Help us Help The Animals- Open letter to supporters

Recently you may have heard reports about discussions between the Lynchburg Humane Society and the City of Lynchburg.  As someone who cares about the well being of the pets in our community, you are important to us and our efforts.  We are writing to share information and to ask for your help.

Some fifty years ago the Lynchburg Humane Society was founded on the idea that the pets of this community mattered.   Since that early beginning the City of Lynchburg has partnered with the Humane Society to provide pound services for the community.  We feel that this has been a worthwhile partnership for the citizens of Lynchburg.

The Lynchburg Humane Society, under the leadership of its Board of Directors, is poised to take the next step in its journey to prevent the unnecessary euthanasia of animals in our City and to solve the problem of pet overpopulation.  This journey began in earnest three years ago when Makena Yarbrough was employed as our first full time Executive Director.  Under her guidance the “kill rate” in our facility has been reduced from 51% to 10%.   Preserving and building on this track record will not be possible without a new facility to replace the current city shelter that has clearly outlived its useful life and is inadequate for its intended purpose.

The Humane Society has already purchased property and we are in the final stages of planning the design and construction of a modern facility for education, adoption, and animal sheltering services as well as a future expansion of the regional spay and neuter clinic with provisions to provide veterinary services for abandoned animals.   This new facility will require a broad based community effort not only on animal adoption but also on public education and community attitudes toward pets.  Further, it will require financial support from the community to achieve this goal.

Today, the partnership between the Humane Society and the City is at an important cross road. 

Building on our long-standing relationship, we have asked the City of Lynchburg to join us in this effort.  Clearly we do not expect the taxpayers of Lynchburg to fund our expanded “No Kill” mission.  This mission is the essence of our purpose as a charitable organization.  On the other hand, it is only reasonable that the City pay for the cost the Humane Society will incur in providing “city pound” services as required by law and at the same level that city residents have expected and benefited from for many years.  

To this end, we have entered into discussions with city administrators and council members seeking support for a small portion of the construction cost of the new facility we will build and own and for the development of a long-term agreement compensating the Humane Society for the operating costs incurred in providing these “pound services” on behalf of the city.  To expect less from the City would be to ask our donors to carry costs that are the City’s responsibility. 

These discussions are complicated by several factors. 

• The city has enjoyed unrealistically low costs for pound services for a number of years.  For instance, in 2011 the City paid the Humane Society $104,500 plus utility costs for operating the city pound.  This equates to about $1.90 per capita (person).  The industry benchmark value placed on animal sheltering services is $4-$5 per capita.  Other similar Virginia cities like Roanoke pays $6.29 per capita, Charlottesville pays $5 per capita and Harrisonburg pays $4.66 per capita for pound services. 
• We are requesting a gradual increase over 3 years to reach a $5.25 per capita rate which equates to $396,735 a year in operating funds in fiscal year 2015.
• The estimated operating cost for the City to run their own pound would be around $5.53 per capita or $417,600 per year.  The current building would cost the City at least $725,000 to renovate, with continued repairs and maintenance. The Humane Society is requesting an initial investment in our new facility, by the City, of $240,000 in 2012 with a total 5 year capital investment of $675,000 for pound space in the new state of the art facility, with no further maintenance liability.
• The City budget is under considerable stress – and any increase in payment is difficult due to the poor economic conditions and cut backs in state funding. 
• Our proposal to the city is conservative compared to the costs and liability the City would incur by operating its own pound.  But, it does still represent an increase in total cost to the city over time.

Despite these complications, the Humane Society Board is convinced that the time is right to move ahead.  Either we move ahead – or the current inadequate facilities and funding will compromise all the progress we have made.  The City Manager and staff and many members of Council have expressed their interest in developing a long-term agreement with the Humane Society that meets the goals of all parties.  We appreciate their insight and support.   As a group, City Council recently voted to determine if there were any other parties that were qualified to provide pound services to the city and, if no one came forward, then enter into negotiations with the Humane Society for a long term agreement.  It remains to be seen whether the majority of Council will vote to approve an agreement that will fairly compensate us for providing the services that are mandated by law and those consistent with our operations over the years. 

What you can do now:

• Let your City Council member know how you feel about this issue.  Call, email or write Council members (see attached) to let them know that partnering with the Humane Society to compassionately care for animals is important to you as a voter.
• Explain this issue to your friends and neighbors and ask them to speak up for animals and the Humane Society as well.
• Look for additional information and contacts from us to keep you informed about our progress as plans develop.

