Welcome to our thirteenth quarterly newsletter! Here, you'll find a summary of everything that's happened at HSoP in the last few months. Between fundraisers, adoptions, special events, and stories about some of our most special animals, you'll get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what we do (and it's all because of you!).

April 2024

Smaug's Wait for Adoption

Back in December, we received five pit bull mix puppies who needed help finding their perfect homes. In our line of work, we've learned that puppies can often resemble dragons with their soaring speeds and tendency for chaos. For this reason, we decided to name the puppies after dragons from pop culture! We ended up with Smaug, Stormfly, Mushu, Spyro, and Puff the Magic Dragon. The puppies were around 6 weeks old upon arrival, and it took nearly a month before they were ready for their own homes.

Since we rarely have puppies available for adoption, we figured the dragons would "fly" out of HSoP in no time! Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for all five. Spyro was the first to be adopted and Stormfly followed shortly after. Puff the Magic Dragon was adopted next, followed by Mushu just a few days later. By the middle of February, Smaug was the only puppy still searching for his home!

Smaug received lots of attention from our volunteers, but he struggled to catch the eye of any interested adopters. He was a bit different that other pups his age, more calm and mature than you might expect. As time went on and Smaug continued his stay at the shelter, we began to wonder where all the attention was! Turns out, Smaug's perfect family was just around the corner and he was simply waiting for them to come along and find him. Smaug was finally adopted on April 9th, and we truly could not be happier for him! After spending more than half of his life in a stressful shelter environment, we are so proud of Smaug and how well he's adapted to his new home. Now named Pippin, he's been settling in at home for close to three months. Everything seems to be going as well as we could have hoped! Pippin even has a canine sister to play with, who was also adopted from HSoP several years ago. Enjoy these photos of Pippin in his new home!

Our First Beer & Cider Raffle

We're always looking for new ways to raise money, and in 2022 we tried our hand at a wine raffle for the first time. The raffle was a great success, so we decided to do it again in October of 2023! After two successful wine raffles, we wanted to try a springtime beer and cider raffle in the same fashion. Looking to keep costs at a minimum, we requested and received donations from Pour Company, Moscow Brewing Company, Hunga Dunga Brewing Company, and Paradise Creek Brewery. Between the four businesses, we had five winner's baskets up for grabs! The prizes varied from unique and fruity ciders to full-bodied IPA's, so there was truly something for everyone. We sold raffle tickets online from April 1st through April 26th, and in less than a month, the raffle raised over $1,500 for HSoP! Thank you to the 61 people who entered, and congratulations to our five lucky winners. We hope you loved your prize baskets! Thanks to our generous sponsors, every dollar that was spent on the raffle went directly back to HSoP and the pets we serve. After such a successful first go, you can now look forward to our wine raffle in October and our beer/cider raffle in April!

HSoP Receives $10,000 Grant

As a nonprofit organization, HSoP relies on fundraisers, generous donors, and grant funding to ensure our operational needs are being met throughout the year. Nearly 13% of our income is sourced from estates, trusts, and financial grants each year. We seek out new grants as often as we can, and new opportunities become available nearly every day. In July 2022, our organization received a $12,500 grant from Maddie's Fund. This was a substantial amount of money for our organization, and provided so much financial relief after the trials of covid! This was HSoP's first time receiving a grant from Maddie's Fund, and we were so grateful for the help they provided.

Just a few months ago, the folks at Maddie's Fund contacted us to offer a $10,000 operating support grant! The reason? Simply for being a new grantee. We were shocked with excitement to hear this generous offer, and after submitting all of the necessary materials, Maddie's Fund once again blessed us with substantial grant funding. To say we're grateful for this grant would be an immense understatement. #ThanksToMaddie, we can direct some of our focus back to the cats and dogs who need our help instead of searching for grants to help us stay afloat. We promise to put these funds to good use!

Read more about Maddie's Fund below:

"Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy for over ten years and continues to inspire them today. The Foundation has awarded over $275.7 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S. Maddie’s Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie."

