News from Heidi's Hope For Homeless Animals

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August 2025 Issue

Saving Lives of Homeless

Dogs and Cats and

Feeding Hungry Pets

In Our Community

The 2025 Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow® was A Night of Hope for

Homeless and Abused Dogs and Cats in Our Community

Click on Video above to watch Highlights of the 2025 Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow®

Held on Saturday, July 26th, 2025, at Thalian Hall, The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow® brought the Aloha Spirit to life in support of North Carolina’s most vulnerable animals. Guests donned festive Luau attire and were welcomed with traditional flower leis by an elegant Polynesian hula dancer, as the soothing rhythms of ukulele and Tahitian drums set the tone for a magical evening.

But beyond the celebration, this was a Night of Hope—a vital response to the crisis in our state's animal shelters, which are overwhelmed with homeless and abused pets in desperate need of care.

Since its inception, The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow® has raised over $80,000, helping fund critical medical care, foster placements, and adoption efforts. This annual event proves that one unforgettable night can make a lasting difference—and give countless animals a second chance at life.

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, Inc. 2025 Mid-Year Impact Report

Hope in Action: Saving Lives, One Paw at a Time

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, Inc. is proud to share our Mid-Year Impact Report for 2025. Together, we’ve turned compassion into action—saving lives, one paw at a time.

In addition to our lifesaving animal advocacy work, Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals provides monthly donations of pet food and supplies through our Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals on Wheels programs. These efforts, made possible through a strong coalition of local charitable organizations and government partners, help ensure that families in need can continue to care for their beloved pets.

To date, Heidi's Hope For Homeless Animals' Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals On Wheels have donated over 310,533 pounds of pet food and supplies—valued at more than $866,142—bringing critical support to pets and the people who love them.

To date, Heidi's Hope For Homeless Animals' Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals On Wheels Programs have donated:

Over 310,533 pounds of pet food and supplies

More than $866,142 in value to pets and their families

Because no pet should go hungry — and no family should ever have to choose between feeding themselves or their animals.

January 2025

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals continues to make a profound difference in the lives of pets and their families across New Hanover County and beyond. Through innovative programs, critical partnerships, and community-driven initiatives, our mission to ensure no pet goes hungry and no family is forced to surrender their beloved animals is stronger than ever.

Heidi’s Hope Sends 5 Pallets to Hurricane-Hit Western NC!

When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, leaving families displaced and struggling, Heidi’s Hope acted swiftly. We delivered five pallets of emergency pet food and supplies to support families in crisis. For many, this critical aid was the difference between keeping their beloved pets or surrendering them due to lack of resources.

February 2025

Partnering with Wilmington Police to Protect Pets in Crisis

In partnership with the Wilmington Police Department, Heidi’s Hope donated four pet crates, along with vital supplies and treats, to help safely care for pets during emergency situations. This collaboration strengthens community response efforts and ensures that pets in crisis receive compassionate care.

On top of our animal advocacy initativies, Each month, Heidi's Hope For Homeless Animals' Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals on Wheels Programs donate pet food and supplies to feed pets in need through our unique coalition of partnerships through local charitable and local governmental organizations. To date, we Have Donated:

Over 310,533 lbs of pet food and supplies distributed
More than $866,142 worth of value provided to pets and their families

Because no pet should go hungry — and no family should ever have to choose between feeding themselves or their animals.

March 2025

Heidi’s Hope proudly donated the county’s first 24/7 self-serve microchip scanning station, in partnership with Wilmington Police Department. This innovative tool empowers community members to quickly and easily reunite lost pets with their families around the clock, even when other options are unavailable.

April 2025

Building on our initial success, Heidi’s Hope donated a second microchip scanning station to Carolina Beach Police Department. Within weeks, the station successfully reunited two dogs displaced by storms with their families — demonstrating the vital role these resources play in pet reunification.

Thanks to our partnership with Greater Good Charities and the support of generous donors, Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals received a full tractor-trailer load of Greenies dog food for our Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals on Wheels programs — once again helping to feed hungry pets in desperate need.

May 2025

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals is honored to donate three full sets of pet oxygen masks—small, medium, and large—to the Wilmington Fire Department. These specialized masks are vital for providing emergency oxygen to dogs and cats affected by smoke inhalation or other crises. Committed to the safety and well-being of all pets, Heidi’s Hope is proud to support our local first responders with the tools they need to save lives and care for animals in urgent situations.

