With its cool mornings and early sunsets, October has rolled in—and with it comes Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. Now that’s an idea we can get behind! As always, we’re here to help you find the perfect match, and we’ve got plenty of wonderful dogs waiting for homes (plus several off-site events where you can meet them—read on to learn more!). If you don’t already, this is a great time to follow us on Facebook and Instagram—we’ve got lots of community events on the calendar this month, and we’d love to keep you updated.

More of a cat person? You’re in luck—we’ve got plenty of felines waiting for their forever homes too. There are still adoptable kittens (will “kitten season” ever end?) and also plenty of (former) mama cats holding it down in the lobby, while serving up enough drama to rival a reality TV show. If only we had time to film it!

As the days get shorter and the air gets cozier, there’s no better time to welcome a new best friend into your life. If you agree, stop by the shelter—or visit our website—to see who belongs with you!

This past month, we received two generous donations from estate bequests. One in the amount of $22,000 from Christel Zaluga, and a second from a donor who wished to remain anonymous.

It's difficult to overstate just how meaningful these gifts are to us—and to the countless dogs and cats we’re able to help as a result.

We’d like to take this opportunity to remind our community that the Humane Society of Tuolumne County can be included in your estate planning. A gift of any size becomes a legacy that touches so many lives—not just the animals we care for, but also the families who are forever changed when they welcome a new companion into their home.

To those who have already chosen to leave such a legacy, we are deeply grateful. And to those considering it, know that your kindness will live on in every wag, purr, and second chance made possible.



October brings awareness days for both black dogs (October 1) and black cats (October 27). Unfortunately, these wonderful dark-coated pets are often overlooked for adoption more than their lighter-coated counterparts. Superstition may play a role, and it can also be tricky to capture their charm in photos. But make no mistake—black dogs and cats are just as lovable, full of personality, and every bit as deserving of homes!

In honor of National Black Dog and Cat Day this month, we’d like to spotlight a few of our own black shelter pets:

Boston is just shy of 3 months old. He and his siblings (Besty, Bell, and Franklin) were born at the shelter on the Fourth of July—hence the Independence Day themed names! Boston is as spunky, curious, and playful as you’d expect from a kitten. He’ll thrive in many types of homes and would love to meet his new family soon.

Buzz is a 2-year-old mixed breed weighing in at about 21 pounds. He’s a sensitive soul who needs time to build trust, but once he does, he forms a strong bond with his person. Buzz is looking for a forever home that can offer patience, structure, and love to help him come out of his shell and enjoy what a loving forever home has to offer.

Yes, we find homes for animals in need—but it’s so much more than that. Every pet who comes through our doors gets what they need to be healthy and whole: food, play, medical care, patience, and love. It’s a big job, but with the support of our community, we’re able to keep our promise of a safe place to land and a chance at the life they deserve.

You already know this, but your support is vital to our mission. And one of the most impactful ways you can help is by Pledging-To-Give. Rather than a one-time contribution, when you Pledge-To-Give, you spread your donation out in manageable monthly gifts—an incredible help to our financial planning. You can Pledge-To-Give any amount (no gift is too small!) and directly become part of our work improving the lives of companion animals in our community and beyond.

•Every Saturday, 11am: HSOTC Volunteer Orientation—join a short orientation at the shelter to become a part of our volunteer team! No RSVP required, just show up!

•October 4th, 1-6pm: Nancy's Hope Musical Festival @ the Westside Pavillion. We'll have a booth and adoptable dogs who'd love to meet you!

•October 5th, 1-3pm: Dog adoption event @ Inner Sanctum Cellars. Grab a drink, enjoy some live music, and maybe even meet your new best friend! Find us at 22004 Parrotts Ferry Rd in Sonora.

•October 11th, 3pm: Don your favorite zombie attire and make your way down to Courthouse Park in Sonora for the 15th Annual Zombie Walk and Halloween Festival! Visit us at our booth for some Halloween candy and Humane Society swag. Enjoy this event for free, or participate in the raffle: all proceeds will be donated towards the Humane Society of Tuolumne County!

•October 19th, 10-2pm: Harvest & Holiday Brunch Series @ Indigeny Reserve. Don't miss out as executive chefs Jake Lucido and Devon Woodruff (whose food you may have just enjoyed at our wine tasting event) team up with Indigeny Reserve to treat you to an unforgettable dining experience. And what's more—5% of the profits from this event will be donated towards the HSOTC!

Fetch the latest shelter news!

Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date, and enjoy your daily dose of cute dog and cat photos, while you're there.