FHS celebrates its 75th birthday in 2016. I have adopted 4 pets through FHS during the last 15 years, and had to say goodbye to two of them this year.
FHS has undergone about 4 transitions over their 75 years. The 2nd most significant one was when they opened their first no-kill facility in a tiny 1800 square foot building on a postage stamp of land on Miller Street in the late 80's.
Between 2005 - 2010, its second big transition began. Professional leadership was recruited to the Board, and experienced leadership was recruited to the Executive Director position. IN addition, a prominent physician and his wife provided significant financial support, and several signfiicant fundraising efforts (Art Unleashed and the Annual Furrball Gala) provided annual working capital and a much broader base of public support. They also became much more active with outreach programs: partnering with the county jail rehabilitating both prisoners and dogs with a program called "new leash on life". They distribute pet food to needy families in conjunction with Senior Services' "meals on wheels" programs. They have an active spay / neuter program where they underwrite spay / neutering for needy families.
The 2nd transition I referenced that started in the mid 2000's culminated in a successful capital campaign that raised $3.8 million in order to purchase and renovate a new facility. They bought a former seafood restaurant on Country Club road and are renovating it inside and out. This will finally give them parking spaces they've never had, room for dogs to exercise and play outside, acceptable office space for staff and collaborative meeting space to be used in conjunction with other partner non-profits.
The FHS is rocking.
Review from Guidestar