The Tattle Tails

New Look

Statistics

New year, new logo, new feel! Learn more about our transformation on page 2.

This issue is all about the astounding impact you were able to help us have during 2021.

The Tattle Tails The Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA Newsletter 2021 Impact Report

Mission

To create a community free of pet homelessness and animal suffering through adoption and advocacy.

Vision

To create a united community that values animal welfare.

Values Compassion Transparency Respect Empowerment

Board Beverly London President Eric Humphries Vice President Michael Sharp Treasurer Anngela Gibson Secretary Huck Nawaz ​Executive Director Directors: ​Dr. Darnice Pettigrew Tammy Katsorelos ​Jennifer Whistleman Brian Kroener

Surprise!

We are celebrating 2022 with a fresh, new look! We feel the new logo, colors, and branding will better represent the current Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA and the positive change we try to inspire.

Although our look has changed, our dedication to helping pets and people has not. Read through our 2022 Impact Report to see our lifesaving services in action.

Contents LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT

4

DONOR APPRECIATION

6

INTAKE STATISTICS

8

OUTCOME STATISTICS

9

MEDICAL CARE

10

EVENTS

12

TRIBUTES

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Letter from the Director Dear Friends, We’ve experienced, what I hope is the worst of, a global pandemic and are now inundated with news of the war in Ukraine. We live in a hyper connected world where the nonstop barrage of information can be overwhelming. Uncertainty and distractions abound. At least for me, there are days where I find myself driving home wondering if there is anything going right in the world.

Fortunately for me, as it may be the case for you, those thoughts leave my mind as I walk in my house and am greeted by love on four legs. His name is Opie. A now fourteen-year-old Australian Shepherd, whom I adopted five years ago. It’s the connection that I share with Opie that allows me to disconnect, momentarily, from my worldly concerns. Opie and I share a bond much like the one I’m sure you share with your pets.

Helping people and the pets in our care create these lasting bonds is the most rewarding part of our jobs here at the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA. In fact, last year we helped 1,645 dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters and a few parakeets find a person of their own to bond with. And that’s not counting the hundreds of volunteers and fosters they had a chance to bond with as well.

The human-animal bond is truly something special. We saw this with the sharp increase in adoptions and support of the foster program when the pandemic started. We saw it again with the influx of volunteers as people got vaccinated and were able to come into the shelter. We’re also seeing it on display as Ukrainian citizens flee for safety with their beloved pets in tow.

Our love for animals and concern for their welfare has also created a bond between us. You are our volunteers, fosters, donors and advocates that make possible our lifesaving work. Your continued support made 2021 our most impactful year. I hope you will enjoy the recap of our accomplishments last year and reading about some of the human-animal bonds that you made possible here at the RHSPCA. With Gratitude,

Huck & Opie Huck Nawaz Executive Director RHSPCA Impact Report

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Community Sup Volunteers

Fosters

loads of laundry dog walks

Get Involved!

Our volunteers help us provide compassionate care for local animals. They can often be found walking dogs, feeding animals, cleaning crates, emptying litter boxes, and more. Our pets love our volunteers because they enrich their day through play, socialization, activity and personal care. It is with their support that we can help pets and people live happier, healthier lives. Come join us at rhspca.org/ volunteer!

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RHSPCA Impact Report

pets adopted

from foster homes

417 foster homes 1,036 animals fostered

315 volunteers 8,916 volunteer hours 3,074 9,360

253

992 263

cats fostered dogs fostered

Save Lives

The RHSPCA builds trusting relationships with individuals willing to foster local pets in their homes.

Pets thrive in these loving and attentive environments, and foster parents provide us with valuable information to help us pair pets with potential adopters. We support these valued volunteers by providing for their foster pet’s needs, including comprehensive medical care, food and more. Get involved today at rhspca.org/foster!

pport

We would not be able to save pet lives without the support of our community. Our team is passionate about working together to help pets and people.

Check out the impact we were able to have in 2021:

Social Media

Community Cats

25,848 online supporters

111 Barn Cats vetted,

microchipped & adopted

302 felines impacted by our Community Cat Program

@rhspca @therhspca Sign Up!

Our foster parents create meaningful bonds with shelter animals. Taking home a pet in need helps our shelter by creating space for more animals that need our help in the community.

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@rhspca

Oliver was the most amazing cat to foster. He livened up our apartment and brought so much joy to not only me, but all of my roommates. From his cuddles to his zoomies, he always found a way to make us smile. He is now living his best life in his forever home with his new best friend!" said foster, Francheska.

RHSPCA Impact Report

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Donors Did you know that over half of our annual budget comes from generous community donations? We are not affiliated with any national organizations, such as the ASPCA or the HSUS. Instead, we rely on our local community, individuals and businesses to give what they can to improve animal welfare in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Together, we can continue to care and advocate for over 2,600 local animals that need us each year.

