Willamette Humane Society Strengthening the bond between pets and people

Now Accepting Nominations for Humaneitarian Award

(2/22/12)  — Be sure to submit your nominations for our annual Humaneitarian Award. The Humaneitarian Award recognizes a person or group who exemplifies the Willamette Humane Society’s mission of promoting the welfare of animals through leadership, education, and action. The award allows WHS to highlight and reinforce the contributions that individuals make for the betterment of our community through their work with, or on behalf of, companion animals. The deadline for nominations is April 27, 2012. All nominees will be recognized at a special dessert reception on Wednesday, May 23, at the Broadway Commons in downtown Salem. The winner will receive a hand cast bronze sculpture by artist Calvin Stinger. Download the 2012 Nomination Form.

Beach Stay Benefits the Animals

(2/11/12) - Want to enjoy a relaxing getaway in a beautiful ocean front condo and raise money for WHS at the same time? Supporters Craig and Cherie Cline invite you to stay at their luxurious two-bedroom, two-bath condo located at Pacific Winds Condominiums in Lincoln City. For every night you stay, the Clines will donate $50 to the guests’ charity of choice as designated in the condo guestbook. You’ll also enjoy a bottle of wine, compliments of the Clines. View the condo.

Discounted Spay/Neuter Surgeries Offered in Honor of World Spay Day

(2/9/12) - Tuesday, February 28 marks the 18th World Spay Day™, an annual campaign that highlights spay/neuter as a proven, effective means of ending pet overpopulation and saving animals’ lives. In honor of this important day, Willamette Humane Society (WHS) is offering special rates on spay/neuter surgeries to low-income cat owners and to those who care for feral or free-roaming cats.

Qualified cat owners can have their female cat spayed for $20 or their male cat neutered for $10. Qualified owners include anyone who currently receives some form of government assistance (such as Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment compensation or disability income). WHS is also offering a special feral cat package for $30, which includes the spay or neuter surgery, flea and ear mite treatment, and rabies vaccination. Feral cat caretakers do not have to be on government assistance in order to take advantage of the special $30 rate.

Willamette Humane Society has sterilized more than 10,400 companion animals since the spay/neuter clinic opened in January 2010. All adoptable pets from WHS are spayed or neutered in the clinic before going home, and low-cost services are available to the public’s cats and dogs as well as partner rescue organizations. Learn more or call (503) 480-7729.

Helping Paws Thrift Store Closing; Deep Discounts Offered on All Store Merchandise

(1/16/12) - After nearly five years in operation, Willamette Humane Society (WHS) is closing its Helping Paws thrift store located on NE Lancaster Drive. Thursday, February 29, will be the last day the store will be open for business. The shelter’s downtown thrift store on NE High Street will continue its operations.

Shoppers will find deep discounts – up to 60% off most items - at Helping Paws including furniture, jewelry, clothing, housewares, and the remaining inventory of new pet supplies. The store will continue to accept donations of gently used goods until February 15. 

Willamette Humane Society opened Helping Paws in March 2007 as a way to generate additional revenue to support its shelter operations. WHS Business Operations Director Sarah Head cites tough economic conditions and not enough donations to fill the 10,000 square foot space as key reasons for closing the NE Lancaster store. “We employed many strategies to try to increase both sales and donations, but that isn’t generating enough revenue to be profitable. We need to focus our efforts on ventures that will generate revenue to support our mission,” noted Head.   
   
WHS will continue to operate its downtown thrift store, which has been in operation for more than 40 years and consistently generated revenue for the organization.  As Helping Paws transitions to a close, staff plan to focus more of their energy and effort on the downtown location. “We greatly appreciate those who supported our Helping Paws store and encourage everyone to visit our downtown thrift store once Helping Paws closes,” Head added. For store hours and addresses, go here.

Shelter Returns to Normal Business Hours

(1/23/12) - We are happy to report that our building did not sustain any damage due to flooding, and our shelter has returned to normal business hours. We are open Mon/Thurs/Fri, noon to 7 p.m. and Sat/Sun, noon to 6 p.m. We are closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

As a precaution, we moved all of the animals who were in the shelter into temporary foster homes the evening of Thursday, January 19. We welcomed back our evacuated animals on Saturday, January 21, once the threat of flooding passed.

We greatly appreciate the overwhelming show of support from all of the volunteers and supporters who immediately came forward to take in pet, place sandbags around the shelter, and took on various other tasks to ensure that our animals, staff and building were as safe as possible during the potential flooding. Look for another update and and photos in an upcoming e-newsletter. (To sign up for our free e-news, go here). If you’re interested in future foster care opportunities, see the Foster Care section of our website for details on how to become a foster parent.

See the Latest Videos Featuring Adoptable Pets

(11/28/11) - Wanna see adoptable pets in action? Check out these videos featuring some of our favorites! See our dogs in action in this canine playgroup video  or see this week’s featured pets in our CCTV Adoptable Pets Show.