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September 2025
Critter Chronicles
| | Our Favorite Feel-Good Story of the Month | | |
This summer was one for the record books—569 pets found their way to loving homes or to our Highway to Home partners in June, July, and August!
To celebrate this lifesaving milestone, GMHS closed for a special team celebration. Every adoption, every transfer, every happy tail is made possible thanks to our incredible staff, dedicated volunteers, and the support of our community.
| | September was a wonderful month for our pets! We are thrilled to share that 92 animals found their forever homes thanks to the kindness of adopters in our community. Each adoption represents a fresh start for a deserving dog, cat, or small pet, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the love and support that makes these happy endings possible. | | |
September Shelter Snapshot
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.
| | Volunteers are at the heart of our life-saving mission. From walking dogs and socializing cats to helping with laundry, dishes, events, and administrative tasks, our volunteers make a tremendous difference every single day. Their dedication, compassion, and willingness to give their time ensure that the pets in our care receive the love and attention they deserve while they wait for their forever homes. We are always eager to welcome new volunteers to our team—whether you have a few hours a week or just once in a while, your time truly changes lives! If you’d like to get involved, click here to learn more and sign up today. | | | | |
Good news! Our shelter is now live on the TREAT app!
We’re excited to invite all of our supporters to download the TREAT app and play with our dogs virtually. Every time you play, you’ll help earn meals, treats, and weekly goodies that go directly to our shelter dogs.
Click here to download!
| | The best part of Saturday, October 25 will be spending it in the good company of animal lovers like you at the GMHS annual Shuckin’ for Shelter Oyster Roast & BBQ. Tickets are $150 each, and are very limited, so purchase yours by calling 804-693-5520 or emailing. | | |
We’re so grateful to the Mathews Community Foundation for helping make our Rabies & Microchip Clinic possible!
On September 20, we saw 105 pets and were able to provide 97 rabies vaccines and 37 microchips!
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success, from our dedicated team members to the pet owners who brought their furry friends. Because of you, more pets in our community are safe, healthy, and easier to reunite with their families if lost!
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Huge thanks to the Gloucester High School ROTC crew!
We are so grateful for their help— from socializing our cats, tackling laundry, and spending time with Simon, to clearing sticks from our trails. Their hard work makes such a difference for our pets and our shelter!
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Members of William & Mary’s Wesley Campus Ministry joined us at the shelter to volunteer their time and energy. They walked dogs, filled peanut butter KONGs, cleaned crates, helped with laundry, and gave lots of love to our kitties.
We’re so grateful for their kindness, hard work, and support of our life-saving mission!
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Every day, pets in our care depend on us for food, shelter, medical treatment, and love. What many don’t realize is how quickly those costs add up. On average, it costs $15-20 a day to provide a single pet with everything they need.
Your generosity makes this possible. Whether you give one day of care or a month of support, you’re helping pets take their first steps toward a happy, loving home.
Donations to support the pets of GMHS can be made online, over the phone (804-693-5520), and mail (P.O. Box 385, Gloucester, VA 23061).
GMHS is neither affiliated with any national animal welfare organizations nor receives funding from the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. GMHS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID# is 51-0206238. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
| | Shelter Pet Spotlight - Chris Stapleton | | |
Chris Stapleton has the soul of a country song and the heart of a true survivor. This handsome grey tabby came from another shelter with a rough start—found as a stray with a collar embedded in his neck and a serious wound on his side. After some much-needed care (and a few staples, hence the name!), he’s now fully healed and ready for his next chapter.
Despite everything he’s been through, Chris is nothing but love. He’s incredibly sweet, affectionate, and a world-class cuddler. He’ll lean into your hand for pets, curl up in your lap for naps, and give you that slow blink that says, “Thank you for seeing me.”
Chris Stapleton is proof that love and resilience go hand in paw. Now all he needs is a home where he can be cherished the way he was always meant to be.
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A HOMELESS PET IS ONE STEP CLOSER
TO FINDING A HOME
EVERY TIME YOU FOLLOW US
ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
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