What It Means—And What It Takes—To Work Together As A Community

A message from the whatcom humane society executive director

Dear Friends,

I hope that 2025 is treating you well so far. Winter is always an interesting time for us at Whatcom Humane Society. I love a good snow event, but of course with it comes all of the challenges of operating three shelters, a thrift shop, and caring for animals big and small 24/7. Our staff and volunteer teams live all over Whatcom and Skagit counties, and I’m always amazed and inspired by their dedication to the animals and their work when snow, ice, wind, rain, and super cold temperatures settle into our region. It’s that dedication and commitment to our mission—along with continued community support—that is hopefully going to carry us through what will be a busy year ahead.

Before we look forward, I want to reflect for a moment on what was at times a very difficult 2024. Our Division Street shelter received over 3,600 domestic animals as compared to 3,000 the year prior. The biggest reason for this substantial increase was the number of owner-surrendered animals: 400 more in 2024 than 2023. These increases put such an incredible strain on our already limited resources, and I’m sad to report that the trend looks to be continuing this year. So many animals in need and only so many realistic resources available to help them all.

Our region is lucky in many ways. We have a strong foundation of community leaders, animal welfare advocates, and supporters that want to invest in helping animals in need. It’s because of this support that WHS has been able to grow and expand many of our programs, operate our wildlife rehabilitation center, care for farm animals, provide quality animal control services, and so much more. Many of my colleagues around the region and country are not as fortunate, and as such, the animals pay the price. That being said, the success of operating a true open-admission animal shelter while working tirelessly to reduce euthanasia for healthy animals in the community is and will continue to be a collaborative effort. We can’t do it alone.

Later this spring, WHS will be hosting a Whatcom County Rescue Roundtable, bringing together established rescue groups, spay neuter organizations, and animal welfare groups from our local community to gather, share information, engage in meaningful discussion, and collaborate on how best to work together when possible to serve the animals in our community. I’m super excited for this opportunity and hope that it will have a positive impact.

As spring arrives, with it will begin “baby season” at our wildlife rehabilitation center. Hundreds of orphaned and injured wild animals will arrive needing care from our small but mighty wildlife crew. Wildlife rehabilitation is essential work, and it’s also expensive work. Funding operations for the wildlife center have always been an uphill battle, and this year the hill is getting higher. With nowhere else to go if not for WHS, where would all the wildlife in need turn for help? This thought weighs heavy on my mind daily—especially when I walk outside my house in rural Whatcom County each morning to see and hear the amazing wild animals around me, living a peaceful existence, and think about how lucky we all are to live among them and the responsibility we have to protect them and advocate on their behalf.

I’m looking forward to what this year will bring for our organization. We have some fantastic events scheduled, including my favorite Woof & Whiskers Awards Luncheon, our online birdhouse auction, and some really cool humane education programs. I hope to see many of you at a community event, meeting a new best friend at the shelter, shopping at the WHS Thrift Shop, or maybe at a monthly new volunteer orientation. On behalf of the domestic, wild, and farm animals in our community, I thank you for continuing to provide us with the resources to remain ready to respond to animals in need. Your support means everything to us all.

With Sincere Gratitude & Appreciation,

Laura Clark, Executive Director

P.S. Visit our About page to review our 2024 animal statistics.