Happy Tail – Bandit!

Bandit is doing great! I adopted Bandit April 22nd and he has settled in really well! I feel so lucky to have found such a sweet, happy dog!  We are having a blast exploring together. He loves hiking, riding in the car, swimming at the beach and playing ball.  This week he discovered Marymoor Park and absolutely loves leaping through the fields and playing chase with our friends’ dog. We are getting ready to graduate from our first training class and hope to continue training so that he might one day volunteer as a therapy dog.

Our daily walks along the waterfront and snuggles on the couch are the highlight of my day…and Bandit seems to think they’re pretty great, too!

Thanks for doing such great work as an organization!

-Michelle

Your support has saved another life at Homeward Pet!

Because of contributions received from attendees through this year’s Fur Ball Auction, The Sozo Foundation, and other generous individuals, our clinic was able to purchase an anesthesia monitoring device and vet warming system which provided lifesaving care to Nutter Butter.

We continue to be in awe of the amazing accomplishments we are able to achieve through your generosity. Thank you for being such an important part of our mission.

Here’s to more lives saved and more matches made!

Mikkel Becker – Homeward Hero!

We’re incredibly fortunate to have Mikkel Becker on our team! Mikkel is a certified dog and cat trainer, co-author of five books in the “Ultimate Pet Lover” series, and the resident trainer for Vetstreet.com. She is also an important part of our Adopter Support program. As Homeward Pet’s dog and cat behavior consultant, Mikkel helps our adopters solve behavior issues. Every month, Mikkel donates her time and expertise to provide one-on-one behavior consultations (by appointment) with our adopters and their newly adopted cat or dog, assessing each animal, reviewing the factors that can lead to specific behaviors, and providing a training and behavior plan moving forward.

Mikkel uses positive reinforcement and non-force training strategies based in scientific learning theory. She is an honors graduate of the rigorous and prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers at the San Francisco SPCA, a graduate of the Purdue University Dogs and Cats course, and a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy.

Mikkel also teaches dog training classes at Doggy Haven Resort, where all of our adopters receive free training classes. Her work at Doggy Haven includes the formation of special training and seminars on how to boost a dog’s confidence and lower stress in a veterinary environment, at the groomer and while being boarded. In addition, she is currently the resident trainer for another of Homeward Pet’s amazing partners, veterinary behaviorist Dr. Wailani Sung at All Creatures Behavior Counseling.

Mikkel lives in the Seattle area with her husband, Ben, her daughter, Reagan, and their Pugs Willy and Bruce. Willy is a Pet Partners-certified therapy dog who helps demonstrate the importance of safe interactions for dogs and children, and also visits the elderly and those in need of emotional help.

Mikkel Becker is truly a Homeward Hero!

Read more about Mikkel and her training and behavior tips on vetstreet.com.

Homeward Pet’s Adopter Support Program assists our adopters with the transition of a new pet in their home, answering questions, addressing concerns and helping with minor issues before they become major problems. Our Adopter Support Program also provides our adopters with resources – including behavior, health and training tips – and recommendations for local pet-related services, like boarding, grooming, vet services and more.

Pay It Forward!

Here’s a great way share your love of animals.  With Homeward Pet’s Pay It Forward program, you donate the adoption fee for an adoptable, adult cat or dog, helping us care for them during their stay and giving them a head start on finding a forever home. You can choose a special cat or dog, or let us apply your donation to the cat or dog that’s been here the longest.

Then, we’ll do our best to find your sponsored animal a great home, following the adoption process that has made Homeward Pet a leader in matching animals and adopters.  Once we’ve made that lifelong match, we’ll be able to send that dog or cat home with their adoption fee already paid, with a family that’ll be able to devote more to the care of their new pet.  From what we’ve seen since we began this program, it’s likely that adopter will choose to Pay It Forward to help another animal in need.

Help us build a compassionate, caring community.  Pay It Forward.  Thank you!

Sammie is thriving in his new home, thanks to a generous supporter who chose to Pay It Forward for Sammie’s care & adoption.

Happy Tail – Eddie!

Dear Homeward Pet, I adopted the dog known there as Herbie – I renamed him Eddie.  I wanted a companion for my lonely dog, Mitzi, who I adopted from a shelter a year ago – in her foster home she had been happily living with other dogs.  Mitzi and Eddie are a match made in heaven!!  We are all very happy together – thank you for Eddie.   -Forest

Homeward Pet celebrates 25 years of rescue, shelter and adoption in 2015!

Looking Back: May 2009 – Homeward Pet named Top 3 in “Best Favorite Local Charity” in Best of Western Washington.

