Featured Pet -RUBY!

“Ruby is a social butterfly – always ready to greet you with big tail wags and tons of kisses.  She will turn your bad day into the best day!” -Kimberlee, Animal Behavior Coordinator

Recently voted “Best Kisser” by the 2017 graduating class of Homeward Pet’s Dog Behavior Team, Ruby is an affectionate, eager-to-please 5-1/2 year old Lab.  Ruby enjoys going for walks (but she loves car rides even more!), and likes to play and chew on her toys.  Most of all, Ruby enjoys keeping her people company.  In her foster home, Ruby thrives on consistency, and has adapted easily to routine: play time, walk time, meal time, sleep time, and her favorite of all times, sofa time!

Ruby would prefer to be the only pet in a quieter, adult-only home (apartments and condos would be a little too busy for her).  She is learning to not guard her food and toys from people, and is making excellent strides in her training.  She’d love someone to continue working with her to help her reach her full potential. In return, she will reward you with endless love and companionship.  Come in to learn more about her and see if Ruby is a match!

**Ruby is currently in a foster home.  Please contact us directly to learn more about Ruby and to schedule a time to meet her**

The “Hart” of Helping

Sometimes a parent’s teaching moment can turn into a lifelong passion.

When Ann Hart walked through the doors of Homeward Pet nearly ten years ago, she did so with the intention of teaching her daughter a valuable lesson about the importance of giving back to the community. That first trip to the shelter ignited a decade long passion for the homeless animals of Homeward Pet.

Growing up in the company of her family’s Dachshunds, Ann quickly learned the significant role animals play in the lives of their human companions. As Ann grew older, so did her dedication to protecting that sacred bond, but rescuing and rehabilitating adoptable pets wasn’t always at the forefront of Ann’s work.

“There was a time when I had Bull Terriers from a breeder,” Ann shared. “But animals I have adopted from the shelter like Baxter, who I’ve had for sixteen years now, they never forget that day.”

Today, Ann dedicates her time to advocating for animals and the environment. She is deeply involved with rescues and works to help organizations like Homeward Pet overcome challenges like limited resources and funding. This in part, encouraged Ann to create the Ann M. Hart Foundation which focuses on making a larger impact in the community.

The Ann M. Hart Foundation most recently funded the expansion of Homeward Pet’s Low-Cost Public Spay & Neuter Program to include $5 cat spay and neuter surgeries for pets of families-in-need. When we asked Ann why spaying and neutering pets was important to her, she responded with one of Benjamin Franklin’s infamous quotes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Ann knows that shelters are overflowing and the more we can do to prevent unplanned litters, the better chance we have at stopping pet overpopulation in its tracks. Low-cost spay and neuter services are one of the best solutions to this problem.

According to the United States Humane Society, 6-8 million pets enter the shelter system in the U.S. each year, and only a fraction of them find homes. If more animals are spayed and neutered then pet homelessness and euthanasia rates will diminish. 

Homeward Pet’s Low-Cost Public Spay & Neuter Program is dedicated to serving pets and their families in our community. We are an aid for seniors living on fixed-income, young families whose resources are stretched and individuals living with disabilities who may depend on government programs to supplement their earnings. When Homeward Pet provides essential programs to our neighbors, we create a safer and healthier community for all pets.

Homeward Pet has spayed and neutered 135 community cats and dogs so far this year, and our goal is to perform $5 spay and neuter surgeries for as many as 600 cats over the next three years, all thanks to our grant from the Ann M. Hart Foundation. Homeward Pet is thrilled to partner with Ann in serving fragile populations, and we are excited to see how the program will continue to grow.

If you or someone you know is interested in taking advantage of Homeward Pet’s Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Program, then please click here to learn more.

We encourage you to share this program with others, and to educate your network of family and friends about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

Thank you to Ann and the Ann M. Hart Foundation for changing lives every day.

Coping with Cushing’s

Roxie and Mimi have a few things in common. Both charming seniors have big smiles, playful personalities and endless tail wags…and they share the same chronic medical condition. But your support set these two sweethearts on a path to health and happiness. 

