Greetings volunteers!
It’s been nearly a year since we began the official integration process between Marin Humane and Hopalong Animal Rescue (now referred to as the Hopalong Foster Program). We thought you might like an update on what’s happening with integrating one organization into another which can be quite complex, especially given the past year of the pandemic, staffing changes, and other regularly-scheduled activities! Nancy McKenney responded to questions from staff and sent out the Marin Humane + Hopalong Merger Q&A to all staff that we wanted to also share with volunteers. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Shelter update: We currently have 211 animals in our care: 74 animals in foster and 137 animals in the shelter/Kitty Corner. Our residents include: 20 dogs, 1 puppy, 39 cats, 35 kittens, 7 rabbits, 11 guinea pigs, 18 rodents, 2 reptiles, and 4 birds.
Adoptions update: Welcome to November! In a month marked by gratitude, we sure are grateful for the adopters who give our animals their forever homes! With the time change, the season of cozy couch snuggles has officially begun, and we have lots of cuddle companions available at the shelter. Watch this adoption slideshow to make you all warm and fuzzy inside :). And for more info, here’s the Adoption Report.
Happy endings! “Hi Ruthie, I just wanted to send a follow up to our interactions several months ago. We took Pink home and fell in love! Her name is now Miss Lily. She is super sociable, very loving and fearless! She and our older cat are inseparable. Thank you so much for helping make this adoption happen!!”
We need brown paper grocery bags! Thanks to all of you who dropped off some paper grocery bags … but we need more for our Pet Care Assistance pet food deliveries. Sturdy paper bags with thick handles, like those from Safeway and Whole Foods, are best. Please no plastic bags. You can drop them off in the Community Engagement office (the former Animal Outfitters store); or leave them on the bench in front of their office. Thanks!
Paint your pet workshop! Whether your kid is a painting prodigy or just an animal lover looking to dabble in the arts, they’re going to love our Paint Your Pet workshop! Perfect for kids ages 8-12, this super-fun workshop is coming up on Saturday, November 19, and we still have a handful of spots. Kids can paint a masterpiece of their own pet, even if they’ve never picked up a paintbrush before! Our experienced instructor will provide students with a canvas complete with a sketch of their pet to help them get started, plus plenty of instruction as they paint. Just provide a high-res photo ahead of time. The painting session will be followed by snacks and a brief shelter tour to admire the adoptable animals. Reserve your child’s spot here!
Tails of Marin: This week’s Tails of Marin is from our friends at WildCare: This young raccoon was rescued on October 27 in the Gerstle Park neighborhood of San Rafael. She was struggling to climb a tree with a heavy-duty steel trap clamped on her forepaw when she was spotted by a good samaritan. The kind neighbor called Marin Humane and two officers were dispatched to rescue the animal and bring her to WildCare’s Wildlife Hospital. California has outlawed “leg-hold” traps like this one, and with good reason. When an inquisitive raccoon inserts a paw into the cylinder of the trap, jaws are triggered to snap closed with bone-shattering force, inflicting terrible suffering upon the victim. Read more in “Leg-hold traps are inhumane and ineffective.”
Be kind, be well,
Candace