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals proudly donates a Microchip Scanning Station to Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation, enhancing efforts to reunite lost dogs and cats with their owners swiftly and safely. This valuable resource will benefit both Wrightsville Beach residents and the many visitors who bring their pets on vacation, ensuring pets have a greater chance of being found and returned—no matter where they are.

June 2025

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals proudly donates three Microchip Scanning Stations to New Hanover County Parks, bringing our total contribution to six stations countywide. these new units will be installed at Long Leaf Park, Smith Creek Park, and Echo Farms Park—providing community members with 24/7 access to life-saving tools that help quickly reunite lost pets with their owners.

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals Donates Microchip Scanning Stations to New Hanover County Parks

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals has donated three Microchip Scanning Stations to the New Hanover County Parks Department. These stations will be installed at Long Leaf Park, Smith Creek Park, and Echo Farms Park to help reunite lost pets with their owners more quickly and efficiently.

With these new stations, community members and park staff will have access to the tools needed to scan found pets for microchips—increasing the chances of a safe and speedy reunion.

This initiative reflects Heidi’s Hope’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare and its mission to protect and support pets in our community.

July 2025

The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow®

A Night of Hope for Homeless and Abused Dogs and Cats in Our Community

The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow® — held on July 26, 2025, at Thalian Hall — was a vibrant, Island-inspired evening filled with music, hula, and hope. Guests enjoyed authentic Polynesian performances, Island-style hors d’oeuvres, and a lively silent auction, all in support of homeless and abused animals.

Since its inception, the event has raised over $80,000.00 to support rescue, medical care, and adoption efforts — proving that one night of celebration per year can change countless lives.

Heidi's Hope For Homeless Animals' Pet Food Bank and

Pet Meals On Wheels

Pet Food Monthly Donations

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals’ Pet Food Bank is making a difference—one meal at a time!

Thanks to our Pet Meals on Wheels program, we’re feeding hungry pets across our community alongside our amazing partners:

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, Inc.
Pet Meals On Wheels Program with NHC Senior Services Center
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
Good Shepherd Center
The Harrelson Center
St. Jude’s
...and many more!

Because when people are in need, their pets are too — and no one should go hungry.

Help us save the lives of pets in need by making a donation to Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals.

Through our Pet Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and emergency programs, Heidi's Hope For Homeless Animals has donated over 310,000 pounds of pet food and supplies—valued at more than $866,000—to pets and families in desperate need.

With added efforts like microchip scanners, oxygen masks, and disaster relief, plus over $80,000 raised through The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow®, your support truly saves lives—keeping pets safe, fed, healthy, and home.

Please donate to Help Us, Help Them!

www.HeidisHopeForHomelessAnimals.com/donate

Cheers to Sophie! A GOTCHA Day &

Birthday to Remember

This month marks a double celebration — Sophie (formerly Jackie), our beloved Chief Paws Officer (CPO), is celebrating her one-year GOTCHA Day and her 8th birthday — her very first real birthday party ever!

Sophie’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. For seven long years, she lived in a cage at a puppy mill, used solely for breeding. She endured a lot — including three cancer surgeries — but her story didn’t end there.

Everything changed when she was adopted by our Founder, Trish. With love, patience, and plenty of treats (her absolute favorite!), Sophie learned how to be a dog

for the very first time. In just a year, she went from being

(continued)

fearful and untrained to earning her Canine Good Citizen certification — and then became a Certified Therapy Dog!

Today, Sophie is living her best life — chasing balls, riding in kayaks, doing her signature happy-dance, and spreading joy wherever she goes.

This year’s celebration was extra special — surrounded by friends and supporters, Sophie finally got the birthday party she never had.

Happy GOTCHA Day and Happy 8th Birthday, Sophie! You remind us all that it’s never too late for love, healing, and a brand-new beginning.

Feeding Hope, Saving Lives:

The Heartbeat of Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals

Every month at Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, we work to make life better for pets and families in our community!

The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow®, was more than just a celebration. It was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together. Since our inception, our event has donated over $80,000 to help homeless and abused pets find safety, care, and forever homes.

This month, in our monthly Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals on Wheels programs, we donated vital food and supplies into the hands of those who need them most. For August, we donated:

425 pounds of pet food to Good Shepherd Center
354 pounds to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
And provided supplies to The Help Hub, Harrelson Center, St. Jude’s, Catholic Charities, and more!

We also partner with the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center to deliver food directly to homebound seniors, helping them care for their beloved pets and preserve those life-affirming bonds.

To date, Heidi’s Hope For Homeless Animals' Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals On Wheels Program has now distributed over 310,533 pounds of pet food and supplies, valued at more than $866,142—all thanks to the generosity, compassion, and commitment of people like you.

