Welcome to our eleventh quarterly newsletter! We're excited to ring in the 2024 new year with our wonderful, supportive community. The last quarter of 2023 brought us a generous Season of Giving, bountiful donations, and several happy tails as a result. Keep reading below to learn more about our exciting end-of-year news and festivities. 

October 2023

Wine Raffle Fundraiser

Last year, we hosted our first wine raffle and saw overwhelming support from our community. With such a successful first run, we decided to host our second wine raffle fundraiser in 2023! This raffle was a culmination of several generous donations, and we'd like to thank the businesses who made it possible. Dutton-Goldfield in Russian River Valley, California donated a magnum of their 2017 Van Der Camp Vineyards Pinot Noir, along with a VIP Napa Valley wine tasting certificate for two. We also had a handful of local businesses contribute to the raffle! Merry Cellars in Pullman, Washington blew us away with their support. They donated six assorted bottles of wine in addition to three Merry Cellars wine glasses and three Merry Cellars bottle openers. Vine Wine Bar here in Moscow generously donated four bottles of wine in addition to a Vine Moscow sweatshirt and four bottle openers. To round out the raffle, Moscow's very own Colter's Creek donated two bottles of their locally-loved wine.

In total, these donors helped us offer seven prize baskets for the raffle! Tickets were sold for $5 each, or three for $10. In just two weeks of ticket sales, the raffle generated more than $2,600 to support HSoP! We are so grateful to see the continued success of the wine raffle, and hope to carry on this fundraiser in 2024. Thank you to everyone who entered the raffle, and congratulations to our seven lucky winners! Your support means so much more than we'll ever be able to say.

Sandy and Trudy, (Nearly) Twin Sisters

On October 13th, two beautiful dogs were found running loose in Moscow near the intersection of Polk and Rodeo Dr. The female pups were clearly related, and our staff estimated them to be around 1 year old. The duo wasn't claimed during their stray holding period, so we began the process of getting them ready for adoption. The first order of business was choosing names! With how similar they looked, we knew they needed names that worked well as a duo. Our staff decided on Sandy and Trudy!

Sandy and Trudy were very nervous when they first arrived at the shelter, which you can see from their intake photo down below. The pair snuggled together when the other dogs would bark, but slowly began to understand that the shelter staff were their friends. After about a week, Sandy and Trudy were excited to see shelter staff at their gate. When the two moved up front into the public area of our dog kennels, everyone loved them! Trudy caught the interest of an adopter on her first day up front and was quickly lined up to go home after being spayed. With Trudy on the way to her new life, we thought for sure that Sandy wouldn't be far behind!

It's been about two months since Trudy went home with her family, and it seems to be a wonderful match. Sandy, on the other hand, is still waiting for her perfect person to come along. We think that Sandy could make an excellent family dog. At around 1 year old, she's excited, friendly, eager to learn, and highly treat-motivated. She could use some help reinforcing her manners when excited, as she has a habit of jumping up to try and hug her friends. With consistent training, this behavior could likely be corrected. If you think that Sandy could be the dog for you, please come visit here at HSoP! Our dog kennels are open 1:00-5:00pm Monday through Saturday (beginning Tuesday, January 2nd), and she'd love to meet you.

Two Years of Trap-Neuter-Return!

The HSoP Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program was launched on October 1st, 2021. Feral free-roaming cats are the largest contributor of homeless kittens in our region, and hundreds of these kittens are brought to HSoP for care each year. The program was created to directly address the problem of cat overpopulation in our area. TNR aims to prevent unwanted cat births, reduce feline infectious diseases in our area, and lower the number of unowned, homeless cats in our county. Through the program, HSoP will assist Latah County landowners with having the feral cats on their property spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped for identification.

In the first two years of operation, HSoP has distributed more than 250 TNR coupons! We've been so excited to watch the growing success of the program, and it's wonderful to see our community members taking time out of their busy days to help the homeless cats living on their land. All of the feral cats who go through the TNR program are better equipped to protect themselves in the harsh outside world, without the risk of bringing more kittens into it. Thank you to each and every person who has participated in the TNR program! The feral cats in our area would likely thank you too, if they could. We also owe a huge thank you to our veterinary parter who has helped immensely to make this program happen. North Palouse Vet Clinic in Potlatch, ID provides spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, and ear-tips to cats in the program. Thank you so much for helping us serve the local feral cat population!