May 2024

Idaho Gives

Since 2013, the Idaho Nonprofit Center has used Idaho Gives as a way to highlight and uplift the hundreds of organizations that make Idaho the amazing place it is. This giving campaign has come a long way in just eleven years - this year raising over $4.3 million for 624 nonprofits throughout the state. HSoP participates in the online event every year, and we've been so grateful for the support it's provided through the years.

This year we were offered a very generous donation match of $5,000 from our board of directors. This meant that our board members would match donations made to HSoP - dollar for dollar - until we fulfilled the $5,000 match. Our goal was to fulfill the match in its entirety to effectively raise $10,000 for our organization and the pets we serve. This was a lofty goal for our shelter, as the most we had raised previously was $5,385 during last year's campaign. Idaho Gives ran from April 29th through May 2nd this year. In just three short days, 79 people donated $10,950 to support HSoP. We were thrilled to not only meet our donation goal, but exceed it by nearly $1,000!

We are incredibly grateful to our donors for their dedicated support of HSoP. The funds received during Idaho Gives were more than double what we received last year, which shows the passion our community shares for serving local pets in need. From everyone working behind the scenes at HSoP - THANK YOU for making our work possible!

Troopa's Perfect Home

If you read our last newsletter, you might recall the story of Troopa. He was a hound mix who arrived at HSoP back in November, at around 9 months old and just 17lbs. Troopa was incredibly underweight, and it took him nearly 3 months to fully recover and reach a point where he was ready for adoption. When Troopa was featured in our last newsletter, the hope was to share his story with more people who might be able to give Troopa the home he needed. After the life he experienced before HSoP and the months he spent recovering in our care, Troopa needed a special home with patient owners who could help him grow at his own pace. He needed quite a bit of help with training, and had unfortunately developed a habit of being mouthy (lightly biting people for attention). This tough guy had been through so much in his short life, and it took several months for the right people to come along and find Troopa when he needed them most.

On May 20th, two people came to HSoP and asked to meet Troopa by name. They were familiar with his needs and background from reading his online profile, and were eager to meet the lively little man in person. You know how people talk about love at first sight? Yeah, that's kind of what happened with Troopa and his adopters. There was no question about whether or not it was the right fit, both Troopa and his adopters knew that their bond would last forever! He was able to leave the shelter and go home with them that same day, being absolutely showered in love and well wishes on his way out the door. Troopa adjusted to his new home beautifully, and even has two furry friends enjoys spending time with. Enjoy this quick update on Troopa:

"Troopa's doing great! He loves going on walks, running laps at the dog park, and hanging out with us on the couch. He gets along great with his cat brother, Sparky, and loves playing with our roommate's dog."

Sometimes it can take months for shelter pets to find the right home. While it's easy to get discouraged by long waits, stories like Troopa's remind us that the wait is often worth it in the end. This happy boy has come so far since arriving at HSoP in November. What was once an extremely underweight and nervous dog is now a happy, healthy, and excitable canine companion. Congratulations to Troopa and his owners!

NoTail's 19th Birthday!

Our beloved orange office cat, NoTail, has practically become the face of HSoP. If you've been to our facility in the last few years, chances are that NoTail has stopped you at the front counter to collect her daily quota of forehead kisses. She's a very special cat, truly loved by all who are lucky enough to know her. One thing about NoTail that often comes as a surprise is her age! She jumps and maneuvers around the shelter as if she were a spry young cat, but in reality, NoTail is a wise senior kitty.

NoTail's estimated date of birth is May 5th, 2005. As of May 5th, this makes her around 19 years old! NoTail has been around longer than iPhones, and honestly, she's had just as great of an impact. Her birthday is always a cause for celebration at HSoP, and this year we requested $19 donations in honor of NoTail and all the joy she brings us. NoTail's fan club really showed up on her birthday, donating hundreds of dollars to HSoP in her honor! We're so grateful for NoTail every day, but on her birthdays, we're especially thankful for the forehead kisses, snuggles, moral support, and (occasional) chaos that she brings to the shelter.

The next time you visit HSoP, make sure to pay the "NoTail Tax" and say hi to our favorite tail-less cat! She'll never get tired of being the center of attention. Enjoy some photos of our beautiful birthday girl down below!

Bernedoodle Puppies!

