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We're celebrating everything great about the past year! It’s time for the Homeward Trails STATE OF THE ORG address. Starting this year, we will be coming to you each February to share with you our last year’s successes and updates on our many exciting programs and partnerships. You all are an integral part to the life-saving success of Homeward Trails and we could not be prouder to share this with you! RESCUED! In 2017, we rescued 2,066 dogs and 612 cats. It was a banner year. We rescued 299 more dogs and 162 more cats than in 2016. And we did so adding no additional program staff. So needless to say, we are exhausted but invigorated!!!! OUR SHELTER PARTNERS We are honored to work with some of the most under-resourced yet dedicated shelters in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond! In 2017, we took animals in from 48 different animal shelters in VA, WV, NC, SC, MD, GA, MS, TN, TX, and Puerto Rico. We also took animals from 9 different countries including Kuwait, Peru, Korea, Kazakhstan, Russia, Greece, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic. We are particularly proud of the lives we have saved in our home state of Virginia. In 2017 we rescued 1,291 animals from Virginia shelters, more than any year prior. We remain committed to supporting our fellow VA shelters as part of the Saving VA Pets project under the VA Federation of Humane Societies, which aims to move Virginia across the no-kill finish line by 2020! In some VA counties, HT rescued almost 50% of the total animals that were transferred out. In Wise County, VA HT took in 49% of the total dogs they transferred in Virginia. In King William, VA HT took in 56% of the dogs and 48% of the total cats they transferred in Virginia. In Lexington, VA at the Rockbridge SPCA, HT took in 59% of the total dogs they transferred in Virginia. In Halifax, VA at the Halifax Humane Society, HT took 43.8% of all the dogs they transferred in VA. And we are proud to have partnered with the Lynchburg Humane Society, who directly supports Wise and Russell Counties to have accepted 88% of all the cats they transferred in Virginia. Collaboration like this is saving thousands of lives! HT ADOPTION CENTER Our Adoption Center, located in Fairfax Station completed its third full year in December. In 2017 we served (stayed at least one night) 1,100 dogs who otherwise faced euthanasia in shelters. This is an incredible increase from the 950 dogs we served in 2016 and the 600 dogs we served in 2015. That is almost a 40% increase in dogs served since we opened. Our wonderful animal care staff and adoption counselors treat our dogs like royalty and work incredibly hard to get them into adoptive homes as quickly as possible. INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES In 2017, HT made the decision to invest further in the rural VA County of Wise. This community had been struggling for years trying to prevent needless euthanasia of animals. With the local economy declining, there is little money for animal control and sheltering, residents find they cannot afford spay/neuter surgeries and the community cat population has soared. However, thanks to several amazing volunteers in the County, transfers of animals has saved the lives of thousands. And so HT donated a transport van and has employed a driver for all of 2017, totaling 717 hours driven moving 1,039 animals from Wise County to shelters and rescues throughout VA where they could find adoptive homes. HT regularly collects donations of dog and cat food and sends them to Wise County where the food is used by outdoor cat caretakers and made available for the pet food bank, which serves low-income pet owners. In 2017, HT sent more than 10,000 lbs of food to Wise County. AMAZING. OUR PARTNERS In 2017 we completed our first full year of partnership with Crumbs & Whiskers, the exclusive Georgetown cat café. This partnership resulted in the rescue and adoption of 159 cats! This is almost equal to the total increase in cats rescued from 2016 to 2017, so this is truly a life-saving partnership. If you have not checked it out yet, you must. It’s a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon sipping a latte while hanging out with DC’s most popular kitties. During this past year of incredible natural disasters, we are also proud to have partnered with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Animal Rescue Corps and Best Friends to take in more than 30 dogs from hurricane ravaged communities. We also worked with our longtime rescue partner in Puerto Rico, the Guanica Animal Rescue Project as well as several other shelters on the island to transfer 187 total animals off the island in 2017. We continue to take in dogs from other countries on our own but also in partnership with the amazing Soi Dog Foundation, whose dogs are all rescued from the horrific meat trade. We have also worked with HSUS to take in dogs from meat farms in South Korea. We once again partnered with our amazing friends at the North Shore Animal League for their annual Tour for Life which features an all-day adoption event on their mobile adoption unit. We continue to partner with the VA Federation of Humane Societies and the High Five Program (founded by HT Executive Director Sue Bell) which aims to move dogs and cats from under-resourced shelters in VA to geographic areas where adoptions are higher. HT took in more than two dozen dogs and cats through this program. 