What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been

a message from the whs executive director

Dear Friends,

One of the founding members of the iconic rock band The Grateful Dead, Bob Weir, recently passed away. And so as I start to write this message, I’ll begin with a quote from the group: “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” On February 1, I celebrated my 25th anniversary working at Whatcom Humane Society. Those 25 years have been long and strange... and amazing, inspiring, challenging, emotional, difficult, fun, crazy, chaotic, insane, wonderful, and full of surprises each and every day.

I honestly can’t really wrap my brain around 25 years of service to this small but mighty organization that I love so much. When I arrived in the winter of 2001, the world was a very different place, as was animal welfare and sheltering. WHS was an underfunded and understaffed open-admission shelter providing animal control to Bellingham and a few of the smaller cities in Whatcom County. The shelter was located in an old, decaying building out by the airport.

At that time, over 5,000 domestic animals came through the doors—a staggering number considering the size of the building, the number of staff, and the extremely limited resources available to care for the animals. There were few programs available, and I remember meeting the handful of volunteers—seriously, less than 20—that were doing what they could to support the small staff. Those “old days” seem so far away, but I remember the people, the animals, and the animal control cases like it was yesterday. We fought the good fight then, when the shelter was not particularly well-thought of or liked in the community. I still call many of those amazing people that I first met friends, colleagues, and heroes today.

Over the course of that first decade, we worked round-the-clock, seven days a week to develop programs, offer services, and recruit volunteers and staff to improve life for domestic animals in our community. I think I attended every community parade, service group meeting, elementary school classroom, festival, and street fair in the entire county to talk about WHS’s mission and work—as well as countless city and county council meetings to speak with elected officials about the need for support. During that time, WHS entered into additional animal control contracts, including serving unincorporated Whatcom County, and took over operations of a second shelter facility to help care for animals and support shelter services.

In 2009 I was given the opportunity to serve as executive director of WHS—a job I fought hard for and have not forgotten for one second the honor and immense responsibility the position holds.

Remember Lisa the pig, a 750 lb. sassy sow who needed somewhere to go? She lived in my backyard since WHS didn’t have a proper or safe facility for her. Oh, those were the days! Thankfully, a 10-acre property was later provided by a generous donor, and with the help of our amazing volunteers, the property was transformed into a wonderful, peaceful refuge complete with a barn, paddocks, enclosures, and pasture land for horses and farm animals to find care and comfort.

In 2013, after a few years of intense fundraising, we were finally able to move into our badly needed, beautiful new shelter facility in Bellingham. With nine acres of land behind the shelter for dog walking, it was a joyous occasion for both the people and animals in our community. Adoptions increased, we were able to provide humane education and community outreach programs in and out of the shelter for all ages, and we finally had resources available to offer expanded low-cost and free spay/neuter services to community animals in need.

Pictured: Construction of our domestic animal shelter on Division Street in 2012-2013 was a true labor of community love.

Enter wildlife rehabilitation—because why not?! Assuming operations of a wildlife rehabilitation center in 2014 was a big learning curve for WHS. Purchasing a 40-acre property in which to provide quality services for injured and orphaned wildlife in 2021 was and continues to be a daily challenge—but a challenge that is so incredibly rewarding and a true labor of love.

Someone recently asked me what keeps me working in animal welfare while most of the colleagues I came up with in the shelter ranks have moved on to jobs either outside of animal welfare or have left day-to-day shelter work for national animal welfare groups. Honestly, it’s work that I love and that I’m passionate about, and I have a deep desire to continue to improve the lives of animals in our community—the community that I moved to 25 years ago and I have the privilege of calling home.

I strongly believe that it’s because of the people that support WHS that my commitment remains so steadfast. The staff that I have had the honor to work with over the years are the hardest working people I’ve ever met. Heroes, each and every one of them! Some of the current WHS staff members were not even born when I started my career in animal welfare back in the 1990s in northern California or when I moved to Whatcom County. But many of those young professionals are as good as it gets—smart, strong, compassionate future leaders in our industry and community. I love working with them, and they collectively make me a better, more compassionate leader. And those 20 or so original volunteers that I met back in 2001: A few of the originals are still volunteering, still making a huge difference, still inspiring others, including myself, each and every day. They have been joined by a current WHS volunteer team that is 400+ strong and the most amazing people and community members.

I sincerely thank everyone associated with Whatcom Humane Society over the past 25 years for the support you have provided to our open-admission shelters and to the thousands of animals big and small that have entered our doors needing care, services, a second chance, protection, advocacy, kindness, respect, and compassion. It’s what we do, it’s who we are, it’s who I am—and I can’t think of anywhere else I would rather be.

Do I have another 25 years in me? HA! I’m not sure, but I’m in if you are...In the meantime, we have another busy year ahead, with a lot going on at our shelters and community. I hope you will find time to attend an upcoming event, open your heart and home to a new companion animal, join our volunteer team, shop at our thrift shop, donate to our thrift shop, become a monthly supporter, or just stop by to say hello.

On behalf of the domestic, farm, and wild animals in our region, thank you for continuing to provide us with the resources to remain ready to respond to animals in need. Your support means so much to us.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Laura Clark, Executive Director