The holiday season is well under way, and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) is feeling the holiday spirit.
It is a time of gratitude, and we are especially thinking about how thankful we are for you. To those of you in Tucson and the surrounding communities, and to those of you who are outside of Arizona who still love and support HSSA, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We’ve put together this list of reasons why your local animal shelter is thankful for you.
Because you adopt!
Adoptions are what makes us who we are! As a Humane Society, the most well-known aspect of what we do is taking in animals in need and finding them loving forever homes. Each year, we see more than 5,000 animals come through our doors and leave with their forever families. This is all thanks to people like you! Thank you for continuing to open your hearts and homes to animals in need.
Because you donate!
Did you know? As a nonprofit organization, we rely completely on the support and generosity of people like you to continue doing what we do. Many people think that we receive funding from the government, but that is not true. Your generous donations help us continue to provide care for the homeless pets in Southern Arizona.
Spotlight: We recently received wonderful gifts from Arabella and Vivianna, two special girls who each chose to donate their birthdays to us by collecting items and money for pets in need instead of asking for birthday gifts. We love seeing the next generation step up to help make a difference in the lives of pets in need.
Because you "like" us!
We know we would be in the Dark Ages if we weren’t on social media. But, all jokes aside, social media is a BIG way we get our message out there! Although you may think it seems like a small effort on your part, your likes, comments, and shares make a big difference in the lives of the pets in our care. Check out this article to read more about How Sharing a Pet On Facebook Can Save Their Life. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! And next time you click that “like” button, remember: your interactions with us on social media can mean the difference between a pet getting adopted quickly or staying in our shelter for a long time, so thank you!
Because you volunteer!
What would we be without our amazing volunteers? Collectively, our volunteers donate more than 150,000 hours a year to our organization! Our volunteers are dedicated to the well-being of the pets in our care. They show up early to make sure every dog gets to go on a walk, and they stay late to make sure each cat gets the individual attention they deserve. They make cat houses and dog blankets so the pets in our care are comfortable. Our caring Fosters make sure our vulnerable foster animals have a good environment in which to grow or heal while they wait for their forever homes. Overall, our volunteers help ensure that many aspects of our shelter run without problems. We love our volunteers. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, check out www.hssaz.org/volunteer.
Because you talk about us!
A large part of why HSSA is able to continue serving the pets and people of the Southern Arizona community is the wonderful reputation we’ve earned and continue to earn in our community. One of the ways you show us how much you love us is by voting for us in Best of Tucson! This year, for the fourth year in a row, HSSA won Best Place to Donate Your Time/Money. We were also runners up for Best Charity Event, for Puttin’ on the Dog, and Best Animal Supply Store, for our PAWSH stores! Another great way you show us you love us is when you talk about HSSA with your friends, family, and even people you don’t know. The more you talk about us, the more people will get to know who we are. And the more people who know who we are, the more animals have a chance at finding their forever homes.
The support you provide HSSA is indispensable, and we are so thankful for each and every one of you. Without you, we would not be able to provide the high quality of care that we provide for homeless pets and the people who love them. Our vision is a community in which all pets are cared for and loved, and you help make that dream a reality. From all of us here at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, thank you, and happy holidays.