The Washington Humane Society's Good Home Guarantee Plan Celebrates its One Year Anniversary

Washington, DC – The “Good Home Guarantee,” the Washington Humane Society’s five-year plan that aims to find a home for every adoptable dog or cat that enters its shelters by 2010, is about to celebrate its one year anniversary.

“We are very pleased with the progress and results from the first year of our Good Home Guarantee 5 Year Plan. We have saved thousands of animals as a result of this innovative plan,” said Executive Director Howard Nelson. “Through hard work and the financial support of the community we have made this vision a reality. We have four more years to go and we must keep up the pace and keep focused to save the thousands of animals in our care each and every year.”

Last year the Washington Humane Society promised to: open a low-cost Spay and Neuter Clinic; launch its mobile adoption center; develop a partnership with Alley Cat Allies to humanely manage the number of feral cats; greatly expand its behavioral assessment and training programs; create a medical fund for animals with special needs; increase the number of adoptions; expand its volunteer program; and increase the number of homeless animals placed in foster homes and rescue groups.

The Washington Humane Society promised to do this all while maintaining its long standing policy of an open access shelter, where no animal in need is ever turned away.

Thanks to the community’s support, the Washington Humane Society went to work, and delivered on the promises that were made. In just one year, the Society has achieved a great deal. Here are a few major accomplishments from its first year:

• The new low-cost spay and neuter clinic opened its doors, and will sterilize 5,000 animals in the upcoming year. It’s already the largest clinic in the metropolitan region!
• Adoption and outreach events have doubled. More dogs and cats enjoy the love and attention they receive at our adoption events. They arrive in style via the Society’s new mobile adoption center, a 32-foot “Arf-V,” to special highly trafficked public events.
• The Shelter In-House Training (SIT) Program was expanded, which teaches shelter dogs the basics of general obedience: sit, down, stay and come. With the attention of the training staff, the shelter dogs get adopted and a second chance in a loving home.
• “Sophie’s Fund” was greatly expanded, which enables the Society to address the medical issues of potentially adoptable dogs and cats. More homeless and abused animals receive the medical care they deserve thanks to your support of the Sophie’s Fund.
• CatNiPP was developed and implemented, the collaborative partnership with Alley Cat Allies, to humanely manage the number of feral cats in the District through trap-neuter-release (TNR).
• Adoptions have increased through outreach, expanded shelter hours, events, and enhanced community support. The Society’s media partners broadcast animals available for adoption every day. Comcast has added “Adopt-a-Pet” to its On Demand Feature. At any time digital cable subscribers can access the profiles and photos of available pets with their digital cable remote control. And, our new adoption public service announcements help to place homeless and abused animals in their forever home.
• Volunteer partners have increased by 25%. The animals in the Society’s care count on the efforts of each and every volunteer.
• The network of foster homes and rescue groups across the Mid-Atlantic region has been expanded. The Society now works with over fifty rescue groups to place each and every animal.
• The Society now provides care and comfort to over 20,000 animals each and every year through our broad range of programs and services.

With one year down and four more to go, the Society now embarks on the second year of the five year initiative. Its newly expanded regional spay and neuter facility is set to open in the spring of 2007. This larger, low-cost spay and neuter clinic will allow for the increased capacity needed to tackle the problem of pet overpopulation in the DC region. This regional clinic will play an integral role in the CatNipp program, aggressively tackling the feral cat overpopulation problem by sterilizing colonies of feral cats to prevent unwanted breeding.

With the continued support of the community the Good Home Guarantee will not rest on the success of its first year. The Washington Humane Society will continue to expand its volunteer workforce, increase the number of adoption and outreach events, foster homes and rescue groups to ensure that they place the most challenging of companions that enter their open access shelters.

Please visit our new web site for more information: www.washhumane.org

The Washington Humane Society is the oldest animal protection agency in Washington, D.C. Since 1870, the Washington Humane Society’s open door policy has served homeless, lost, and abused animals in the District of Columbia; providing protection from cruelty, shelter from the elements, and a second chance at a loving home. No call for help goes unanswered, and no animal is ever turned away.

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