COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2016-2017
YOUR COMMUNITY SHELTER, OUR MISSION Willamette Humane Society is dedicated to establishing, maintaining, and enhancing the bond between companion animals and people of Marion and Polk counties. Together, we upheld that mission in 2016-2017: Saved more lives together with a live release rate of almost 93 percent. Facilitated 2,681 adoptions during the year that s 2,681 new forever families for the cats and dogs in our community. Decreased the total number of animals taken in by 8 percent. That means more pets stayed in loving homes thanks to new resources for example, free, accessible spay and neuter programs for community cats. Helped animals outside our community by welcoming over 630 animals from overpopulated partner shelters across the country a 76 percent increase from last year. How did we create 2,681 four-legged happy endings this year?
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This year s Community Impact Report is a celebration of your faith in Willamette Humane Society. It s been a long and challenging road, since 1965, but this year, you and the entire community can share the pride and awe I feel when I read these statistics. Every single healthy, treatable, and adoptable cat and dog found a home. But it didn t stop there! Read on to see the numbers and the stories of the extraordinary lives that were transformed by your support. 93% TOTAL LIVE RELEASE RATE Sincerely, BJ Andersen Executive Director 3,734 PETS TAKEN IN 2,681 ADOPTIONS
SAVING LIVES AS A COMMUNITY 1,089 PETS FOSTERED Four-legged happy endings happened here 2,681 of them, to be exact. Last year, 1,829 cats and 852 dogs were adopted from WHS. WHS never puts a time limit on how long a pet stays in our care. We believe that every animal deserves a chance to find his or her perfect family. With that in mind we ended the year with a 93 percent live release rate. We also worked to save lives outside of our community as well, welcoming 635 transfer animals from overcrowded partnership shelters across Oregon, as well as Texas, Hawaii, California, and other states, and sending 606 pets to other partner shelters for guaranteed placement. Sometimes a pet s happy ending takes longer than others. Our average length of stay per animal was 10.7 days, but there is never a time limit. Willamette Humane Society gives each animal as long as she or he needs to find a perfect home, from Misty, the cat who stayed less than a day, to Roscoe, the dog who stayed more than 10 months. In addition, the WHS Foster Program provided in-home care for 1,089 animals throughout the year, including young and senior animals as well as pets in need of long-term medical care. The shelter took in a total of 3,734 cats and dogs during the year. We maintained our commitment to saving every single life possible, reducing the shelter s total euthanasia rate by nearly 60 percent in just the last year. WHS makes the decision to euthanize only in extreme, untreatable medical and behavioral cases, with 393 fewer shelter pets receiving end-of-life services than last year. 60% DECREASE IN EUTHANASIA
ROXANNE S HAPPY ENDING Sometimes, a pet s golden years don t go as planned. Roxanne, a 10-year-old pug mix, arrived at Willamette Humane Society dramatically underweight with severe allergies, a painful skin condition, infected eyes, and overgrown nails. The WHS medical team estimated it could take weeks or even months to treat Roxanne s allergies and heal up her skin condition and infections. But thanks to community members like you, Willamette Humane Society had the resources and expertise to provide Roxanne with the treatment she needed. During her recovery process, Roxanne stayed with a WHS foster family one of more than 1,000 animals who received long-term housing and care from our network of dedicated foster volunteers. These days, Roxanne looks dramatically different, romping through the backyard of her new home, bright-eyed and deeply loved.
ROSCOE S HAPPY ENDING Some happy endings take time. In fact, for Roscoe, a five-year-old shepherd mix, it took more than 10 months. The average length of stay at the shelter for a dog last year was 9.3 days. He arrived at Willamette Humane Society with a loving heart and personality, but behavioral challenges that would truly take a village to help him overcome. The shelter s Behavior and Training team, made up of certified dog trainers and volunteers, worked with Roscoe tirelessly over the months as he waited for a perfect family, even after being adopted and returned once due to an incorrect fit for the household. He was one of more than 2,400 both sheltered and owned canines the WHS Behavior and Training program served during the year. But Roscoe s story is one in a million, and of course, it too involves a happy ending. Roscoe found his forever home with a dedicated shelter volunteer who took him home for the weekend as a foster pet and quickly realized he was exactly where he needed to be.