2017 also brought us Puppy Yoga! This awesome partnership with Doodlebug Dog Walker and Caring Hands Animal Hospital bought peace and tranquility, puppy breath and kisses to dozens of yoga and puppy lovers. It also generated over $2,500 for HT! Finally, we once again partnered with Doorways for Women and Families for the annual Spooky Paws Stroll, a family and dog-friendly trick-or-treat event in October that raises awareness and funds for domestic violence against humans and animals. CAPS CANINE CALENDAR We were honored once again to partner with the Washington Capitols and the Monumental Sports Foundation to create the 2017 Caps Canine Calendar. Featuring Caps players and HT dogs hanging out around the Washington monuments, the calendar raised a whopping $67,328! That is truly amazing and we are so thankful for this opportunity! OUR VOLUNTEERS Our amazing volunteers are what keep HT ticking. In 2017, they gave an incredible 144,780 hours. Volunteers drive transports (approximately 33,637 miles driven), volunteer at our HT Adoption Center and Meow Manor, help at weekly adoption events, foster, coordinate adoptions, help at our annual events like Spaghetti Bingo, PawCasso, and the Yard Sale, hold bake sales, take animals to/from the vet, and clean and organize donations. We have volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups and kids! We are so grateful to these amazing people! HAPPY HOUNDS PRISON PROGRAM In 2017, HT graduated four lucky dogs from this amazing program that matches homeless dogs with inmates who train and care for them until they are ready for adoption. A mutually beneficial program for both humans and dogs, we are grateful for this partnership! SUMMER CAMP - CAMP WAGGIN' TAILS HT believes strongly in inspiring and engaging youth to carry on the important mission of helping homeless animals. Camp Waggin’ Tails completed its third year serving 32 kids. The week-long camp, held for a total of four weeks, covered topics including responsible pet ownership, dog fighting, cruelty laws, positive dog training, advocacy, jobs in the animal field and hands-on care for shelter animals. We were thrilled to receive a grant from the Petfinder Foundation Build-A-Bear grant program to support our 2017 camp. PUPPY PARTIES In 2017 we completed our first year of puppy parties. This program brings puppies to homes and workplaces for a variety of occasions – and sometimes the occasion is simply that people need to play with puppies – and it generated almost $20,000 in revenue for HT, which allowed us to take in more special needs animals than ever before. OPPORTUNITIES Our success relies on you, our wonderful volunteers and supporters. And we want to remind you of the many opportunities we have for you to support our work. If you are interested in any of these opportunities email us to get started. Adoption Coordinators - work directly with our shelter partners to save animals and oversee fosters until the animal is adopted. Adoption Counselors - work at our HT Adoption Center on the weekends to help screen and approve adopters. Application Screeners - assist our adoption coordinators by completing the vet and landlord checks, something that can be done easily by phone. HT Membership - become an HT member today. Your monthly donation will help us financially plan and prepare for the medical emergencies when they arise, allowing us to say yes to those animals who need us most. Become an HT Member Fosters - take an animal into your home until he/she is adopted. One of the most rewarding jobs in rescue! Assist with Fundraising - a bake sale, private party, help us place our donation containers in local businesses – these are all ways that you can help us raise money for the animals. We want to thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support in whatever way you offer it. Together, we are saving lives every single day. Please consider a DONATION today to support our life-saving work. Visit our website Homeward Trails Animal Rescue | P.O. Box 100968, Arlington, VA 22201 Unsubscribe rhb@rspdc.com Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by sueb@homewardtrails.org in collaboration with Try it free tod