In closing, thank you for your support and for your interest in making our community a better place for all people and pets.

Brenda Gray, President of the Board of Directors

Makena Yarbrough, Executive Director

City Council Members and City Manager contact information

H. Cary, III (at large)                       h.cary@lynchburgva.gov                       384-0495

Joan F. Foster, Mayor                    joan.foster@lynchburgva.gov                 455-3639

Michael Gillette (ward I)                michael.gillette@lynchburgva.gov           384-5322

Jeff Helgeson (ward III)                 jeff@jeffhelgeson.com                           610-7478

Ceasor Johnson, Vice Mayor       ceasor.johnson@lynchburgva.gov           401-0753

Randy Nelson (at large)                 randy.nelson@lynchburgva.gov              401-0696

Turner Perrow (ward IV)              turner.perrow@lynchburgva.gov            384-5557

Kimball Payne, City Manager      kpayne@lynchburgva.gov                        455-3990

Slow Down and Make a Difference in Your Life

I know I am not alone when I say that holiday time always feels very busy and stressful to me.  The normal day-to-day stress of balancing work and home is already difficult, and when you pile on the expectations and duties of the holidays it becomes even worse.  But this year I am making the choice to do things differently and I challenge everyone to do the same.  I have decided to slow down and not get wrapped up in the chaos of the holidays but instead get wrapped up in the true message of this time of year, which is family, love and life.

The Lynchburg Humane Society and most of the shelters in the area are seeing more animals in need of our services this year and less money coming in due to the economy.  Our Home 4 the Holiday promotion serves to encourage the community to help pets find homes before the end of the year.  This is the perfect time of year to bring home a new pet through adoption or foster care.  Even though the idea of putting one more thing on your plate - like a new pet in your home - might seem crazy at first, I want to remind you that life is messy; love is messy. We’ve all heard that pets have been proven to reduce stress.  Additionally, treasured memories are created by those events involving other people and creatures that touch our lives.  So let us slow down and decide to change our lives and the lives of pets in need.

The shelters in the Lynchburg area are filled with wonderful animals.  The only thing they want is a place where they can receive attention, love and proper care.  Let me tell you about Allie, one dog in particular who has touched my heart.  She is a shepherd/hound mix, about 7 years old.  Her life so far has been out on a chain in a backyard being neglected and obviously physically injured by her previous owner.   She looks battered with the harsh reality of being ignored and not given the love or care she needed.  Allie still is unsure what positive attention is but you know she likes it because she will give little quick kisses on your hand in appreciation when you pet her. She still flinches when you reach out to give her a head stroke because she is anticipating a smack instead. She needs minor medical attention for conditions that have gone untreated.  What really gets me is that this shelter, which is no place for a dog or cat, is probably the best place she has lived in her life.  We are all she has. But Allie deserves even more: she deserves a warm loving home and the good news is that she will get one.  As sad as her past is, Allie is now focused on the future and what life still holds for her.

For every challenging dog like Allie you will find 10 other dogs and cats who are happy, healthy and ready to go home. Not every shelter animal is a project. Many are pets who previously lived in comfortable homes and are now in need of new ones. Or they are puppies/kittens who simply started off life in the wrong place.  You name the breed, we have had it come through our doors.  So don’t buy a pet for your family.  Adopt or foster and bring home the true message of this season: love and life.  Slow down and experience what giving is really all about.

Happy holidays and thank you so much for all your support this year. We are very close to becoming a No Kill community and with every adoption or foster we are one step closer.

We Are All They Have

The Lynchburg Humane Society takes in every animal including those that are injured, sick, traumatized, under-socialized or too small to thrive on their own. Just the other day a 10 year old hound mix,we call Allie, came in on the end of a chain so heavy her head hung low from the weight. She suffers from untreated ear infections and is nervous of any physical contact. When we give her love she cringes in anticipation but then returns the favor with quick licks on our hands. She obviously suffered for most of her life in a neglectful situation and now we are her only chance at a normal life. Carmen was brought to us with active Parvo, a very deadly and contagious condition that her owner couldn’t afford to treat. We took on the responsibility to treat Carmen and after a very difficult few days, she pulled through with flying colors. She now is vibrant, full of life and living with her new family.  These are just two recent examples of the powerful impact our Second Chance Fund has on animals in need. 99% of the animals that come to the Lynchburg Humane Society receive a vaccination and more than half of the pets receive medical treatment for illness or injury. Many of those like Allie and Carmen need major rehabilitation.  Our Second Chance Fund is a way for the community to give back to the pets who give so much to our lives. This fund pays for the medical supplies and treatment for those entrusted to our care.  When they arrive here we are truly their last shot at life and the choices we make depend on the funding we have.  We can all make a difference through the Second Chance Fund. 