Pet overpopulation is a growing issue that we continue to face in all areas of our country and world. The TNR program is one of the most direct ways that we can address cat overpopulation in our own backyard, and we hope you'll get involved if you can! Learn more about the TNR program by visiting our website.

November 2023

Veterans Adopt Free at HSoP

In honor of Veterans Day, HSoP offered waived pet adoption fees to military veterans and active-duty service members. We started this offer in 2022 as a small way to say "thank you" to those who sacrifice so much to keep our country safe, and we're happy to continue it moving forward! There are always adoptable pets in need of loving forever homes at HSoP. During Veterans Adopt Free, we're able to pair veterans with their new best friends and send them home without ever questioning the cost. This year, we were able to help one more veteran find his new best friend!

The adorable Mr. Hannibal came to HSoP in September after his loving owner passed away. Hannibal received all of the veterinary care he needed to be in tip-top shape before meeting adopters. By the time Veterans Day came around, Hannibal was still at the shelter waiting for adoption. In walked his perfect match, and the rest is history! Hannibal's adopter was able to take him home completely free of charge, and they seem to be doing so well. Our whole staff is thrilled that Hannibal and his adopter were able to find one another! If you have a veteran in your life, make sure they know about Veterans Adopt Free at HSoP! Happening each Veterans Day weekend moving forward.

Here's the adorable Hannibal before being adopted!

See's Candies Fundraiser

As a nonprofit organization, we're always looking for new says to raise funds for the pets we serve. This November, we decided to try our hand at a fundraiser with See's Candies! For those who are unfamiliar, See's Candies has been producing high-quality, classic treats like lollipops, peanut brittle, chocolates, toffee, and more since 1921. See's has a special place in the hearts and homes of many, and is even a holiday tradition for lots of families! When we saw that See's had an online fundraiser program for nonprofits like us, we simply couldn't resist.

Our first See's Candies fundraiser launched on November 6th and ran until November 24th, with 20% of all proceeds being donated to HSoP. With it being our very first try at fundraiser, we didn't know what to expect. As it turns out, our community loves candy almost as much as they love helping pets in need! In just a few weeks, we had 32 people order enough candy to result in $466.30 for HSoP and the pets we serve. Thank you to each and every person who ordered through the fundraiser! We will be sure to carry on this new tradition in 2024, and we'll give even more time to get your holiday orders in. If you're a fan of See's Candies, keep an eye out for our fundraiser next November!

Our Community Kept Us Warm!

As we're sure many of you remember, the majority of our region lost access to natural gas services on November 8th following a pipeline break. Just like many homes and businesses in Moscow, the HSoP facility was impacted by losing access to heat and warm water. When the news initially came out, we worried about having the ability to keep all of our pets warm and comfortable at night. We didn't have to worry for long! Within hours of word spreading, we had several supporters reaching out to offer help in the form of loaned space heaters, washing shelter laundry in their homes, and even warm showers for the shelter staff who lost access at home. We were so grateful for this outpouring of support when everyone in our region needed it most! There are many stories of community, generosity, and togetherness that stemmed from the pipeline break. This is just one of many! With the help of our friends and neighbors, all of the pets at HSoP were able to stay nice and toasty - even on a cold November night. We are so sincerely grateful to everyone who offered us assistance! And we're thankful for everyone else who offered a hand of support to those around them; our community really does shine when it matters most.

Froggy's Journey to Adoption

Way back in March, a handsome and dignified 6-year-old German Shepherd mix was surrendered to HSoP. We decided to call him Froggy! When he first arrived, Froggy was anxious of his new surroundings. It took him a while to warm up to new people, but he settled in after a few short weeks. Froggy previously lived with children and other dogs, but needed a home with no cats or small animals due to his high prey drive. We figured Froggy would be adopted in no time with how easy-going he was! It turns out that he needed a little extra time before finding his perfect match.

Fast forward all the way to November, and Froggy was still waiting for adoption. After being featured in the news, on our website, and all over social media, we weren't sure how long it would take for Froggy to be adopted. He had become really comfortable in the shelter by this point, knowing all of our staff and regular volunteers well. He was a favorite for our volunteer dog walkers, and became very accustomed to making new friends.

