Suffolk Humane Society

Programs: We participated in over 27 events to promote adoptions in suffolk and support our mission. We began the year with 56 animals and ended the year with 48 animals. We received 392 animals during the year, adopted out 391, transferred 5 and had to euthanize 4 animals, including cats, dogs, puppies and kittens. Our dog foster program also helped adopted dogs from the local animal shelter. We particpated in over 28 adoption events during the year in partnership with the city of suffolk. We provided regular low cost spay and neuter options for our citizens in suffolk that needed this critical spay/neuter surgery for their companion animals. We provided regular low cost vaccination clinics for the citizens in suffolk. The suffolk humane society humane education committee brought presentations to the community and schools about pet care, humane treatment of animals and compassion and empathy for all living things. We developed lesson plans that correlate with virginia standards of learning for school aged children. Our lesson plans are available for teachers to use in the classroom or a humane education volunteer can present the lesson in your classroom. The barks program (books and reading for kids in suffolk) is a program where children read one on one to a therapy dog and their handler in a non-threatening environment. Therapy dogs are utilized because they are non-judgmental listeners and that the child will feel confident while reading to a furry friend. Durng the year, we partnered with the suffolk public library and the suffolk ymca to bring barks to help children refine their reading skills and learn about animals as well. During the year the humane education team partnered with western tidewater community service board and pathway to life to have therapy dogs visit with mentally ill and disabled adults. Therapy dogs interaction are used to help improve mentally ill and disabled adults. Therapy dogs interactions are used to help improve mental, social, emotional and physical functions. We also provided over 5,000 pounds of dog and cat food during three pet pantry give aways to those residents in need.