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Give Locally


Lately I have seen a lot around in regards to "Buy Locally" and "Shop Locally" to bring awareness to supporting the community in which we live. Well, I would like to bring up "Give Locally". Over the years in this business I have seen many people, even relatives, give money to large animal organizations thinking the money would then filter down to the local organizations. The large animal organizations like The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Best Friends, ASPCA, PETA and American Humane Association are all independent non-profits that have no governing responsibility to the rest of the smaller humane societies, SPCAs or rescue groups. When you give to those larger national organizations you are giving to them and them alone. A few of them do offer some small grants to those of us who apply but in general the money stays with them.

The Lynchburg Humane Society is a private organization that relies greatly on donations. So this year as you write a check to those national organizations with the heart touching TV commercials please consider Giving Locally to those organizations who do the work in your community.
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