REDUCING PET OVERPOPULATION The Willamette Humane Society Spay and Neuter Clinic offers low-cost, accessible spay and neuter procedures to local animals more than 4,900 cats and dogs in 2016-2017 throughout the mid-valley. This includes altering 1,239 community cats throughout Marion and Polk counties; these no-cost procedures for free roaming cats are an essential strategy for reducing feline overpopulation in our local communities. The WHS Spay and Neuter Clinic functions under the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Humane Alliance standards and best practices. 4,965 PETS SPAYED OR NEUTERED 1,500 CATS AND DOGS SPAYED/NEUTERED BEFORE ADOPTION HELPING WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES WHS offers public training classes as well as individual training and behavioral rehabilitation to the pets in our care. Our Behavior and Training team is made up of three certified trainers and five volunteers. We follow humane, effective, rewards-based training methods as a framework for our behavior modification and training with our dogs. These programs include puppy training and socialization, behavior and manners courses, and off-leash supervised play groups for both shelter and owned pooches.the shelter s Behavior Helpline, available to all community members, was used hundreds of times throughout the year. CALL US AT 503-585-5900 (EXT. 318) FOR TRAINING SERVICES & CLASSES. 2,418 DOGS SERVED
TEACHING YOUNG PET LOVERS Last year, more than 4,200 children and young adults learned about their roles and responsibilities as compassionate pet lovers. Willamette Humane Society serves local youth through classroom visits, shelter tours, volunteer projects and more aiming to connect our next generation of animal advocates with the cats and dogs in our community. In addition, more than 95 children, from preschool to high school, participated in the shelter s summer and day camps throughout the year. LENDING A HELPING HAND 2,428 STUDENTS REACHED Our shelter is powered by helping hands. WHS volunteers share their time, talent, and love to help adoptable pets. You can spot them in their trademark red aprons walking dogs, assisting potential adopters, spending time with cats, helping in the administration office and thrift store and much more. Last year, it would have taken approximately 32 full-time staff members to do the work performed by WHS volunteers. 870 INDIVIDUALS GET INVOLVED! EMAIL US AT VOLUNTEER@WHS4PETS.ORG 66,954 VOLUNTEER HOURS
KENNEDY S HAPPY ENDING A diaphragmatic hernia, a collapsed lung, and a severe case of dehydration. When four-month-old Kennedy arrived at Willamette Humane Society after being hit by a car, he was in bad shape. But he never stopped purring. The WHS medical team rushed the kitten into emergency surgery. Thanks to the support of our community, the Willamette Humane Society Spay and Neuter Clinic is outfitted with the equipment, supplies, and skilled staff to save his life. Kennedy was one of 1,605 adoptable animals able to receive an in-shelter surgery last year, including spay and neuter procedures. Kennedy spent several weeks recovering from his injuries and procedures, his motorboat purrs on constant repeat. And today, he is about to celebrate his second birthday with his new adoptive family his own four-legged happy ending.
SHOPPING TO SUPPORT Your donated goods and purchases saved lives this year. The Willamette Humane Society Thrift Store, located in downtown Salem, generated more than $264,000 in revenue from July 2016 to June 2017 funding that directly supported the care of adoptable cats and dogs. The store is operated and maintained by a team of four staff and more than 30 volunteers. An estimated 21,000 shoppers browsed the store s selection of clothing, accessories, home goods, books, and more for that perfect thrifted treasure. $264,000 TOTAL REVENUE FOLLOW THE WHS THRIFT STORE ON FACEBOOK FOR NEWS, SALES AND MORE: FACEBOOK.COM/WHSTHRIFT 21,000 SHOPPERS FINANCIALS AND DONATIONS Your support makes saving lives possible. Last year, a large percentage of the shelter s revenue came from generous donations from supporters like you. As an independent animal welfare nonprofit, WHS received no tax dollars and is not affiliated with any national or regional organization. WHS is a platinum participant of the Guidestar Exchange, as well as a three-star Charity Navigator charity, meeting and upholding the highest standards of transparency and fiscal integrity. REVENUE Bequests: $1,874,632 Fundraising General Contributions: $1,311,926 Fundraising Events: $172,002 Thrift Store Sales: $264,340 Shelter Service Fees: $524,429 Animal Service Contracts: $13,363 Investments/Other Income: $146,285 Total: $4,306,977 EXPENSES Animal Care: $2,264,516 Management/General: $186,553 Fundraising: $440,829 Total: $2,891,898 OUR DETAILED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.WHS4PETS.ORG.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2016-2017) Mel Monroe, President Linda West, Vice President Shannon Priem, Secretary Jenn Smith, Treasurer Suesann Abdelrasul Tracy Crandall Paula Fordham Kate Hager Jenny Hudson Shannon Kammerman Terri Jackson, DVM Don Judson, DVM Terry Wade Terri Ellen SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS We are thankful to the generosity of our pet-loving businesses and organizations. Here are just a few of the wonderful sponsors who supported your local humane society last year:
Share your own four-legged happy ending on social media with the official Willamette Humane Society hashtag: #WHSHappyTails