Greetings Volunteers,
Did you get a copy of the Winter edition of our magazine, “Lives Made Happy”?! If not, check out this Valentine’s issue, including stories on rescuing a rabble of rabbits from the side of a road, how hunting for scents calms the canine nervous system, and how our free veterinary clinics offer help to struggling pet parents. Plus, this issue includes our 2024 Impact Report! Thank you to all the volunteers who have given their time, talents, and hearts to make so many lives happy :).
Shelter update: We currently have 216 animals in our collective care. 166 are at Marin Humane: 57 animals in foster and 109 animals in the shelter/Kitty Corner, including: 20 dogs, 5 puppies, 48 cats, 2 kittens, 12 rabbits, 6 guinea pigs, 6 rodents, 1 reptile, 6 birds, and 3 fowl. 50 animals are with the Hopalong Foster Program: 13 animals are in the Oakland office and 37 are in foster or offsite adoption sites!
Adoption update: Hooray for Wednesday! Here’s a super cute way to start your day: last week’s adoptions! 
. If you’d like more details, here’s the Adoption Report for last week!
Hopalong happenings: Now is a great time to consider adopting an adult cat. While many people are dazzled by the cuteness overload of kitten season, many adult or “teenage” cats are overlooked and have a harder time finding homes. Some of these cats are only a few months older than their coveted kitten counterparts and come with a few big advantages including more fully formed personalities and somewhat calmer demeanor’s. Adult cats are less likely to need constant supervision or exhibit as many destructive behaviors as they might in their younger months. For people who prefer a more low key and relaxed companion, adult cats can be an excellent choice! Many an adult cat want nothing more than to lounge in the sunlight or in a comfy nook with occasional bouts of playfulness (even adult cats can get the zoomies). If you’re looking to expand your fur family, consider checking out the many adult cats still looking for their homes before kitten season starts again. You’ll be glad you did!
Volunteer High Five to Emi Leeds! “This is a HUGE Volunteer High Five for Emi Leeds, Marin Humane Thrift Shop volunteer and manager extraordinaire! Emi has been part of the Thrift Shop leadership team for many years, and her organizational skills and patience really came to the fore this past fall. After many decades, we were finally moving forward with some significant shop renovations in the New Year, including new flooring, a new paint job, and a few other odds & ends. Emi worked with Richard, Director of IT and Facilities, on selecting the flooring and paint as well as a timeline for the renovations which were set to begin in early January. To perform all the renovations the shop needed to be empty. No small undertaking! The day after Christmas, the shop was officially closed and Emi and her merry team of volunteers started packing everything up — clothes, shoes, books, artwork, household & decorative items, everything, including all the shelving and tables! Emi negotiated with a moving company to store all the shop items during the renovation period.
Once all the work was completed, Emi and her merry band of volunteers arranged the shelves, tables, and other display pieces in a new, open and welcoming layout. Next, Emi coordinated a schedule for volunteers to come into the shop and start unpacking and displaying all of the items for sale. And finally, the unveiling of the new and improved Thrift Shop on February 1st! People were lined up outside at 10am, waiting for the shop to open at 11am! Extra volunteers were on hand to help the huge crowd of shoppers, happy to see their beloved Thrift Shop open once again. It was a record day of sales to boot . Thank you, Emi, for your leadership and stewardship of the Thrift Shop every day and specifically during the renovations. Marin Humane is so lucky to have you !” ~ With much gratitude, Candace Alexander
Tails of Marin: Have we told you lately that we love opossums? Because we do! They’re hugely beneficial to the ecosystem and rarely get the credit they deserve. Plus we think they’re darn cute. Check out this week’s Tails of Marin, “A nighttime visit from a special critter.”
Volunteer opportunity! Looking for a way to volunteer from the comfort of your own home? Does your work schedule make it difficult to volunteer during traditional office hours? We have a role for you! We’re looking for someone to help schedule volunteers in training with their mentor in the B&T department. The role would require comfort using email and understanding of how to use (or willingness to learn) a Google calendar. This admin position will likely require 2-3 hours per week. If interested in learning more, please contact me at calexander@marinhumane.org.
Feline education: Thursday evenings are for feline education! Our online cat behavior workshops are tried-and-true tools if you’re looking to better understand your kitty companion, your feline foster, or if you volunteer with the shelter or Kitty Corner cats. Our workshops are held on Zoom so you don’t have to be onsite to learn with us. And did we mention they’re all FREE? If you’re new to the world of feline friends, join us for “What is My Cat Saying?” on March 13 for a crash-course in all things cat! If you’re looking to remedy some problem behaviors or just want to communicate better with your kitty, join us for “How to Train Your Cat” on February 27. Learn more and register here.
Summer employment opportunity! Do you, or someone you know, love working with kids, love sharing Marin Humane, and have their summer free?! Well, we’re accepting applications/resumes for a seasonal Summer Camp Instructor. For a full job description and how to apply, click here.
Hope you’re enjoying the rays of sunshine this week!!
Candace
