March 2024

I’ve been with Homeward Pet for nearly 15 years and in that decade and a half my wife and I have adopted 10 pets. I consider that a pretty good average.

Our current pet count is 6, but 5 of those have joined our home in the last year, so things are definitely ramping up. Again.

Typically, pets come to our house as fosters because: a) they have a contagious illness and need to be out of the shelter to prevent the disease spreading; or b) they are recovering from a major surgery; or c) they need special care.

And sometimes, they never leave.

Just a couple of weeks ago, we fostered and fell in love with a lively little pug named Gertie. She stayed.

A year ago, we fostered a 6-month-old Cattle Dog, Harvey Dent, through recovery from an amputation after he arrived at Homeward Pet with a fractured hip. He stayed.

Felines Miles and Flora were just two days old when they came to our house. The tiniest creatures you’ve ever seen. Eyes closed, mouths open, as they squirmed for the bottle. Five weeks later they were moving on to regular food (and my wife was catching up on her sleep). Five months later, they are the most active, curious, bold kittens we’ve ever known. They’re not going anywhere!

As Operations Director at Homeward Pet, I’m proud of the work we do to help animals, from dogs in need of major surgeries to kittens in need of everything. As a foster parent, I’m impressed by how easy Homeward Pet makes it to help animals in need. Becoming a foster family is simple. Homeward Pet offers all kinds of support - training, food, supplies, medical care, behavioral assistance.

We’re just about to enter “kitten season”, when the need for foster families to care for litters of kittens - helping them grow big and strong until they’re ready to be adopted - is huge. If you’re interested in becoming a foster family, the process is simple.

Unlike me, you don’t have to keep them all.

Sincerely,

Jim Keller

Operations Director

Our annual Impact Report is more than numbers. It shows the effects of your actions, combined with the skills and passion of our staff and volunteers, to change the lives of thousands of animals and people.

• Families across the region received individually tailored support for their pet’s behavior needs, keeping them in their homes and out of shelters.
• The length of time an animal spends in our shelter decreased across the board, with cats’ average time reduced by half.
• People struggling financially received pet food through their area food banks. And seniors in facilities like Alderwood Court and Homage Services received pet food assistance to keep pets in the home and improve their quality of life.
• Our Last Litter program helped reduce the future population of shelter animals through spay/neuter. We saw a 32% increase in the use of this program, which helped rehome 168 animals.
• Whoopi’s Fund for Animals with Special Needs helped critically injured and ill animals receive life altering surgeries that saved and improved 296 lives.

You have impacted the lives of thousands of animals and families in 2023.

Together we will do even more in 2024.



Kitten Shower

April 6, 2024

A benefit for the littlest babies in our shelter

This is a free event. Food, litter, kitten toys and cash donations are highly encouraged.

Download a poster to put up in your favorite local hang outs.

Fur Ball Dinner & Auction

May 4, 2024



A Fringe and Fur

Fundraising Event

Tickets Include:

• Secret Auction Items
• Passed Appetizers with Beverage Options
• Gourmet Vegan Meal
• Fear Free Fur Baby Experience
• and more!

Tickets are now available!

VIP Tables are now SOLD OUT.

Collect 7 of your friends and grab a sponsored table now. Click on Add Sponsorship on the Ticketing page to become a table sponsor.

Get your tickets today!

Honey is pure sweetness! This precious 1-year-old Lab mix is looking for an experienced adopter who can help her build her confidence and blossom. Once she's feels comfortable, your patience will be greatly rewarded!

When Honey trusts you, she loves your company. Whether it's getting belly rubs, booty scritches, or playing with toys, she's happy as can be. Honey does well with other dogs but needs a home with no small animals.

If you're ready to welcome Honey home, make an appointment to meet her today!

These two just love each other so much and there is more than enough love to spread into a new family.

This pair of 6-year-old orange tabbies are super sweet. They are both on the shyer side, but once they are comfortable with you, get ready for lots of cuddles and pets. Both Butter and Scotch love cheek and chin rubs and will roll around making biscuits begging for more.

If you want to add more love to your home, make an appointment today.

"Kitters is settling in so well and is going to be a perfect fit for me.

He’s such a sweet boy and has even gotten confident enough to jump up onto my bed all by himself.

~Julia"

"We adopted Luna on December 13th, just a few months ago, and we love her so much!

She's adjusted so well and has bonded with all of us. She's already added so much joy to our little family.

~ Marisa"

Celebrate with us!

So far in 2024, 142 cats and kittens and 54 dogs and puppies have found new homes through our shelter adoption program.

Are you looking for other ways to support the pets who mean so much to us all?

• Host a community event 
• Donate from our Amazon Wish List
• Donate from our Chewy Wish List
• Volunteer
• Foster a homeless pet
• Follow us on social media and like/comment/share our posts
• Attend an event and invite your friends
• Become a monthly Paw Pack member
• Become a Kennel Sponsor
• Help a longer resident and Pay it Forward
• Include Homeward Pet in your will
• Shop in our Bonfire Store
• Encourage friends and family to sign up for this newsletter

Homeward Pet Adoption Center is one of the leading non-profit, no-kill animal shelters in Washington State.

Our mission is to transform the lives of cats and dogs in need through compassionate medical care, positive behavior training, and successful adoption while building a more humane community.



Homeward Pet is a private organization. We receive no state or federal funding. Your donations help us to grow a robust program that spans beyond simply intake and adoption. Enlisting the principles and practices of Fear Free Sheltering, the animals in our care are assessed as individuals and receive behavioral, medical, and in-home foster care as needed. Because of the generous support of donors and volunteers, we can care for animals that others may not have the resources for.

In addition, we provide free behavior consultations and low cost spay/neuter services to keep animals out of the shelter system and in their homes. We can work with owners to find a way to keep their pets. If an animal must be rehomed, we offer Home to Home to help owners match up directly with new adopters so that the animal never has to spend a day in the shelter.

Homeward Pet Adoption Center | 425.488.4444| homewardpet.org