Give the Gift of Care this Holiday Season
Dear friends,
We made it—almost! The end of yet another demanding, unprecedented year. On behalf of everyone at the Whatcom Humane Society, I want to sincerely thank you for your ongoing support of our mission and the animals in our shelters. Because of community members like you—adopters, donors, volunteers, business partners, and more—we have been able to persevere in our lifesaving work for domestic, farm, and wild animals in need in Whatcom County and beyond.
As 2024 comes to a close, I would like to respectfully ask you once again to join us in our commitment to care for animals by making a year-end gift. The holiday season will soon be over, but our work never is, and our shelters remain exceedingly busy as the need for our programs and services continues to expand.
For the past three years, the kennels at our Division Street shelter have been at or over capacity almost nonstop, putting an incredible strain on all of our resources. The unrelenting arrival of dogs, cats, and small animals—many of whom come to us after being turned away from shelters and rescues up and down the I-5 corridor—makes navigating each day at our organization exhausting for both people and pets. The animal welfare crisis occurring across the nation is bleak: Animals big and small, including those suffering from severe medical and behavioral issues, are flooding our region. As the only open-admission shelter in the area, WHS has become ground zero for this troubling trend for which there seems to be no end in sight.
So far this year, over 3,250 domestic animals have come through our doors—an increase of over 750 animals from this time last year. Some arrived as strays, lost and in search of a safe place to stay until hopefully reuniting with their people; others were surrendered by those no longer able or willing to provide care for them; and many were brought in by our animal control team or law enforcement partners—all in need of protection, advocacy, a warm bed, a full belly, and a temporary place to call home.
Clark
A large and in charge young male pitbull, Clark arrived at WHS as a stray with an unknown history and limping on his front leg; x-rays showed several pellets lodged in his shoulder. Clark spent several months at the shelter receiving care and socialization, and he quickly became a staff and volunteer favorite. His “gotcha day” came when he met an active young woman who fell in love with him.
Stu & Magoo
Stu & Magoo are a special pair of bonded kittens. Both were surrendered to WHS from out of area. Due to a congenital defect, Magoo was born without eyes. Placed in a foster home together, Stu showed Magoo all of the fun things kittens do, and the two became inseparable. Now young adults in a home of their own, you’d never know Magoo can’t see, as she navigates life purrfectly thanks to the help of her brother.
To date, over 1,795 lucky shelter pets have become part of loving families this year through our interactive adoption program; if you have opened your heart and home to a shelter animal in 2024, we thank you so much! Nevertheless, as I write this letter on a cold, rainy November evening, I can’t help but think about all of the animals still in need and our dedicated animal control team who work 24/7 under challenging circumstances to serve the animals and people in our community.
We are also continuing to grow into our now four-year-old Wildlife Rehabilitation Center property and make improvements in order to increase our capacity to care and provide the best services possible to wild animals. Over the past 11 months, 1,940 injured and orphaned wildlife have come through our doors needing specialized care. Currently, we are in the midst of swan season, and our specially trained and permitted wildlife team are providing treatment to many of these majestic birds alongside a multitude of other wild animals in need of services.
In addition to all of this, a huge increase in the cost of hay and other necessary feed and supplies has put a strain on our farm facility. This comes at a time when our farm caretaker and volunteers are busier than ever looking after aging and medically fragile horses alongside sheep, cows, pigs, and the now famous Bellingham cow, Mabel.
Mabel
Mabel the cow escaped from a trailer on her way to auction this summer and spent 9 long weeks on the run in Barkley Village. After her owner surrendered her to WHS, and with the help of a village of people, Mabel was safely captured and brought to the WHS Farm. She is now living her best life and has a future that includes lots of her favorite snack (apples!) and loads of kindness, compassion, and respect.
Tundra & Trumpeter Swans
Every fall and winter, tundra and trumpeter swans flock to feeding grounds in our region. Swans are dabbling birds that use their long necks to eat plants from the bottom of waterways; when pieces of lead (often from hunting firearms or fishing gear) end up in these waterways, the swans ingest them and suffer lead toxicity. Care for lead toxicity is one of the most labor intensive & expensive treatments our Wildlife Center provides.
With your year-end donation, you are providing core mission support for our daily operations and bolstering our work into the new year. And as a supporter of the Whatcom Humane Society, you are guaranteed that your contribution will be put to use within our community: WHS is not fiscally affiliated with any other local, state, or national animal welfare organization, so donor dollars directly assist our region’s animals and people. By combining our expertise and your gifts of care, we will continue to be there for animals big and small, furry, feathered, scaly, and hooved.
From all of us at Whatcom Humane Society, our wishes for a happy holiday season and a healthy and humane new year.
With appreciation & gratitude,
Laura Clark
Executive Director
P.S. Please don’t delay in making your year-end gift by Dec. 31! In addition to the donate link here and above, donations can be made by phone at 360-733-2080 ext. 3002 or by mailing a check to our domestic animal shelter at 2172 Division Street, Bellingham, WA 98226.