Volume 5, Issue 2 | February 2022
Critter Chronicles
February 2022 Heart Connections
In February, 36 pets made heart connections with their forever families. Our thanks to adopters for welcoming these amazing pets into their hearts and homes! Above are just a few of the new matches made this month.

Want to make your own heart connection?! Adoptions continue to be conducted by appointment. To begin the adoption process:

  1. Visit our Adoption Process webpage or Petfinder to view the homeless pets looking for their match.
  2. Complete the adoption questionnaire available under each individual pet page.
  3. Expedite processing by calling your veterinarian and granting him/her permission to share information about your pets’ records with us.

Once approved, a member of our Adoption Team will schedule a time for you to meet your new best friend!
February 2022 Shelter Snapshot

February was another excellent month for adoptions and transfers through our Highway to Home program. We are grateful to all who made it so! 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. We are also committed to education, outreach, and transparency. Our annual statistics are available on our website, and we also offer you a monthly snapshot.
Effective March 1, GMHS will be closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays and open to the public Wednesdays to Sundays, from 12 PM to 5 PM. Lost pets can be reclaimed seven days a week by ringing the Intake doorbell.

Thanks so very much for your support of this change that further enhances the many forms of care provided to the homeless pets entrusted to us and provides additional opportunities to invest in our team members through ongoing professional development and training.
Volunteer Opportunities

Have you thought about volunteering with GMHS? There are many ways you can lend your time and talents to save and transform the lives of homeless pets. We will even provide one-on-one training to best prepare you for your new role! Whether you have two hours per week or two hours per month to share, every moment makes a huge difference in the lives of homeless pets at GMHS!

If you'd like to learn more or get involved, please contact GMHS Volunteer Coordinator Waynette Petty by email or call (804) 693-5520 ext. 116. We can't wait for you to join our life-saving team!
February was Spay/Neuter Awareness Month! Spay/neuter is a win-win-win. Pets win because they live longer, healthier, and happier lives. Owners win because they can afford to do the best thing for their beloved pet. And, our community wins because the number of unwanted pets filling shelters and abandoned is reduced.

Contact GMHS' Fixin' to Save Spay & Neuter Clinic at (804) 694-0349 to make an appointment for your pet!
Compassionate Community
In honor of Virginia Kindness Week, the students and staff of Abingdon Elementary School collected donations for the pets of GMHS. Abingdon Panthers (left to right) Connor Rilee, Adeline Nichols, and Jemma Sweat-Washington are pictured with their donations. 

Thank you all so much for being a friend to GMHS and sharing your heart for homeless pets!
Animal Care Society President
Mary Stephens is pictured with Toby, who received the donation on behalf of GMHS.
Thank you to our friends at Animal Care Society for their donation in support of our life-saving mission. We are proud to count you among our friends and supporters and grateful for the donation.
It was such a joy to host the Coastal Christian Co-op! They toured the shelter to learn more about our life-saving mission and met some of the amazing homeless pets awaiting adoption into their forever homes. They delivered donations of pet supplies, and even made dog treats and toys for our pets! To our friends at Coastal Christian Co-op, thank you for sharing your time and heart for homeless pets with us.
Thank you to Grounds & Hounds, a coffee company with a heart for homeless pets. They donate 20% of their profits to rescue organizations just like ours.

When you purchase coffee or gear from Grounds & Hounds and use our link, 10% of your purchases will go to GMHS. You can even use our code, GMHumaneSociety, and save 15% on your purchase.

You get to sip great coffee (or hot cocoa) knowing that you’re helping pups at GMHS every morning!
GMHS Provides Help for Hearts
Loretta just completed her heartworm treatment and is available for adoption!
Have you heard of Help for Hearts? Through this program, heartworm positive dogs from shelters in need are transferred to GMHS, where we provide them the life-saving treatment they need and help them make lasting heart connections.

Many shelters lack the resources necessary to provide heartworm treatment to each dog who tests positive: The cost of treatment varies by weight and can be as much as $1,000. Due to a lack of resources, some shelters may be faced with euthanizing heartworm-positive dogs or choosing to forego testing them prior to adoption for fear of the results. 

There is no shortage or heartworm positive dogs in shelters throughout the region, and we are committed to saving their live. We invite you to partner with us in this effort.

Every day at GMHS, homeless pets live because you give. Your donation will help us expand our Help for Hearts program and ensure heartworm-positive dogs receive the shelter, care, time, and space needed to heal before adoption into their forever home. 

Thank you for supporting GMHS and giving homeless pets a second chance to live a life filled with love, dignity, and respect! 
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