On November 10th, the tides changed for Froggy. A hopeful adopter came to the shelter asking to meet this big guy by name. Our staff was elated! The man met Froggy, and absolutely loved him. All that was left before Froggy could go home was a meet and greet with Cleo, the adopter's female German Shepherd. Froggy met Cleo, and the two were mostly indifferent toward each other. Froggy pushed her buttons one too many times, and Cleo quickly reminded him of his manners. After Froggy learned to respect Cleo's space, the two seemed to have a mutual understanding of each other and quickly settled down. Things worked out so well between the two of them, that Froggy was able to go home that very same day! Our staff was absolutely thrilled to see him leave the shelter for his forever home. Froggy (now named Rocky) has been in his new home for nearly 2 months now, and he seems to be loving it! He has plenty of space to run outside, and has grown to really love his sister Cleo.

Froggy's story is just one example of our adoptable pets waiting months before their perfect match comes along. We're thrilled that Froggy was able to find his owner, no matter how long it took! Many of our pets find their homes within a month of being available, and the longer-staying friends always hold a special place in our hearts. We're so grateful to our supporters for allowing us to give Froggy and other adoptable pets the time they need to find their families, with no limit on how long that may take.

Spence Hardware Benefit and Donation Drive

We're constantly reminded of just how much our community cares for local pets in need. Back in November, the folks from Spence Hardware and Supply reached out about organizing a benefit for HSoP in celebration of #SmallBusinessSaturday. Small Business Saturday was created to shine a light on local businesses, and to encourage people to shop at the smaller businesses close to home. Spence Hardware has been a loyal supporter of HSoP for several years, and just so happens to be a locally owned small business! We couldn't be more excited for the benefit they had in mind.

Spence Hardware planned to collect pet food and shelter supplies from November 24-26th, and pledged to donate 5% of all sales on November 25th to HSoP. When the weekend was over, Spence delivered hundreds of pounds of pet food and a check for $1,042! We're so grateful to everyone who helped to organize this benefit. Thank you to the Spence Hardware team, and to each and every person who donated supplies or shopped their store on November 25th in support of our mission. The shelter can only run with the continued support of our community, and we're incredibly lucky to live in a place that ensures we always have what we need. Thank you again, Spence Hardware!

The friendly faces behind Spence Hardware showing off

the results of their HSoP donation drive!

December 2023

Queenie Found Her Forever Home!

Some of the most special and memorable pets who come through our doors are the longer-staying pets who require a little extra time finding their adoptive homes. Queenie certainly fits into this category, and today we're thrilled to share her adoption story!

Queenie was originally adopted from HSoP in September of 2021. She and her adopter got along well, but she returned to HSoP in April 2023 due to her owner's health. One thing you need to know about Queenie is that her life motto is "my way or the highway". She's always been great about setting strong boundaries, and never hesitates to tell you how she's feeling. Our shelter staff describe Queenie as regal (hence her name), sassy, and selective. She's selective about how she receives attention, who she receives it from, and when she receives it. When being pet without her say-so, Queenie was not afraid to strike or bite. She always gave warning signs, but stood her ground nonetheless. Outside of her two-story cat condo, Queenie was a whole different cat! Having the freedom to walk around and explore larger areas really excited Queenie, and even brought out her affectionate side. She would constantly rub against our shelter staff's legs when outside of her condo, and even accepted some under-chin scratches. We learned that Queenie thrives on having the freedom and choice to approach a human friend, or not.

Queenie required a home with people who understand her desire for personal space, and have the self control to respect her boundaries. The best situation for Queenie would allow her to be the only pet in the house, and would ideally not involve young children. Queenie waited for adoption for several weeks, and then the weeks turned into months. By November, Queenie still didn't have any interest. That wouldn't be the case for long!

Some photos of Queenie patiently awaiting adoption at the shelter

In late November, our staff received an email from someone who was interested to learn more about Queenie, her personality, and her needs in a new home. The adopter had plenty of great questions, and was looking for a more independent cat to share her living space with. She decided to come meet Queenie in person. When they first met, Queenie wasn't overly excited. The two spent about an hour getting to know each other in the adoption room, moving at Queenie's pace. Over that hour, her adopter worked to build the foundation of a long and trusting relationship with Queenie. By the time their visit was over, the adopter was certain that Queenie was the cat for her! She adored Queenie's dignified personality, and had a home with no other pets or small children for her to enjoy. Queenie has been in her new home for about 4 weeks now, and all seems to be going well! We checked in for an update, and here's what her owner had to say:

"Queenie is doing absolutely fantastic and has completely settled in! She has been such a joy to have around, and I’m very happy that it ended up working out! It didn’t take long for her to warm up to me, considering that she started sleeping on my bed only within a couple days of bringing her home. She has also gotten more 'relaxed' about her boundaries, and I can pet her almost whenever I want to. Her favorite things to do are sunbathe, watch TV, cuddle and tell me all about her day as soon as I come home from work!"