On February 6th, our staff members returned from their lunch break only to find two dogs tied to the chainlink of our building. It's easy to assume that the dogs were dumped by an owner, but after checking our voicemails, we learned that someone had found the dogs on their property. They decided to leave the dogs at our front door since the shelter was closed with nobody around to assist them. Thankfully, we were able to get both dogs to safety in no time! One was a female Bernese Mountain Dog, and the other was a black male poodle mix. We shared a photo of the dogs online hoping to find an owner, but unfortunately, an owner was never located.

We were surprised by how thin the female was... everywhere beside her midsection that is. Worried that she was heavily pregnant, the Bernese Mountain Dog (who we decided to call Bernie) was placed into a foster home. Just in time too! Within a few days of being in foster care, Bernie gave birth to seven healthy puppies. The litter was born during the Super Bowl, which had a strong influence on their names: Chief, McCaffrey, Mahomes, Kelce, Franny, Taylor Swift, and K.C. Even without a DNA test, it seemed pretty clear who the dad was. Every single puppy came out with bold, black, curly fur! Suspiciously similar to the black male poodle mix (who we named Muppet) that arrived with Bernie.

Muppet had a short stay compared to the others, as all he really needed was to be neutered. With a wonderful temperament on his side, Muppet was at the shelter for less than a month total! Bernie and the puppies still had a ways to go.

Bernie was a wonderful momma dog to all seven of her kids. She put up with their shenanigans, kept them well fed, and even managed to help them learn some manners. Bernie was a full-time momma dog for a little under three months, and she was slowly stealing the heart of a shelter staff member at the same time. Once Bernie's kids were old enough to thrive without their momma, she was swiftly adopted and taken home by that same staff member. We think this is awesome, especially since we get plenty of updates and visits from Bernie!

Once they were spayed and neutered, all seven puppies were adopted not long after their momma. The last puppy to leave, miss Taylor Swift herself, went home on Friday, June 7th. This marked the end of the bernedoodle puppies' reign. As cute as they were, we are so happy that these curly friends found loving homes of their own! With both parents having a great temperament, we just know these babies are bringing so much joy to their new families. Enjoy this slow motion video of the puppy pack down below!

June 2024

Nutella's Journey to a Happy Life

On February 17th, a Latah County Sheriff's Deputy seized a severely underweight dog from a Juliaetta home. The deputy was responding to reports of a neglected animal, and jumped into action after noticing the emaciated dog on the property. The dog, a big brown female mastiff who we lovingly named Nutella, was taken to HSoP for further care. Our staff were collectively shocked to see the state that poor Nutella was in. As a full grown mastiff mix, she should have weighed between 110-150lbs. Instead, she arrived at HSoP weighing just 79lbs. Below are some photos of Nutella from when she first arrived.

For the first week in our care, Nutella was depressed and lethargic. Her lack of muscle made it difficult to stand, and it was a strain for her to even lift her head. It took about a week before our staff started to see a positive change in Nutella's demeanor. She caught on rather quickly that we were trying to help, and started to show small bits of enthusiasm when being fed. Slowly but surely, Nutella began gaining the weight she so desperately needed to thrive. She gained 10lbs in just the first month! Our staff were thrilled to see Nutella's mood improve as her body continued to feel better. It was clear just by being in her presence that Nutella was feeling better every day! Within three and a half months, Nutella was up to a very healthy 117lbs. The difference in her personality is hard to even put into words! By the time she left HSoP, Nutella was an affectionate, outgoing, (mostly) gentle, and incredibly sweet dog with nothing but love to give. Her one downside was not understanding her size, but her abundance of kisses made up for getting knocked over.

While Nutella was focused on recovery and gaining back the weight she needed, her previous owner was occupied with several court hearings. He was facing a charge of Cruelty to Animals, and eventually decided to take a plea deal and plead guilty. Nutella's custody was signed over to HSoP shortly after, which allowed us to proceed with getting her ready for adoption. After pleading guilty to the Animal Cruelty charge, Nutella's owner was ordered to spend five nights in the Latah County jail. He was also given two years of supervised probation. Through all it's taken to help her recover, we're just happy that Nutella is safe and loving her new chance at life!