In 2021... 1,183 General Fund

This is the RHSPCA's greatest need. The General Fund provides shelter, food, care, and enrichment for the 200+ pets that we care for on average.

generous donors contributed to these funds:

Have a Heart Fund

Our Have a Heart Fund was established to provide lifesaving diagnostics & treatment for pets with specialized medical needs.

159 pets helped in 2021.

Community Cat Fund

The Community Cat Fund helps decrease feline overpopulation in our community by distributing spay/neuter vouchers to local colony caretakers. Each voucher also includes basic vetting.

(pictured to the right), a 10-yearold miniature poodle, was surrendered to our shelter last year- neglected and scared. We treasure seeing donors develop strong bonds with the animals that their funding saves, like Megan and Molly.

Molly

I immediately offered to foster her - and over the next two months as she navigated dental surgery and infections, she created a place that will forever remain in my heart! She got to go to the Farmers Market every week, visit my students in the classroom, and meet so many

,,

new friends. She is now living her best life in with a sweet family who focuses on rescuing senior small dogs. Her transformation was incredible and I was so glad to be a part of it!" said volunteer, foster, and donor, Megan.

One day while volunteering at the shelter, I came across a sweet, scared, blind little pup in a kennel who pulled on my heartstrings. She arrived matted, dirty, and in rough shape.

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RHSPCA Impact Report

RHSPCA Impact Report

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Intakes

2,693 1,131 1,413 68 35 36 10

Owner Surrender Stray Return Born in Care Service In Transfer In

Felines Galore

Over 60% of our stray intakes were felines, with 495 being kittens and 392 being adult cats, for a total of 887.

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I fell I love with five kittens when their momma decided they would be safe living under our deck. This was my view every morning until we were able to catch them and their momma and bring them to RHSPCA. Of course I ended up keeping one!" said volunteer, Kelly.

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RHSPCA Impact Report

Positive Outcomes 2,490 1,631 452 407 114 48

Adoption Transfer Return to Owner Euthanized Died in Care

Record-Breaking!

1,631 pets found loving homes in 2021. The highest number ever for our shelter!

Live Release Rate

Did you know?

We are proud to hold a 94% Live Release Rate. This number is calculated by dividing the total number of positive outcomes by the total number of all outcomes. A LRR of 90% is the industry benchmark for lifesaving efforts in shelters.

Last year, we were able to reunite 70% of homeless dogs with their families (that’s 2x the national average)!

We were also able to return 7% of homeless cats to their owners (more than 3x the national average)!

RHSPCA Impact Report

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Helping the people in our

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community, and the pets in our care, create lasting bonds is the most rewarding part of our job here at the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA." - Huck Nawaz, Executive Director

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RHSPCA Impact Report

Medical It’s amazing what our dedicated staff are able to accomplish without a fulltime veterinarian. In 2021:

34,164

treatments were completed

6,621

vaccines were administered

1,541

Have a

Heart

3

amputations

spay/neuter surgeries were performed

This special fund is used for lifesaving medical treatment. One animal that benefitted from our Have a Heart Fund in 2021 was Lady (pictured below).

Lady is a senior beagle that came to us with the largest hernia our shelter has ever seen! With the help of generous donations to this fund, Lady was able to have the surgery that she so desperately needed. She made a full recovery and now lives happily with her new, loving family.

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eye surgeries

117

bloodwork

15 40

dentals

sets of x-rays

RHSPCA Impact Report

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Events

In 2021, our community came out to support the RHSPCA at:

Perfectly Imperfect Portraits

Great Community Give

An online fundraiser that creates one-of-akind artwork of your pet!

A whole day dedicated to supporting local nonprofits in our area.

Each March, the RHSPCA recruits volunteers to become "artists" for the month to recreate portraits of our donors' pets. Last year, we had over 140 pieces commissioned with donations supporting the shelter's general fund.

2022 Event: March 1-31st

We've participated in the Great Community Give since its inception and always value the support that the community gives us during the day of giving. In 2021, we raised over $30,000 together for our pets in need!

2022 Event: April 20th

Alumni Picnic

Summer Jam

A celebration of adoption and forever families.

Our largest event of the year has returned!

Every year, the RHSPCA invites back all alumni pets (and their families) to host an outdoor picnic with food, games, and giveaways. In 2021, we had over 60 families come out with their pets to enjoy the day.

2022 Event: June (date TBD)

2021 was our best Summer Jam yet! We had record-breaking attendance, great food vendors, talented bands, fun activities, and plenty of beer and wine. This is also our most impactful fundraiser of the year.

2022 Event: July 3rd

Empty the Shelters

Festival of Trees

Adoption specials sponsored by the Bissell Pet Foundation.

A festive silent auction benefiting our Community Cat Program!

We team up with the Bissell Pet Foundation each quarter to host sponsored adoption specials for our local community. In 2021, we hosted 4 of these events and had 163 pets find loving, forever homes.