Killing is Not The Answer

I saw a poster recently that had a picture of a feral cat and it said, “I have been living outside for 7 years… I am not homeless.” The Lynchburg Humane Society made a bold decision this year to stop taking in feral (wild) cats, except in extreme circumstances.  While we still accept feral kittens for rehabilitation, we were euthanizing the adults; it was something that made the people trapping them feel good but did nothing to solve their problem. Studies and actual accounts in Lynchburg have shown that this method of trapping and killing is not effective.  Due to something called the “vacuum effect,” the cats that remain around the food source will continue to reproduce at an alarming rate in order to compensate for the cats removed.  For example, one local business brought us 11 feral cats last year when we were still taking them in.  This year they showed back up claiming they now had to bring us 15 feral cats.  Because they never removed the food source and did not catch all the cats originally, they had more feral cats the next year.  Our City Cat Fix is designed to fix this problem.  We will show you how to trap them, fix them for free and provide rabies shots. All you have to do is continue to provide the food they require.  This will keep other cats from entering into their territory and the colony should die out over time. 

Shelter transitioning to No Kill

Letter appeared in the News and Advance in the editiorial section on 10/4/11 in response to a letter posted on September 24th by Jason Shelton.


I first want to thank Jason Shelton (The Forum, Sept. 24) for raising awareness that the Lynchburg Humane Society’s current facility is inadequate to meet the needs of this community, continue saving lives and reach our goal of an open-admission, no-kill shelter. Our new building project will enable us to provide more services to the community and alleviate the overcrowded conditions that affect the animals, staff and the public.
Similarly, we acknowledge that there is a problem in the city with the cat population. We are dedicated to solving this problem by providing free spay and neuter services through our City Cat Fix Program and a grant from PetSmart Charities. Unfortunately, as long as people allow the cats they care for to reproduce and not take full responsibility for them, the problem will persist.
The standard operating mode for a pound is to take in all animals and then kill pets to make space when they get full. The Lynchburg Humane Society feels that killing pets to make space is irresponsible. We now ask owners to be responsible and wait until we have space. We knew when we decided to alter our philosophy regarding the intake of unwanted owned animals that it would be very uncomfortable to some folks. Happily, we found that most people want what is best for their pets and will wait. Asking owners to wait enables us to stop the killing of healthy and treatable animals. In the meantime, we give them assistance with their behavior issues and help them re-home their pets with courtesy postings on our website. So far this year, 274 animals have found homes through this system.
This new way of thinking puts trust in the public and allows the community to be a part of solving the problem. While some don’t like this new philosophy change, most of Lynchburg is excited about the transformation and our new programs to save lives; our current save rate of 91 percent is dramatic proof of our programs’ successes.
We always welcome the opportunity to solve problems when they arise and appreciate Mr. Shelton’s letter. The Lynchburg Humane Society is not perfect, of course. Realization and analysis of possible problems allows us to become a better organization to the benefit of all involved.
MAKENA YARBROUGH
Executive director
Lynchburg Humane Society

Shelters struggle to care for dogs and cats in peak months

 Article published in the News and Advance on August 30, 2011

We thought it might be funny to have a “Vacancy/No Vacancy” neon sign that we could hang out front, letting people know our status of cage availability for new animals coming to the shelter. We wondered if it would make a difference.

Spring and Summer time signals kitten season plus an over-abundance of stray dogs and puppies. Shelters can’t handle the increased volume and it seems like everyone makes decisions in June, July and August to move to places that won’t allow pets or they decide that they can no longer handle pet responsibilities. Or, they decide the outside cat for which they have taken responsibility over months or years needs to go because it keeps having kittens or they are tired of it and it must go now; they can’t wait.

At this time of year we struggle to find the funds to take care of the little ones who are brought to us, we struggle to find the space to put them, and we struggle to control our emotions when they are too sick or too wild. We adopt out two animals and ten more come in. This June and July our cat intake has increased by 38% and dogs by 22%. It feels like we are bailing out a sinking boat without fixing the leak.

