Lawrence Humane Society Inc

THE LAWRENCE HUMANE SOCIETY NURTURES THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND BY PROVIDING SHELTER, CARE, AND ADVOCACY TO HOMELESS AND ABUSED ANIMALS, AS WELL AS RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE AND PETS IN THE DOUGLAS COUNTY, KANSAS COMMUNITY.

SHELTER OPERATIONS: THE LAWRENCE HUMANE SOCIETY ACCEPTS AND PROVIDES TEMPORARY CARE FOR STRAY ANIMALS FOUND WITHIN THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KS AND DOUGLAS COUNTY; ANIMALS SEIZED BY ANIMAL CONTROL; PETS RELINQUISHED BY THEIR OWNERS; AND ANIMALS TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE AGENCIES LACKING TIME, SPACE, AND RESOURCES TO FIND POSITIVE PLACEMENT FOR THEIR ANIMALS. DURING THEIR STAY, ANIMALS RECEIVE DAILY ESSENTIAL FEEDING AND CLEANING, AND EXERCISE AND ENRICHMENT. THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT ON HOW LONG AN ANIMAL MAY STAY IN THE SHELTER'S CARE AND STAFF WORK TO FIND A POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR ALL ANIMALS THAT ARE FRIENDLY, HEALTHY, TREATABLE, AND REHABILITATABLE. OF THE 3,388 ANIMALS HOUSED AT THE SHELTER IN 2021, 499 ANIMALS WERE REUNITED WITH THEIR OWNERS, 2,841 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED TO NEW HOMES, AND 42 ANIMALS WERE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER AGENCIES FOR PLACEMENT. WE ACHIEVED AN OVERALL LIVE RELEASE RATE OF 94% FOR 2021. IN 2019, THE LAWRENCE HUMANE SOCIETY MOVED INTO A NEW 20,000 SQ. FT. FACILITY. THE NEW SHELTER, MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM SUPPORTERS, HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED DAILY SHELTER OPERATIONS. IT OFFERS LOWER-STRESS ANIMAL HOUSING WITH LESS RISK OF DISEASE SPREAD. THE NEW FACILITY WAS ALSO DESIGNED TO BE COMMUNITY-CENTRIC, WITH A MULTIPURPOSE MEETING ROOM FOR COMMUNITY USE, A PET RESOURCE CENTER TO PROVIDE AID TO PET OWNERS AND PREVENT PET SURRENDER, AND A VET CLINIC WITH INCREASED CAPACITY TO OFFER LOW COST PUBLIC VETERINARY SERVICES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS STRUGGLING TO ACCESS CARE.

VETERINARY CARE: THE LAWRENCE HUMANE SOCIETY EMPLOYS A VETERINARY TEAM TO EVALUATE AND TREAT ANIMALS IN OUR CARE, AS WELL AS READY ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION. IN 2021, 3,388 SHELTER ANIMALS WERE CARED FOR BY VETERINARY STAFF, WITH 1,986 SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES PERFORMED ON ANIMALS IN THE FACILITY. THE VETERINARY TEAM ALSO COMPLETED 35 DENTAL PROCEDURES AND 80 OTHER SPECIALTY MEDICAL PROCEDURES, INCLUDING AMPUTATIONS, MASS REMOVALS, WOUND REPAIR, ETC., FOR SHELTER ANIMALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VETERINARY TEAM PERFORMED 1,043 SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES FOR THE PUBLIC, ALONG WITH 16 DENTALS, AND 24 SPECIALTY SURGERIES. IN MARCH 2021, THE LAWRENCE HUMANE SOCIETY BEGAN OFFERING LOW COST PET VACCINES FOR THE PUBLIC DURING MONTHLY DRIVE UP VACCINE CLINICS. IN TOTAL 237 ANIMALS WERE VACCINATED THROUGH THIS NEW SERVICE.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE LAWRENCE HUMANE HAS MADE ENORMOUS STRIDES TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN MORE HOLISTIC WAYS OUTSIDE OF JUST BEING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO EITHER SURRENDER OR ADOPT ANIMALS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL SHELTERING INCLUDES WORK THAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE SHELTER, SO WE ACTIVELY PARTNER WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, INCLUDING - BUT NOT LIMITED TO - OUR LOCAL FOOD BANK, HOMELESS SHELTERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, AND YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. IN OCTOBER 2020 WE LAUNCHED THE CRISIS PET RETENTION (CPR) FUND WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING PETS AND PEOPLE STAY TOGETHER THROUGH POVERTY, HOUSELESSNESS, JOB LOSS, AND OTHER SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND INEQUITIES. THE CPR FUND ASSISTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH PET DEPOSITS/PET RENT; ESSENTIAL PET SUPPLIES (PET FOOD, LITTER, CRATES, ETC.); BASIC, ESSENTIAL VETERINARY CARE (SPAY/NEUTER, VACCINES, MICROCHIPS, ETC.); EMERGENCY AND SPECIALTY VETERINARY CARE; BEHAVIOR CONSULTING; AND TEMPORARY BOARDING FOR PETS WHOSE OWNERS ARE IN CRISIS. IN 2021, 342 PETS FROM 227 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF VETERINARY CARE, HOUSING SUPPORT, PET FOOD, PET SUPPLIES, AND/OR BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY IN AUGUST 2021 THE COMMUNITY'S PRIMARY PET FOOD PANTRY CLOSED ITS DOORS AND THE LAWRENCE HUMANE SOCIETY BEGAN FILLING THE GAP IN SERVICES BY PROVIDING OVER 5,000 LBS OF FOOD PER MONTH, AS WELL AS TREATS AND LITTER, TO PET OWNERS UNABLE TO AFFORD TO FEED THEIR PETS.