Zane’s Fabulous 15th Birthday Giving Back Celebration
WHS Executive Director Laura Clark’s dog Zane is turning 15 this month and to celebrate we want to share his story of survival, applaud his zest for life, and showcase the incredible people, groups, and activities that helped turn Zane’s heartbreaking beginnings into his best life ever.
Each day during Zane’s 15th Birthday Giving Back Celebration (Friday, 1/10 - Friday, 1/24) will include time spent with some of his humane heroes at some of his favorite places and doing some of his favorite things, concluding with a party with WHS shelter staff and volunteers. Stay tuned on this post, via WHS’s e-news, and on our social media for daily updates between January 10 and January 24.
Help Zane give back this January and reach his $15,000 goal for animals in need!
Snapshots & Video of Zane's Birthday Adventures:
A crown fit for the birthday boy! Zane kicks off his birthday bash in style.
Thank you, Barkley Village Starbucks, from the warm drinks, sweet treats, and smiles!
Zane enjoying a pup cup with his pal, Animal Control Officer Carrie.
The ACO crew celebrating the birthday boy, tiny hats included!
Big thanks to AEC for all they did to help Zane and all they do to help animals and people every single day!
Handsome boy.
Visiting the Prosecutor's Office, who helped advocate for Zane's case and bring animal abusers to justice.
Catching that early morning glow with the KAFE crew.
Visit from and walk with an old friend and trainer, Michael Nichols
Enjoying a sunny winter stroll.
VIP Shopping at PetStop with mom!
Happy boy loved cruising around the store.
Helping mom pick out toys for the shelter animals.
Humane Education workshop time!
Celebrate! Life is good with treats.
Zane LOVED the cheesy biscuits his junior humane heroes made for him and the shelter animals.
Helping out at the MLK Day work party.
Zane LOVES the WHS volunteers!
More helping during the MLK Day of Service at the shelter.
Happy birthday, Zane!
15 and Fabulous!
From Surviving to Thriving, This is Zane's Story:
A call for help not a moment too soon...
Zane’s story began in May of 2010, when Whatcom Humane Society (WHS) animal control officers received a call from a woman requesting a welfare check at a property in rural western Whatcom County. The caller stated that she and her boyfriend had broken up several weeks earlier and she had moved out, leaving behind a five-month old puppy named Zane. The caller informed our officers that she had been told by her ex-boyfriend that he had purposefully starved her dog to death to punish her for leaving.
WHS animal control officers immediately responded to the address provided and found a garbage-strewn property. Upon gaining entry into the dilapidated home, they found 2 dogs and 2 cats who appeared to have been receiving some minimal care. They then came across another kennel that held what appeared to be the lifeless body of a severely emaciated young male dog, covered in filth with wounds, abrasions, and insects on his body.
Upon initial examination, the animal control officers thought the dog was deceased, as his body was cold to the touch, there was no eye movement, and he did not appear to be breathing. But then his head twitched slightly—he was alive. The officers rushed the dog to Animal Emergency Care, where a team of veterinarians and staff started heroic lifesaving measures to try to stabilize him. Due to the severity of his neglect and his extreme malnourishment at 17 pounds, the prognosis was not good.
Against all odds
Zane proved to have a tenacious spirit, however, and against all odds, he survived that first night. Once he was transported to Whatcom Humane Society, WHS staff veterinarian Dr. Karen Rounds took over his care. When Zane met Dr. Rounds, this critically ill pup who couldn’t stand or even lift his head wagged his tail.
For several days, Dr. Rounds and the small but mighty WHS vet staff provided around-the-clock care for Zane. He needed assistance standing, going to the bathroom, and eating—but each day, he gained a little more strength. He fell down a lot in the first few weeks, but his moxie and goofy personality shined through and he just kept going.
Holding harm to account
As Zane’s condition improved, WHS forwarded reports and evidence from his horrific situation to the Whatcom County Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office. His former owner was arrested and charged with 1st degree animal cruelty. The other animals living on the property were legally surrendered to the custody of WHS. The Prosecutor’s Office was determined to hold his former owner accountable and was preparing to have Zane come to court as evidence in the case.
On the eve of the trial date, his former owner pled guilty to 1st degree animal cruelty and was given a short jail sentence as well as a lifetime ban of owning animals in Washington State. At the time, this was considered a strong sentence. Zane’s case was and continues to be referred to when lobbying for stronger animal cruelty laws and discussing the link between domestic violence crimes and animal abuse.
Time to celebrate the great things in life
Thankfully, due to a community of people that came together to help Zane, he was able to make a full recovery and was adopted by WHS Executive Director, Laura Clark. Over the past 14.5 years, he has enjoyed a peaceful country home with his mom and dad and so many dog, cat & chicken siblings. His life is and continues to be filled with only great things. He loves his daily hikes in the woods, swimming in the nearby lakes and rivers, playing with his four-legged siblings, protecting the resident chickens, going to work with his mom, helping with humane education events at the shelter, and being a spokes-dog and advocate for stronger laws to protect animals big and small.
As Zane reaches his 15th year—a milestone in its own right and certainly for a pup who suffered as he did at a young age—he wants to celebrate by giving back to both his human friends and fellow shelter animals. Between Friday, January 10, and Friday, January 24, Zane will spend time thanking some of the people, groups, and supporters who helped save him and enabled him to live his best life ever since. He is also hoping folks in the community will once again lend him a paw in honor of his birthday and help raise $15,000 for animals like him that will come through the doors of the Whatcom Humane Society in 2025.
If you’re a Friend of Zane and want to join him in giving back, we so appreciate your support in the following ways:
1. Help him and us reach his $15,000 fundraising goal by making a donation here anytime between today and Friday, January 24:
You can also mail or drop off a donation at the shelter–just be sure to let us know it’s in honor of Zane so we can let him know and include it in our total!
2. Zane and all of us are also always appreciative of in-kind donations of pet food and supplies, which are shared among all of the shelter animals and as part of our Pet Food Bank to support animals and their people throughout our community. You can check out our Chewy and Amazon wish lists or visit any of our amazing local pet supply stores using the accepted items list here.