Animal shelters did not create the pet over-population problem but we are asked to clean up the mess created by society. That is why we all preach spay/neuter. It is hard to make a case for spay/neuter with people who are only captivated by the cuteness of kittens and puppies and do not understand the consequences of having so many of them. There are also those people who can’t afford to get their pets fixed or think that the stray cat having kittens in their neighborhood isn’t their problem. On the other hand, it would be repugnant for us to show pictures of sick, suffering and dead animals we deal with every kitten/cat season. But, consider this: the mortality rate of kittens born in the wild is estimated to be 50-75% before reaching six months of age and in many shelters it is 80-90%. Spay/Neuter can avoid misery on so many levels.

The Lynchburg Humane Society is committed to fixing the leak- this is another reason we preach spay/neuter and have our new City Cat Fix program where we are providing free spay/neuter services and a rabies shot for outdoor cats.

But spay/neuter isn’t the only thing we preach.  It is just as important for owners to be responsible for their pets especially during this very busy time.  We do ask owners to wait and to bring their pet in when we have space through our appointment system. We are here to help owners and we offer services such as behavior support and assistance with re-homing their pets, but the Lynchburg Humane Society does not feel we or any other shelter should take in an owned pet just to euthanize another for space reasons.

So, we ask for patience as we work with you to bring your pet in responsibly when we have the space to accommodate it.  Of course not everyone can wait and we always bring those in that can’t but for those that are not in dire straits we ask for you to be honest and do what is right for your pet and the others in our shelters.  Please continue to work with us to become part of the solution because we know most people want what is best for their pet.

Pets forgive and don't give up on us, let us follow their example.

The most heart wrenching thing we see here at the shelter is an animal that has been neglected or abused.  We always find it amazing when they can still look you in the eye sadly and lick your hand or wag their tail.  All they want is love and attention and when they suffer at the hands of the person who is suppose to love them and care for them it is heart breaking.  Samantha here is such a dog that was beaten, kicked and thrown against a wall by her owner and it caused major internal injuries and broken bones.  In these cases animals have every right to hate humans and not trust them, but most will forgive and only ask for love in return. 


I think some of us we can learn a lot from pets.  Most don't give up on people and sometimes it feels like we give up on them too easily. Let me make sure I disclose that this is a hard time of year for us and we sometimes find it hard to focus on the positive even when there is so much positive around us.  At a time when the amount of animals far exceeds the space we have available because so many people bring us kittens, stray cats and owned pets, that it can sometimes get very disheartening. Why are there so many kittens, stray cats and pets coming to us at this time of year?

The Lynchburg Humane Society decided in 2009 that we would not give up on the pets in our care.  We decided to no longer euthanize healthy pets to make space.   Part of that is asking owners to wait a little bit to bring us their pets because we don't have space and it always floors me how indignant a few people can get.   They act like we are the bad guys when all we are trying to do is keep our commitment to the pets in our care and not euthanize and help them out with their problem.  When we say we don't have a cage, we honestly don't have a cage. 

At this time we are asking for help.  We need some owners to take their pet ownership seriously and work with local shelters to bring them in when space is available, to try and find a new home themselves for their pet, we need help with donations and supplies, if you find a litter of kittens please consider "fostering" them until the summer months and the crazy kitten season is over or stop in and become a foster parent and help us by taking out kittens or mothers, how about getting that neighborhood cat fixed for free under our city cat fix and most importantly please come adopt especially now when we are so full.

In the big picture of what we do on a day to day basis we see just how great people can be. Most owners do the right thing and will help us help them.  Most owners will try and re-home their pets. Most owner will keep their pet and cater to their needs.  And most people will go home tonight and hug their pet and show them the love they deserve.  So let us say thank you to most of the people of Lynchburg for caring so much for the pets in need at the Humane Society.  From January to June we have been able to save 92% of the animals in our care.  But this month and next are critical to keeping our save rate up. Please continue to help.

Can you wait please? It means life to us!

Our appointment system is the biggest change the organization has made since my arrival. Not only because it has really helped us save lives but because it was a philosophical change that affected the citizens of the community. When owners need to surrender their pets we ask them to wait until we have an open kennel or cage available. This ensures that the animals are given the time and attention they need; we are able to bring pets in when we have open spaces ensuring no dogs and cats are euthanized due to lack of room.

