Homeward Pet Adoption Center

TO GIVE HOMELESS ANIMALS A SECOND CHANCE THROUGH RESCUE, SHELTER AND ADOPTION.

HOMEWARD PET ADOPTION PROGRAM FOUND HOMES FOR 1,500 DOGS, PUPPIES, CATS AND KITTENS IN 2023 WITH APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE ANIMALS COMING FROM AREA SHELTERS - HOMEWARD PET IS HELPING TO REDUCE THE EUTHANASIA RATES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE ANIMALS WERE STRAYS OR ABANDONED AND COME TO HOMEWARD PET WITH NO HISTORY. THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HELP TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH OF THEM DURING THEIR DAILY CARE, WHICH IS HELPFUL WHEN CREATING THEIR PROFILES AND IN FINDING THE BEST MATCH FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES. THE REMAINING 25% COME FROM OWNER SURRENDERS - FAMILIES WHO DETERMINE THEY CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEIR PETS. THESE PETS COME WITH A FULL HISTORY MAKING THE MATCH TO A NEW FOREVER HOME MUCH EASIER. ALL OF THE DOGS AND CATS THAT COME TO HOMEWARD PET RECEIVE A COMPLETE MEDICAL EXAM, ARE SPAYED OR NEUTERED, IF NEEDED, VACCINATED AND MICROCHIPPED - ALL PRIOR TO ADOPTION. ADDITIONALLY, ANY ANIMALS THAT PRESENT HEALTH CONCERNS (SPECIAL NEEDS) OR BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES ARE PROVIDED THE ADDITIONAL CARE NEEDED TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES - ENSURING THE DOGS AND CATS ARE IN THE BEST SHAPE POSSIBLE FOR THEIR NEW FAMILIES.

HOMEWARD PET VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IS THE BACKBONE OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH 450 INDIVIDUALS DONATING THEIR TIME EACH WEEK IN THE SHELTER - HELPING TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS WITH CLEANING, CUDDLING PUPPIES AND KITTENS, WALKING DOGS, ASSISTING IN THE CLINIC, GREETING OUR VISITORS AT RECEPTION, KEEPING THE FACILITY IN TIP TOP SHAPE, OFFSITE EVENTS, MARKETING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND SO MUCH MORE. THESE AMAZING PEOPLE GAVE MORE THAN 58,000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME IN 2023 TO THE HOMELESS ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.FOSTER PROGRAM: IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HOMEWARD PET ADOPTION CENTER UTILIZED FOSTER VOLUNTEERS TO HOUSE ANIMALS WHILE THE SHELTER WAS CLOSED IN 2020. IN 2023, THIS PROGRAM CONTINUED AND GREW AS THE SHELTER TRIED TO LIMIT PUBLIC EXPOSURE AND STILL FIND HOMES FOR ALL THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE. WITH RESTRICTIONS EASING, ADOPTION APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE ONLINE AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE WITH THE FOSTER FAMILIES TO MEET AND GREET POTENTIAL ADOPTERS.THE HOMEWARD PET FOOD BANK FEEDS HOMELESS ANIMALS AND HELPS FAMILIES KEEP THEIR BELOVED PET IN THEIR HOME BY DISTRIBUTING PET FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO FAMILIES IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR, THE HOMEWARD PET FOOD BANK FED NEARLY 2000 ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 142,000 LBS. OF PET FOOD TO AREA FOOD BANKS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNER RESCUES.

BEHAVIOR PROGRAM: OUR BEHAVIOR AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ARE OVERSEEN BY OUR BEHAVIOR PROGRAM MANAGER, A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER AND BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT. WHILE AT HOMEWARD PET, EACH DOG AND CAT IS ASSESSED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND PROVIDED THE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO ENSURE THEIR STAY AT THE SHELTER IS AS ENRICHING AND STRESS-FREE AS POSSIBLE. EACH PET IS PROVIDED DAILY EXERCISE, SOCIALIZATION, ENRICHMENT, AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AS NEEDED. FREE INTRODUCTORY TRAINING CLASS WITH GOODPUP (PLUS AN EXCLUSIVE LIFETIMEDISCOUNT) ARE INCLUDED WITH EVERY DOG AND PUPPY ADOPTION. IN 2023 OUR BEHAVIOR TEAM SUPPORTED OVER 400 FAMILIES WITH PET BEHAVIOR ISSUES.

HOMEWARD PET'S PUBLIC LOW COST SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP WITH THE PET OVERPOPULATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTS THE PETS OF REDUCED INCOME FAMILIES. THOUGH OUR CLINIC SPACE LIMITS THE NUMBER OF DOGS AND CATS WE CAN HELP EACH MONTH THE HOMEWARD PET PUBLIC SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM ALTERED 372 FAMILY PETS IN 2023.