We’re also proud to offer innovative solutions to help keep pets safe and families whole.

We donated the county’s very first 24/7 self-serve microchip scanning station, and now we have donated a total of six stations across New Hanover County—giving the community around-the-clock access to quickly reunite lost pets with their families.

None of this would be possible without YOU. To our amazing sponsors, donors, volunteers, and supporters—thank you. Your kindness and commitment fuel every delivery, every rescue, and every second chance we can offer to animals in need.

We’d also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to two generous donors who prefer to remain anonymous. Their quiet support has made a profound difference in our ability to provide critical care and resources to homeless and vulnerable animals. Though their names are not public, their impact is deeply felt in every program we run and every life we save.

Because of your generosity—and theirs—Heidi’s Hope is changing lives and creating a stronger, more compassionate community. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in this mission and for helping us create a world where every pet is fed, safe, and loved.

A Grand Slam for Good:

Thank You, Tennis for Paws!

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals is incredibly grateful to Tennis for Good for selecting us as a beneficiary of the “Play for Paws” Charitable Doubles Tournament, held July 11–13, 2025, at the Althea Gibson Tennis Center at Empie Park.

Every serve, every point, and every match made a difference. From all of us at Heidi’s Hope—thank you for playing with purpose!

Special Needs Adoption

Mr. Wilson: The Strong,

Silent Type Looking for Love

My name is Mr. Wilson and I’m a very affectionate 4-year-old boy who loves going for car rides and meeting new people. I also happen to be deaf. I will rely on you to communicate with me via body language, hand signals, and even facial expressions. Because of this, our bond will be special and unique! I am great with other dogs but not cats as I find them fun to chase. I have completed a 6-week obedience course where I learned all kinds of things. I have a willingness to please and to adapt to my deafness and I’m learning new training skills. Having the handicap of being deaf does not stop me at all. I’m looking for a family who will continue my training so I can work on learning more hand signals. I’m an all-around amazing guy and would do well with an adventuresome family. I’m also neutered, vaccinated, and heartworm negative. Adopt me and let’s create unforgettable memories together! Contact Hamilton's Healing Hearts, Inc by email at hamiltonshealinghearts@gmail.com or give them a call at 910-271-5170 for more info on me.

Ready To Adopt Your New Best Friend?

Check Out These Sites for Adoptable Pets

In Need of Good Homes:

You can’t change a rescue dog’s past, but you can rewrite his future.

Rescue does not mean damaged.

It means they have been let down by humans.

Please Make Adoption Your Only Option!

Heidi's Hope For

Homeless Animals, Inc.

1121 Military Cutoff Road, Suite C-214

Wilmington, NC 28405

Heidi's Hope For Homeless Animals...

Saving Homeless Dogs and Cats and

Filling Pets' Bowls with

Food and Hope!

Click for Our 2024 Lifesaving Impact

Help Us Help Them - Donate Today!

www.HeidisHopeForHomelessAnimals.com

Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, Inc. is a 501 ( c ) organization that is an intake organization who helps pets at risk of euthanasia and helps prevent owner surrender. The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow® has donated over $80,000.00 to reduce shelter euthanasia. We’re proud to be Cape Fear’s first-ever Pet Food Bank and the creator of the region’s very first Pet Meals On Wheels Program—filling a critical void in our community and leading the way in providing essential food support for pets in need. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals’ Pet Food Bank and food programs have donated over 310,533 pounds of pet food, valued at more than $866,142, to help feed hungry pets in desperate need. Together, we’re not just filling bowls—we’re giving hope. We created a unique coalition of local governmental agencies and human charitable organizations to provide pet food to the most food insecure. We expanded our Pet Food Bank and Pet Meals On Wheels Chapters in Onslow, Pender and Brunswick Counties. WoofStock, adopts at-risk dogs and cats. Our Disaster Relief Programs filled three tractor trailers with pet food to hurricane-impacted areas from Hurricanes Maria; Florence and Dorian. We sent two tractor trailers of pet food to western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. We sent two crates of pet food to help Hurricane Ian pet victims. We sent five pallets of pet food to war-torn Ukraine. We have donated microchip scanning stations to both the Wilmington Police Department; Carolina Beach Police Department; Wrightsville Beach Police Department; New Hanover County Parks, including Long Leaf Park; Smith Creek Park and Echo Farms Park. Heidi’s Hope For Homeless Animals is committed to saving the lives of homeless dogs and cats and will not stop until all dogs and cats have good homes!