This appointment program enables us to really connect with the owners at a time when they may be feeling overwhelmed or emotional. We talk with them and, in a lot of cases, help them resolve their problems or assist them in finding new homes for their pets. Often, an owner’s first reaction to a pet-related problem is to bring the animal to us. But when we provide other options or ask owners for their help, many do the right thing and begin to help their pets by not leaving them at a shelter.

As with any new program, we heard criticism and I recognized it would be hard for the public, other animal groups and volunteers to reprogram their way of thinking. Change is scary and so we had to help them see that it is not ok for us to enable owners as a whole to dump their animals and that responsibility on us whenever they want and at no cost to them. When you make it easy on people to give up their animals, they don’t really think about what is involved. But when you communicate honestly with them, they realize it is in the best interest of their pets and the other animals at a shelter if they exhaust every other option before coming to us. You have to trust that the life of their pet is as important to them as it is to us. We also felt it was irresponsible for us as an organization to take in more than we can care for resulting in needless euthanasia. Why is that ok for pounds to operate that way? So why do people argue in favor of killing to make space? How does that help anything other than to allow people to continue to dump their responsibilities on the Humane Society and perpetuate the idea that killing is ok and necessary? It tells people that they don’t have to be accountable and that we will take that burden for them but that is at the expense of the pets we serve. I have heard this type of naysayers for the past 8 years. Richmond and Charlottesville both had appointment programs in place and they worked. Here are the cons and facts we heard and saw.

Misconception “People won’t wait; they will just let their animals loose.”

Fact: In Lynchburg, stray animal intake actually went down. We also saw very few “tie ups” or pets abandoned at our front door. In 5 communities that I am familiar with who also implemented an appointment program, did not see an increase in strays.

No, not everyone waited and honestly not everyone could wait. There were situations where, for the sake of the pet or due to a lack of options, we couldn’t ask the pet owners to wait. Then there were the few that were not worth fighting over.

Misconception: “You are an open admissions facility, how can you make people wait?” “They won’t be responsible”

Fact: I knew that most people would do the right thing if they understood the problem and learned how to be a part of the solution because people want what is best for their pet. The good news is that owners did step up, 33% of the owners who contacted us re-homed or kept their pets. That is 298 animals in total. We helped owners in this process. We posted stories and photos of their pets on our website and offered suggestions on how to find new homes. Misconception: “You are making it too difficult for people to surrender their pets; they will just take them to other shelters or dump them.”

Fact: In surrounding counties reporting their 2010 stats there was no increase in the overall number of stray animals they took in, in fact they saw a decline in numbers. The counties also saw a decrease in the number of owner surrenders. One local county saw a decrease by 500 animals in total. I have no idea if it has anything to do with this program but I think it is safe to say we didn’t cause harm. Do I think there were people who dumped animals? Yes, but this has always been the case even when we didn’t ask owners to wait.

We had a number of people from other counties contact us because they didn’t want to take their pets to their pounds. 32% of the animals on the waiting list were from other counties. In 2010, 15% of our intake came from other counties, some from many counties over because they wanted a good outcome for their pet.

In the end we want what is best for the pets of Lynchburg and most owners feel the same way. They feel relieved when they know no healthy pet will be euthanized to make space for another. Wouldn’t you wait?

This is from our newsletter, if you are interested in receiving our newsletter contact kim@lynchburghumane.org and we will put you on our mailing list.  You can also view it on our website under publications. 

Looks aren’t everything, especially when adopting a dog

“Oh look at her. She is so cute. We have to get her.” This is a common thing to say when searching for a new pet. But it’s not the smartest way to pick out your new family member. Just because a dog is cute, doesn’t mean that he or she is the right choice for your family or your lifestyle.

At the Lynchburg Humane Society, we often see owners surrender their dogs because they are just too much to handle. What it usually boils down to is that the breed isn’t right for the family. A great example is a border collie. In my opinion, these are one of the most beautiful breeds of dogs. However, they can be a handful. They are very smart, and always need a job to do, meaning they must have some sort of stimulation or else they will find their own job to do. And in turn, you might not be happy with the job they have elected for themselves.