During Roxie and Mimi’s intake exams, our vets became suspicious that these two ladies weren’t just packing on a few extra pounds. Their abdomens were enlarged, their fur was patchy and thin, and they were riddled with skin issues. Basic treatments were started, and as we continued to monitor their health and behavior, we noticed other symptoms like frequent drinking and urination, and an increased appetite. Lab tests were performed which confirmed what our veterinary team suspected from the start.

Roxie and Mimi had Cushing’s disease, which occurs when the body produces too much Cortisol—a hormone that helps manage stress. Cushing’s is common in older canines, but is often difficult and costly to diagnose. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments to help manage the condition, but each case is different and it takes time to determine the right medication and dial in the dosage for each animal.

Thanks to amazing supporters like you, Homeward Pet had the necessary resources to help Roxie and Mimi through each step.  Today they are healthy, happy pups. Both have already found their forever homes with kind-hearted caretakers, dedicated to managing their condition with daily oral medication and regular testing to monitor changes and adjust medication.

Roxie and Mimi are just two of the many animals who have received extraordinary medical care through Whoopi’s Fund for Special Needs Animals. Already this year, Homeward Pet’s veterinary team and partners have provided a number of homeless cats and dogs with major surgeries, ultrasounds, expensive medications, extensive treatment plans and emergency vet care.

You can make a life-changing difference for even more animals needing medical aid and attention by making a meaningful gift today.

Thank you for creating bright futures for nearly 2,000 cats and dogs every year, especially those who need extra time, care and support. Together, we can continue to create new beginnings for more animals in-need than ever before. Read more about Whoopi’s Fund for Special Needs Animals here.

Romp, Run or Roll into Summer

Whether your furry friends like to romp, roll, run or relax, Homeward Pet’s July eNewsletter sponsor and partner, Bone-A-Fide Dog Ranch offers a wide range of activities and services that will get your furry friends, out, about and having some summertime fun.

Here are a few words from Bone-A-Fide’s very own founder and owner, Lauren Rick!

Bone-A-Fide Dog Ranch is a longtime supporter and fan of Homeward Pet!  Bone-A-Fide is a home away from home for the happiest dogs in the Northwest—providing dog boarding and dog daycare to those from Seattle, Everett, Snohomish, Bellevue, and areas beyond for over 15 years. Here at the ranch, dogs can run and play freely, exploring acres of open, rustic (yet fully fenced) land. It’s fun for all kinds of dogs—from supervised outdoor trails, to heated/AC indoor play spaces, to homey bedrooms for dogs who are spending the night. There’s plenty of TLC and supervision. It’s a fun, safe place that both you and your dog will love.

Bone-A-Fide Dog Ranch is a great alternative to traditional kennels and indoor facilities for well-socialized dogs. It’s also a breath of fresh air for dog owners, who can relax knowing our team is 110% focused on keeping their pets safe, happy and healthy.

We charge a flat fee for dog boarding that covers anything your dog might need. (We won’t nickel and dime you for things like giving medicine.) They’ll enjoy up to eight hours of supervised play daily on our 5 acres!

To make dog daycare easy for you, you can drop off your dog or use our convenient van service (either door-to-door or at Marymoor Park).

Drop-off dog daycare is available seven days a week. You can bring us your pooch anytime after 7:30 am, and pick them back up anytime before 6:00 pm. Door-to-door dog daycare van service is available Monday through Friday, for pick-up and drop-off at your home. Van service is currently available in much of Seattle and Snohomish County. Be warned: after playing all day at the ranch, your dog will come back from dog daycare a little dirty, mighty pooped and very happy!

Come sniff around and drop by for a “Meet & Greet” visit during our weekly open house every Saturday (except major holiday weekends) between 12- 2:30pm.

Thank you Bone-A-Fide for being such a wonderful partner and supporter!

Bone-A-Fide, where dogs are free to be dogs.