If you've visited HSoP in the last 8 months, chances are that you recognize Queenie! She became a favorite amongst visitors and volunteers who respected her self-assuredness and strong boundaries. Queenie's story is proof that every adoptable pet has a loving home waiting for them, no matter how long it takes them to find it. If you're looking to adopt a cat in the future, we urge you to not overlook the more independent cats! Building a relationship with these cats may take an investment of time, but it's truly so rewarding when they do decide to show you love on their own terms. We're incredibly happy for Queenie and her new owner! It certainly seems that her adoption was worth the wait. Take a look below at the beautiful Queenie, who we still think about each and every day!

Enjoy these photos of Queenie living her best life in her new home!

Pet Pictures with Santa

As we all know, December can truly be a magical time of year. It brings us snow, festive music, generous attitudes, and mystical man in a big red suit - Santa Claus! Each year, Santa takes time out of his very busy schedule to visit Moscow and meet all of the pets who made his nice list during Pet Pictures with Santa. On December 1st and 2nd, Santa spent hours snapping memorable (and adorable!) photos with the beloved pets of Moscow inside the Pets Are People Too store. For a $15 donation, owners received two digital photos of their pet with Mr. Claus. We upgraded the setting last year, with a gorgeous new photo backdrop and high-quality digital camera. The event not only sparked joy among local pet lovers, it also raised $1,215 for the pets in need at HSoP!

This event wouldn't be possible without the time and generosity of Pets Are People Too, Santa Claus himself, and Latah Credit Union. Pets Are People Too agreed to let us use their space for the event once again, and Latah Credit Union covered all of the credit card fees associated with payment! We're grateful to Santa for making time to visit the pets of Moscow again, and create hundreds of adorable holiday photos. Thank you to each and every person who brought their pets out to meet Santa! We hope to see you again during his next visit in December 2024.

Here's Santa posing with some talented pups - Kepler and Newton!

Alternative Giving Market of the Palouse (AGMP)

For the last 15 years, locals of Moscow and Latah County have had the opportunity to give meaningful and lasting gifts to area nonprofits through Alternative Giving Market of the Palouse (AGMP). The concept of AGMP is simple, but powerful: provide our community with an alternative to traditional gift-giving practices around the holidays. By curating a long list of hard-working organizations, AGMP allows residents to "shop" local nonprofits and make meaningful gifts to those they wish to support. Many people who give through AGMP are giving in honor of someone they love, as the gift of long-lasting change can be priceless for those who care deeply.

AGMP collected much-needed funds for 32 area nonprofits this year, including HSoP. Between three weeks of online giving and one big night of in-person giving, our community gifted $48,200 to Latah County charities. From this amount, $3,175 was donated to continue providing second chances and access to care for lost and homeless pets in need at HSoP. With the ongoing support of our community, AGMP continues to make a lasting difference in every corner of Latah County. Thank you to everyone who donated through AGMP this year! We are so grateful to carry on our important work thanks to the kindness of people like you.

Our Lobby Had a Facelift!

The shelter recently had a dramatic transformation in our main lobby! The original concrete flooring throughout the shelter was completed in 1994, and has remained mostly unchanged since then. Last November, the folks from Superior Painting and Specialty Coatings worked to professionally clean and paint our dog kennel walls. The difference was almost unbelievable, and made us eager to update the rest of the facility!

In mid-December, Superior Painting and Specialty Coatings came back to breathe new life into the floors of our entryway and cat lobby. They followed the same process of professionally sanding and painting the concrete floors. In the process, they ground away countless cracks and crevices that prevented shelter staff from cleaning to the best of their ability. When SPSC was done, we couldn't believe the finished product! Our new floors are not only beautiful, they're leveled out, easy to clean, and even provide more traction for those visiting the shelter. It makes such a difference in the main lobby, and now we can't wait to finish the rest of our floors! We're incredibly grateful to Jared and his team at SPSC for bringing our vision to life and creating such a bright space for our pets to enjoy during their stay with us.