I will be honest, I have been guilty of the, “Oh look at her. She is so cute. We have to get her.” way of thinking. Seven years ago, my husband and I decided it was a good time to get a companion for Orion, our two-year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. We decided we would like to have a puppy so she could grow up with Orion. The problem with getting a puppy that is an outright mutt is that you really have no idea of the personality because you have nothing to go on. The puppy we chose grew up to be a very active Australian Shepherd/Beagle/Jack Russell mix, at least that is our best guest. Regardless, she is very active and needs something to do anytime she isn’t sleeping. We are lucky though, we are a pretty active family with a lot of our activities dedicated to our pets.

Not everyone can be open to a pet that is going to be extremely active, or one that needs constant stimulation. So what should you do when searching for your new companion to ensure you get the right match?

Research the breed: If you find a dog you are interested in, don’t rush into the adoption. Educating yourself on the breed will help you decide if the dog is compatible with your lifestyle. Now I know what you’re thinking, what if the dog is a mutt? In this case, you need to determine what the primary breed might be, and then do research on that breed. In my experience, mutts make great companions because they have a mix of different personality traits, usually the best.

Ask for help: Another great thing to do is ask the staff members at the facility you are adopting from, most of the time they will know the typical information about the breed. They might also be able to tell you about the temperament, activity level and personality of the dog.

Spend time before adopting: Spending time with the dog will help you realize whether it is a good match. Visiting the dog a few times and having family members spend time with him or her is a great idea before making up your mind.

The bottom line is doing your homework before adopting, will help you make the relationship with your new pet a wonderful, enjoyable one.

Partners make everything much easier

Recently I gave birth to my second child. Lily Grace was born on December 20th of 2010 and so she is still waking my husband and I up a lot in the middle of the night. Last night during her 2:00 am feeding I got to thinking about partnerships. My husband and I have a wonderful partnership in parenting and in household responsibilities. He is an amazing husband that helps me in so many ways. We both have full-time jobs and so we share the middle of the night feedings of our new daughter. This way neither one of us has to take the brunt of the nightly feedings alone.

So how does this apply to the Lynchburg Humane Society? Well as I was feeding my daughter half asleep it struck me that I am glad I have a wonderful husband and I don’t have to get up for the next feeding. Basically we can do it alone but it is much more difficult and when you have partners the task is much easier. Yes, I get lots of ideas at my middle of the night feedings, just ask the staff.

The Lynchburg Humane Society is very lucky to have some amazing partners in our day-to-day operations, in our long range plan to achieve a no kill community and in our need to continue to bring in funding and resources to our organization.

Most recently the Pickering Creative Group and Joseph Marshall partnered with us to create a wonderful new website that truly represents the professional organization we are.

Local architect, Dominion Seven has volunteered their expertise to help us with plans for a new shelter.

Carole our long-time volunteer of 5 ½ years is a very important partner that helps us daily with the dogs. Meredith is our cat volunteer who has been a huge asset with marketing the cats and giving second chances to feral cats in our care.

PetSmart Charities partnered with us for our new City Cat Fix, but locally the South Central Spay/Neuter Clinic partnered with us to perform the surgeries at a much reduced price so we can provide them free to the public.

We deal with many Veterinarian partners as well. Peaks View Animal Hospital and Riverside Veterinarian both provide pro bono medical care each month for our treatable animals. Most recently the Animal Hospital of Lynchburg began doing spay/neuter surgeries for us and once a month visits to our shelter to take a look at the unhealthy animals in our care. In an effort to be a part of the solution, Dr. Harper with Animal Emergency and Critical Care is spaying and neutering pit bulls for us for free.

Then there are the many partners that are helping in this cause that we may not know their names but we know they make a huge difference in the lives of companion animals. Anyone who helps out a neighbor or family member with their pet so they don’t have to take it to the local pound. Vets who work with owners at times of need so they are able to keep their pet and get the treatment they need. Feral cat colony caretakers who have gotten cats fixed on their own dime. Good Samaritans who take it upon themselves to bottle feed kittens they have found. Breed rescue groups who takes the hard to place cases so pounds and shelters don’t have to euthanize them. Citizens who pick up animals in need and provide them shelter and help until they find a home. There are many others but these are the unsung heroes that help every day.

The biggest partner we have? YOU. Everyone who has spread the word about our positive change, who adopted, fostered, donated, volunteered, owners who have waited patiently to bring us their pets, every one of you are helping us create a No Kill Community here in Lynchburg.

I feel so privileged to work at this remarkable organization and to have the opportunity to work with the amazing people of this community. Thanks for being our partner.