This year, Homeward Pet Adoption Center celebrates 25 years as one of Washington State’s leading non-profit, no-kill animal shelters, with special events and adoption promotions throughout 2015. Serving the Greater Seattle area since 1990, Homeward Pet has matched over 25,000 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens with new, loving, forever families. Many of the animals given a second chance at Homeward Pet are rescued from shelters that are often forced to resort to euthanasia. The Homeward Pet Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic provides affordable surgeries for the pets of reduced income families, and the Homeward Pet Food Bank partners with 25 local retailers and 10+ area food banks and outreach programs to distribute pet food and supplies to families in need in our community.

As a privately funded 501(c)3 charity, Homeward Pet relies completely on donor support to help us provide food, shelter, vet care and more to each homeless cat or dog in our care. Over 75% of every dollar donated goes to the care of our animals.

New Law Protects Animals

On Monday (5/11), Governor Jay Inslee signed into law SSB 5501, a new law sponsored by Washington State Senator Joe Fain that will provide more and better protection for animals in our state!

From the office of Senator Fain:  Animals of all kinds will be better protected under a new law sponsored by Senator Joe Fain signed into law Monday afternoon. Animal protection officers and prosecutors will have additional tools to rescue animals in danger and seek more appropriate charges for animal abusers.

“All animals in this state deserve our care and humane treatment and to be properly protected under law,” said Fain. “Too often we hear the worst case results of preventable mistreatment. These changes enable enforcement and care officers to better protect animals who need help.”

One of the primary changes addresses animals who are left unattended in a vehicle or other enclosed space where their health or life is threatened due to extreme temperatures, or lack of water or ventilation. In situations where the animal is suffering or likely to suffer harm a control officer may enter the vehicle or space and remove the animal. Prosecutors would also be able to charge a class two civil infraction with an up to $125 fine and in certain situations animal cruelty charges could be filed.

“The Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies is pleased and grateful to Governor Inslee and Senator Joe Fain for their commitment and leadership in passing SB 5501 – milestone legislation that addresses and helps stop cruelty towards animals,” said Kay Joubert, director of companion animal services for PAWS. “The Federation worked collaboratively with Senator Fain, who understood that improving the laws of Washington to protect animals and create safer, more humane communities is a vital priority worthy of bipartisan support.”

The legislation also strengthens first degree animal cruelty statutes, expands animal fighting laws from just dogs and roosters to all animals and increases the charges that can be sought by prosecutors for killing or stealing pets.

The update was supported by animal enforcement and care organizations including PAWS of Lynnwood, Pasado’s Safe Haven, the ASPCA, Higher Ground Animal Sanctuary and the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies.

Our 25,000th Adoption!

Our 25^th year celebration continues with our landmark 25,000^th adoption!! Lionel the dog went home with Michael and his forever family, along with an amazing gift basket, thanks to our generous sponsoring partners – Doggy Haven Resort, VCA Sno-Wood Animal Hospital, Therapeutic Paws Massage, PetPros, Boo Boo Barkery and more!  Congratulations to Lionel and his forever family!

Happy Tail – Oreo!

We found Oreo, and he found us, on Easter Sunday.  He is such a joy, we can’t believe how lucky we are. We were hoping to find a dog who was easy going, adaptable, good with dogs and people and old enough to have some house training.  In walked Oreo, all those things and more.  He is a love bug, a great playmate, a companion, a comedian.  He had some separation anxiety at first, as well as some nervous peeing (uh oh), but he adjusted to our schedules and the life around him (including bunches of boys running into the house unexpectedly) quicker than we dared hope and is appearing to be quite at ease with it all.  He already has a best dog friend in the neighborhood and everyone adores him…us most of all.

Thank you Homeward Pet for bringing him into our lives and for taking care of all of the wonderful dogs and cats in need of a new home.

-Nicki

You Did It!

We are so inspired by the 239 supporters who raised $20,504 for the animals of Homeward Pet!

For those who GaveBIG through The Seattle Foundation and promoted Homeward Pet on social media, thank YOU – because of your generosity, we can continue to provide essential care to the cats and dogs in our shelter.

Happy Tail – Harry!

Before we adopted Harry (formerly Lionel), we were trying to decide between a dog and a cat. How ironic that Harry is a hybrid!

He is quite a character.  He follows us everywhere. He is friendly of course with all and loves our adult daughters and their boyfriends.  He LOVES food, and will try to eat people food too so we have to be very vigilant when he is begging. He had gained one pound by his first vet visit. He is great with his litter box. He has discovered his favorite chair to sleep on at night in our den, which I now call Harry’s room.

We will send more pictures as his hair grows out. Thank you again for everything. We are all happy together.
-Marti