FINDING A HOME EVERY TIME YOU FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!