With Auction Items and Raffle Prizes provided by:

                   Rick McDonald

In thinking about our future it’s good to reflect upon our past and appreciate those who have gotten us here.

You.

I cannot fully express how humbled I am by your dedication to Homeward Pet Adoption Center and the animals in our care. Thank you.

With the extension of the lease for our current location, in three years, Homeward Pet Adoption Center will move into our next best home — the next step in our journey toward our dream of creating a holistic care center for animals in our shelter and our community.

We are excited that this extension of our current lease will allow us the time to raise the funds to truly make our next home an improvement for the animals in our care and the people who love them.

Our next best home will allow us to continue to grow our veterinary care and behavior programs. Not only will we provide quality, compassionate support to our temporary guests, it will allow us to give assistance to families unable to afford basic and extended veterinary care for their cats and dogs. We will be able to provide training pre and post adoption, as well as help behaviorally challenging animals from entering the shelter system all together.

We are already working today to create an environment that reduces the stress animals may experience in a shelter through fear free protocols and industry best practices as well as incorporating our values of giving animals the time required to be healthy and happy. We have adapted our cat room to provide more space, privacy and enrichment opportunities for our feline guests. For our canine visitors, we are moving toward a dog room redesign that will lessen stress by reducing reactivity and noise. Larger spaces have already been provided to support the natural behaviors of each dog.

I would enjoy speaking with you about all that we are doing for the animals at Homeward Pet, as well as share with you our visions and dreams for the future. To schedule a tour or conversation, please email me at or call me at 425-488-4444, ext. 4005. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your continued support of Homeward Pet Adoption Center. I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Nanette McCann
Executive Director
Homeward Pet Adoption Center

P.S. Please take a moment to view our 2020 Annual report and congratulate yourself on a year well spent!

We’re often the go-to shelter for pets with significant behavior challenges, including dogs and cats that are so fearful they avoid all human touch. Even through the worst of the pandemic months when many shelters weren’t taking in tough cases, we made sure we made room and continued to help the pets who really needed us.

Usually, our goal is always to get each pet to the point where they trust at least a couple of people at the shelter before we send them to their new home, but sometimes we spend months and months and still can’t make that much progress. In those cases, we look for very special fosters and adopters who can continue the important work of building a strong relationship and showing their new pet that humans are kind and can be trusted. These adopters are truly one-of-a-kind – they have so much love in their heart that they take home a pet that doesn’t want to be pet or cuddled, trusting that they will get there someday.

Aurora is one of these special dogs.

When we work with fearful dogs like Aurora, the best thing we can do is… nothing! It sounds funny, but letting Aurora observe us in a low-pressure way proves to her that we are not a threat and there’s no reason to be anxious or scared. We don’t want to try to touch her or interact with her before she’s ready.

Next, we start to toss treats when we walk by. This helps her form a positive association with our presence and gives her something to look forward to when we approach (instead of dreading being looked at or touched).

Over time, we start to look for tiny bits of progress that show she’s feeling more comfortable. This could include more eye contact, changes in body language (more relaxed body, tail not tucked, softer eyes), moving around the space more, eating in front of us, etc.!

With more challenging cases like Aurora, we have to celebrate even the TINIEST signs of progress so we know we’re moving in the right direction. Depending on the progress she makes, our Behavior Program Manager creates a specialized plan for staff or her fosters and future adopters to use to help her make bigger steps towards being approached and pet by people.

Aurora has been in foster with us for four months now and has made a bit of progress, but isn’t quite ready to be touched yet. We’ve had so many successes with shy pets getting adopted lately that we’re hoping that special, one-of-a-kind adopter will step up for Aurora soon too.

She has shown signs that she likes to play, eat treats, and she’ll likely be fine in a home with other calm dogs and cats. All she needs is a home with a lot of love and patience to allow her to blossom when she’s ready. If you think you’re the person Aurora has been waiting for, our Behavior Program Manager is ready to support you 100% of the way. No experience necessary, just a big heart!

Former PGA Pro Rick McDonald tees up to help homeless animals

Our inaugural Homeward Pet Open Golf Tournament will be Friday, August 27 at 1:30pm. We are so pleased to host an event which gives golfers the opportunity to connect their love of the game and their love of pets! Perhaps no one was more enthusiastic about the idea of hosting a golf tournament to help raise funds for Homeward Pet than our Board Vice President, Rick McDonald. 

Rick comes to Homeward with both a rich background in professional golf and an engrained love of animals, the perfect combo for this event.  He grew up playing basketball and baseball but discovered the game of golf at 12 years old and was hooked! Rick went on to win a Washington state championship at 16 years old and to receive a golf scholarship to California State University East Bay soon thereafter.  After college, he qualified for the PGA TOUR’s international tours, having playing privileges in Canada, Latin America, and China.  Rick retired from professional golf in 2016 due to the intensive travel requirements and pivoted to his second passion and now works in investments and wealth management.  You’ll still find him out on the local courses as often as he can carve out the time. 

Rick has always been an avid animal lover.  He was introduced to Homeward Pet by a former colleague, and attended our annual Fur Ball to learn more. Drawn to our mission and programs, he now serves as Vice President on our Board of Directors and is thrilled that he can use his time and talents to help pets in need find their loving homes. 

Our upcoming tournament will be held at The Golf Club at Redmond Ridge.  Rick has golfed there many times and touts it as one of his favorite courses in Washington, as it offers beautiful holes with water and elevation changes, and is a course that allows every golfer, regardless of experience, a fun golfing experience.  That is exactly what we’re hoping for those of you who join us that day! 

When asked for his best golf tip (we assume he has many), Rick answered: 

“The best golf tip I could provide someone, outside of make sure you are having fun, is it all begins with fundamentals – Good grip, stance, posture will give you the necessary foundation to start off the right way.” 

Rick will be at the course on August 27 prior to the 1:30 start to give you tips on your form and game – just another benefit of joining us that day to help the animals and programs of Homeward Pet. 

Sarah Taylor / Winnipeg Free Press

Are you ready to join us for a fun day?   

Register as an individual, couple or a foursome. 

Not a golfer?  Multiple sponsorship opportunities are available so that you can still be involved without hitting a single ball.