March is here, and while winter lingers, spring is inching closer! We wrapped up our 'Not So Purrfect Pet Portraits' fundraiser at the end of February and we were blown away by the end result: we raised three times our original fundraising goal! Thank you to all who participated—we're so grateful for your support.

This month, we’re gearing up for kitten season with a Kitten Shower on Saturday, March 29th at the Humane Society. Plus, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the return of our annual champagne brunch fundraiser on Sunday, April 27th. Read on for more details about things in store for the coming month!

On a different note, there’s never a bad time to adopt a pet—but there is something especially exciting about welcoming a new furry family member just as spring begins to bloom. Imagine the adventures ahead with a new canine companion… or that perfect sunny spot by your window made even better with a napping kitty.

Have we convinced you yet?

Head over to our website and take a look at the dogs and cats eagerly waiting for their forever homes!

Are you ready for a

very happy update?

If you’ve been reading our emails, following our social media, or volunteering at the shelter over the past year and a half, you’ve almost certainly gotten to know Benji—our longtime resident who held the title of 'longest stay' for many months. In fact, his time with us eventually exceeded 550 days.

We rooted for Benji with every social media post, adoption event, newsletter feature, and hopeful meet-and-greet. But time and again, we (and especially Benji) were met with opportunities to practice patience—reminding ourselves that good things come to those who wait—while never losing hope that something really good was on the horizon for our Benji-boy.

Well, sure enough, last month Benji’s wait came to an end. We were over the moon to send him home with a wonderful family, and frankly, the smile on his face in his adoption photo (and his update pictures from home), says it better than we ever could.

Thank you to everyone who cheered Benji on—those who shared his photos and videos, our staff who made sure he was loved tremendously while the shelter was his home, and our volunteers who took him on countless walks and Dog Day Out adventures to keep his spirits high. You all helped make this happy ending possible! And to the Henchcliffe family, who decided to give Benji a chance—we (and Benji!) are so very grateful for you, too!



We're expecting!

(...a lot of kittens)

Have you heard of 'kitten season?' It’s the time in spring and early summer when the majority of kittens are born. For animal welfare organizations like ours, it can be a challenging time—we take in a large number of kittens, and the tiniest ones still needing milk require extra specialized

supplies and care.

That’s why this year, we’re hosting a Kitten Shower (like a baby shower, but for kittens!) to help us prepare. Join us on Saturday, March 29th, from 10am-2pm, for this open-house-style event at the Humane Society (10040 Victoria Way in Jamestown). Meet adoptable cats and kittens, enjoy family-friendly games and activities, share your very best kitten name suggestions, and learn how to get involved with fostering or volunteering—because who hasn’t dreamed of raising

a tiny gaggle of kittens?!

This event is free and open to all, but if you’d like to contribute, we encourage bringing a kitten 'gift' from our registry. Can’t make it in person? You can mail a donation straight from the registry webpage

to our door.

We can’t wait to welcome you and your family—your support will help us care for lots of kittens in need this kitten season!

Last month, we invited you to send a $20 donation and a pet photo, setting a $500 goal for this fun little fundraiser. The response? Absolutely overwhelming! We were flooded with pet photos (and donations!) and got to work turning a massive stack of adorable submissions into artwork.

Twelve staff and volunteers worked hard to complete all 57 (!!) portraits you sent in. Some portraits turned out frame-worthy, and others are good for a laugh, but overall, we were very impressed with the artistic vision of our HSOTC staff and volunteers—and we also loved the humor in the silly and funny pet photos you shared with us. And while this fundraiser was loads of fun for us all, most importantly, you helped us to raise $1,460 for the housing, care, and medical treatments of shelter pets awaiting their forever homes in our care.

Thank you for making this fundraiser such a success—we can't wait to do it again next year! Enjoy a handful of this year's original photos and their artistic renditions:

Curious about volunteering?

There are so many ways to help! When we mention volunteering, you might think of walking dogs, caring for cats, or even fostering. But our mission to improve the lives of companion animals extends far beyond that, and there are plenty of ways to get involved.

We’re looking for helpers of all kinds—especially those interested in assisting with our ever-growing events calendar. No matter your skills or strengths, we have a task for you! Maybe you’re a people person who loves to chat, or perhaps you prefer working behind the scenes—we have a job that you'd be perfect for! This year, we need help with adoption events, fundraisers, and community outreach events (like our Kitten Shower).

Interested in getting involved? There’s no time like the present! Call us, stop by the shelter, or send us an email to learn more about how you can support our important work.

Mark your calendars—you don't

want to miss this!

Tickets will soon be on sale for our spring Champagne Brunch—a beloved event making its return from the vault of past favorites!

This year’s theme, "Diamonds are Furever," is all about dazzle, sparkle, and elegance. Enjoy both silent and live auctions, exciting raffles, and fantastic prizes—all alongside a delicious brunch buffet and champagne + mimosas. This year's featured Diamonds & Champagne Mystery Raffle offers the chance to win a half-carat radiant-cut diamond, and everyone who enters will receive a semi-precious gemstone!

🎟 Tickets:

$55 – General Public

$45 – HSOTC Members

$400 – Reserved Table (seats 8)

Corporate sponsorships are available and include tickets! Contact us by email at ktreiber@hsotc.org or call the shelter to learn how your business or organization can support this event while also earning recognition within our community.

Did you know?

We offer low-cost microchips for dogs and cats, right here at the shelter! Just $10 covers the cost of both the microchip and its registration—an unbelievably good investment in your pet's safety

 and in your peace of mind.

Microchips are easily the most effective and foolproof way to ensure that your pet, if ever lost, finds his or her way home to you. Don't wait until it's too late—call us for an appointment today and let us help you get

your pet microchipped!

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and enjoy your daily dose of cute dog and cat photos, while you're there.