If you have some free time, we would love for you to stop by the shelter and see our new floors in person! The pictures really don't do them justice. Either way, take a look at these stunning before and after photos. We can't believe what a difference it makes! Thank you to all of our loyal supporters who helped to make this necessary improvement possible.

New and Upcoming!

Heroes of HSoP: Donor Recognition Program - Launching today

We're excited to introduce "Heroes of HSoP," our new donor recognition program at Humane Society of the Palouse. This initiative celebrates the vital role supporters play in providing second chances for lost and homeless pets in our community. More than a recognition effort, "Heroes of HSoP'' aims to highlight the real-world impact of support, foster a sense of community, and encourage sustained contributions to continue our mission. With four distinct levels - "Caring Companions," "Shelter Sidekicks," "Humane Heroes," and "Loyal Lifesavers" - donors can join based on their annual contribution, receiving exclusive benefits at each level. To become a hero and contribute to the lasting support of nearly 500 pets served annually, donors can opt-in by completing a form on the HSoP website. Thank you for being the heroes our community's homeless pets so desperately need!

Returning to Our 1:00-6:00pm Schedule - Beginning tomorrow

We have even more exciting news! We're back to having a full staff, which means we can return to our typical schedule of 1:00-6:00pm Monday through Saturday. Please note, dog kennels will continue to close at 5:00pm each day. We truly appreciate everyone's patience while working toward this point! We're thrilled to be serving our community at full capacity once again.

Half-Priced Pet ID - Entire month of January

Each quarter, we offer half-off pet ID for an entire month. From now until February 1st, you can create a custom pet name tag for just $6 each and have your pet equipped with lifelong microchip ID for just $15 at HSoP. Microchips are offered by appointment only, so please give us a call at (208) 883-1166 to get on the schedule. Name tags are available during open hours with no appointment needed. Pet ID can make make all the difference when it comes to reuniting lost pets with their families. Give yourself peace of mind, and take advantage of this special offer today!

Landgrove Coffee Fundraiser - Every time you order online

If you love Landgrove Coffee as much as we do, you have a new reason to order more beans! Landgrove now gives you the ability to donate to select nonprofits at checkout, and will even donate 15% of your cart total when you choose to make a contribution. HSoP is featured as one of the benefitting nonprofits, and we hope you'll consider supporting our work the next time you restock on your favorite brew. Thank you, Landgrove Coffee, for going out of your way to support HSoP and the pets we serve!

Soup and Pie Fundraiser - Monday, February 19th @ 1912 Center Great Room

Our annual Soup and Pie fundraiser is back! We hope you can join us for a delicious lunch of locally-crafted soup and yummy pie baked with love. Stick around after lunch to enter the raffle, which will feature several items from local vendors and artisans. The cost is $15 per person, and all proceeds will benefit HSoP! Lunch will be served inside the 1912 Center Great Room from 11:00-2:00pm, and we truly hope to see you there.

Interested in donating pie, or an item for the raffle? Please contact Lauren, our PR Manager, by emailing her at outreach@humanesocietyofthepalouse.org

HSoP Kitten Shower - Coming Spring 2024

Homeless kittens are always in need of care, but kitten season brings us kittens by the dozen! Kitten season typically occurs between May and October, when HSoP and surrounding shelters receive the most kittens in need of care. Our Kitten Shower is an exciting and educational event that helps us gather necessary supplies to care for all the sweet kitties who need our help. We hope you can join us! Keep an eye out for more information as it becomes available.

Idaho Gives - Online Giving, April 29th to May 2nd

This online giving campaign, hosted by the Idaho Nonprofit Center, shines a light on all of the nonprofits throughout Idaho who make our state the wonderful place we know it to be. HSoP saw an incredible show of support from our community last Idaho Gives, and we hope to see your continued support this year! Please stay tuned for more information Idaho Gives and all of the good that comes as a result of it.

Interested in sponsoring an Idaho Gives donation match? Please contact Lauren, our PR Manager, by emailing her at outreach@humanesocietyofthepalouse.org

HSoP Pets Currently Available for Adoption:

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