Nutella was adopted a few days after becoming available. An amazing family with two adult children came to meet Nutella, and decided that she was the dog their family had been looking for. The sweetest homecoming in quite some time came on June 11th, and Nutella was finally able to leave HSoP for her perfect home. We've been lucky enough to see Nutella a handful of times since then, and she's just as sweet as we remember! She's made appearances at the Moscow Farmers Market, and is a new frequent flyer at the dog park. Aside from a disagreement with the dog next door, Nutella has been a fast friend to all of the pets and people she's met so far. We are so extremely happy for Nutella's positive outcome. She deserves the life she's living today, and we are so grateful to our supporters for making her recovery possible! Enjoy this photo of Nutella (now named Ellie) and her new family on adoption day.

Hunga Dunga Bingo Night

For the second year in a row, we joined forces with Hunga Dunga Brewing Company for an exciting night of Bingo and beer to benefit pets in need. After seeing a great turnout in 2023, we were so excited to participate in Nonprofit Bingo once again! This is an event that Hunga Dunga hosts monthly, with a new nonprofit at the center each time. We promoted the event with hopes of seeing a great turnout, and we saw exactly that! Dozens of attendees filled the Great Room at the 1912 Center, with the common goal of making second chances a reality for pets in need. The cost for each game of Bingo was $2, half of which went to HSoP and the other half going to our winner's pot. Our largest winning pot of the night was an impressive $108! After three hours of Bingo, the event managed to raise $1,013 for HSoP and the pets we serve. This amount is greatly appreciated, and will go so far in providing food, vaccines, love, and veterinary care to the pets in our care. Thank you to Hunga Dunga for highlighting HSoP during Nonprofit Bingo once again! Be sure to attend the next Bingo night, happening Thursday, July 19th at 6:00pm with proceeds supporting the Moscow Baseball Association.

Paw-louse 5k Fun Run & Walk

One of our favorite ways to connect with local pet lovers is through our in-person events and fundraisers. The annual Paw-louse 5k is a fundraiser we've organized since 2011 and it's always a great time! Just like your typical 5-kilometer walk/run, but friendly dogs are invited to join and race for gold. The event is always complete with snacks, plenty of happy dogs, and commemorative race T-shirts. The Paw-louse 5k has traditionally followed the same route - Paradise Path through UI campus. After dwindling attendance the last few years, we decided to change things up and try something new!

The T-shirt art contest wasn't our only change this year. For the first time ever, the 5k route was changed and instead held along Latah Trail. We opted for an out-and-back course to keep things straightforward, and to ensure everyone stayed on track. Several months of planning went into the 5k and it all came to fruition on Saturday, June 22nd! We were so thankful for the turnout we saw. We had 127 racers pre-register online, and even more show up to register and run the day-of. These 160+ racers brought dozens of four-legged friends along which made for a delightful day of wagging tails.

This year's 5k was a huge success for the pets we serve, raising over $4,200! This outcome wouldn't have been possible without the combined support of several people and businesses. We'd like to thank our dedicated 5k sponsors for their continued support; thank you to Pets Are People Too, Animal Clinic & Hospital, Northwest River Supplies, Gritman Medical Center, Idaho Central Credit Union, Hyperspud Sports, Umpqua Bank, and North Idaho Athletic Club for guaranteeing that every dollar raised through the 5k could truly support our efforts. We would also like to thank Moscow Bagel & Deli for their generous donation of bagels and cream cheese as post-race snacks. Last but certainly not least, we would like to give a big thank you and shout out to Ryan Beery of Safe Sax Photography. He volunteered his time and talent to make sure the 5k was captured in his best light, and managed to grab some great photos. Enjoy a few of our favorite pictures from the 5k, courtesy of Safe Sax Photography! To view all of the race photos, be sure to visit the gallery.

Summer Pet Safety Tips

Summer is here! While everyone loves some sunny outdoor fun, there are some risks to be aware of as the weather continues to warm up. Here are some tips to keep your pets happy, healthy, and cool this summer: 

• Never leave your pets alone in a parked vehicle. 

  • Even for just a few minutes, and even with the windows cracked. Cars behave like ovens in the summer heat, and the internal temperature can rise by 20 degrees in just ten minutes! Don’t risk losing your furry friend. Please leave your pets at home if they cannot come with you. 

• Be aware of the ground and air temperature before walking your pet. 

  • Hot asphalt can easily burn paw pads and cause a lot of pain for dogs. Before walking your dog, press the back of your hand against the asphalt for seven seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet.

  • Try walking your dog in the morning or evening when the temperature is cooler. If possible, walk them on grass instead of asphalt. 

  • Consider investing in some protective shoes for your pet!

• Know the signs of overheating in pets.

  • Excessive panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, weakness, and collapse are all signs of overheating. 

  • If your pet is overweight, elderly, or has a flat face, they could be at an increased risk for overheating or heatstroke. 

  • If you believe your pet could be suffering from heatstroke, please contact your vet immediately!

• Be aware of stagnant water. 

  • Do not leave your pest unsupervised near bodies of water. If your dog happens to drink from a pool of stagnant water, they could be at risk for serious illness. Stagnant water (often called standing water) can contain harmful bacteria and parasites. If you fear your pet could be suffering from toxic waters, contact your vet immediately! 

  • Always remember to pack ample clean drinking water for your companion. 

• Visit the vet for a summer check-in.

  • Make sure that your pet is up to date on vaccines and free from any heartworms. This is also a great time to ask about flea and tick prevention.

Upcoming Events!

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events and fundraisers! We'll share more details as time goes on, but it's always good to know these dates ahead of time. We can't wait for all of the pet-loving fun we have planned; be sure to join us!

1/2 Priced Pet ID - Happening now through the end of July

All pets should have accurate and reliable pet ID! We know from experience that it makes a world of difference in reuniting lost pets with their families. For the month of July, engraved pet name tags will cost just $6 and lifelong microchip ID will cost just $15. Microchips are available by appointment only, so please call us to schedule. Name tags are available any time during open hours!

Cornhole For Animals - Saturday, July 20th starting at 11:30 @ Moscow Moose Lodge

The Moscow Moose Lodge and HSoP have come together for a cornhole benefit and silent auction to benefit local pets in need. Register your two person team for just $50! There will be pro and backyard brackets for different skill levels. There are four generous cash prizes available for the tournament. Be sure to check out the silent auction items, because all proceeds support HSoP too!

Howling at Hamilton - Sunday, September 8th from 1:00-6:00 @ HLAC

Moscow's annual dog day at the pool is scheduled to take place Sunday, September 8th from 1:00-6:00pm at the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatic Center, located at 830 N Mountain View Road in Moscow. The pool is for dogs only during this event! The cost is $15 per dog and all proceeds benefit HSoP.

Online Wine Raffle - Happening in October, stay tuned for updates!

We're hosting our third annual wine raffle! This truly puts the "fun" in "fundraiser". Enter for your chance to win one of several wine lover's gift baskets, and support local pets in need at the same time. We have had some truly decadent prizes in the past, and you don't want to miss out! Keep an eye on our social media for more information.

HSoP Pets Currently Available for Adoption:

Support HSoP

Our community's continued support is crucial to ensuring the future of HSoP for all of the lost and homeless pets who need our help. Donations enable us to afford nutritious food, quality veterinary services, compassionate and loving care, and so much more for the pets at HSoP. Each of these aspects encourage positive outcomes for the pets we serve.

If you feel compelled to support second chances for lost and homeless pets, we would be truly grateful for any donation you're able to make. There are several ways to donate:

• Send a donation through Venmo. Our username is @HumanePalouse.

• Send a credit or debit card donation through PayPal. Click here to donate by card.

• Mail or deliver a check donation to 2019 E White Ave Moscow, ID 83843.

• Make a cash donation the next time you visit HSoP or see us in the community.

• Bring new or used pet supplies to HSoP to support our community pet pantry.

We can't stress enough that our donors are at the heart of our organization. The work we do is only possible because of people like you, who believe that every pet deserves a second chance. We have a new program called Heroes of HSoP to recognize our most loyal and dedicated supporters. We encourage you to learn about the program, enroll, and see how your contribution makes a difference for hundreds of pets each year!

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