2022 Event: May (date TBD)

Last year, we had our first holiday silent auction hosted by Advocates for Valley Animals. We had over 50 items bid on online & in-person at the shelter. All funds raised went to our Community Cat program.

2022 Event: December (date TBD)

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RHSPCA Impact Report

Contact Us

Thank You! We would not have been able to save 2,490 pet lives in 2021 without the generous support of our donors, fosters, volunteers, and adopters.

We look forward to helping many more pets in need together!

Other Ways to Support: Monthly Giving Set up a monthly donation that will help thousands of animals during the year. You won't forget or need to set up a regular reminder when you choose to send your donation through our secure & automated system.

Stock Options By donating your stock options, you eliminate the capital gains tax that you would have to pay if you sold the shares yourself. It’s a win-win for both you and our furry friends!

2170 Old Furnace Rd. Harrisonburg, VA 22802 (540) 434-5270 info@rhspca.org www.rhspca.org @rhspca @rhspca @therhspca

Employer Matching

Estate Planning

Your donation could be doubled if your employer participates in match giving.

Simply provide proof of your donation and our pets could receive a matching gift, at no cost to you!

You can support homeless animals for years to come when you include the RHSPCA in your will.

Learn more at rhspca.org/ways-to-give.

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Tributes

From November 2021 to February 2022.

What better way to recognize an important presence in your life than acknowledging them while also helping animals in need? Each tribute donation allows us to continue providing for the animals that come into our care, thus giving them a second chance to be someone’s loving pet again.

Joe & Elaine Behl Frank & Jean Gearing Judge John A. Paul Diane Lepkowski Kari Mueller John & Marcia McGrath

To make a tribute donation, please visit our website, or mail a check to: PO Box 413, Harrisonburg, VA 22803.

Lee A. Norford Ellis Draper Marijean Eye

In Honor of our Friends:

Lisa & Jalyn Spruhan Toni Stone

Leon Keuls Cammie Tutwiler

Mike & Valerie Harvey Joseph & Elaine Behl

Alaina Henry Henry & Carolyn Youmans

Randy, Donna, and Family Danny & Matthew Hales

Blanton & Laura Parrish Edward & Jane Parrish

Shelley Matthews Laura O'Neill

Care for Angel Babies Nancy Whitmore

Susan Wealthy Rockingham Insurance

Daniel Sanger John & Terrie Childress

William Joe Shilling Leonard & Carol Kosup

Delores Sours Douglas & Betty June Stover

Terri Denton Joseph & Elaine Behl

Denise Surber & Steve Gordon Joseph & Elaine Behl

In Honor of our Pets:

Diane Isernhagen Brett Isernhagen Dick & Susanne Myers Joseph & Elaine Behl Diogi & Dolly Rodger & Lenore Stallard Dr. & Mrs. Frank Gearing Joseph & Elaine Behl Grant Botkin & Kay Harrison Joseph & Elaine Behl

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RHSPCA Impact Report

Artemis & Topper Richard & Pamela Wilkins Baby Chrisandra Kufeldt Clarence, Sonic, & Snowball Kathy Snoddy Jilly, Buddy, Sammy and Dover Karen Connor

Kimmey Kathy Bushong

Frank & Hazel Mahoney Gary & Catherine Crummett

Kirby Downey Edward & Betsy Craun

Frankie Richard & Marcia Shaw

Ripken, Murray and Phoenix Emily Eby

Gerald Corbin Benjamin & Lisa Charles

Thor & Amp; Winks Lisa Kiracofe

Glenn "Boo" Heatwole McGaheysville Ruritan Club Brenda Long Kenneth & Grace Martin

Hobbie Gary & Diane Stopa

In Memory of our Friends: Bliss Robinson Boyers George & Marilou Johnson Chad Rhodes & Patrice Oliver Debbie Rhodes Charles & Shirley Baker Melrose Church of the Brethern Chris Lockhart Kathy & Jeffrey Cordova Daniel Sanger Karen Weimer Lacy Barker Mary Seeley Robert & Patricia Johnson Rodney & Dorothy Weaver Delores Sours Russell & Gloria Elyard Elizabeth "Sookie" Alvis Village at MP HOA c/o APMS Bill & Joan Sanger William Loomis

Jasmine Juli Oberdorff Jefferson Hensley Mitchell & Tarie Dean John Buchanan Betty Campbell Joseph Struse Jr. Charles & Vickie Phillips Joseph V. Struse, Jr. Kenneth & Deborah Snyder Joseph Vincent Struse Jr. Anna & Dana Palmer Duane & Sarah Fairweather Joyce Helbraun Penny and Emanuel Flecker Judy Cupp Maclam Ellitt's Knob Aerie No. 680 FOE Pamela & Michael Holmes

Elizabeth Alvis Diane Davis

Julias Everett Bradburn Norman & Joyce Bradburn

Frances Bolton Anna Cisney Charles & Joyce Suter Gary & Patricia Emswiler

Lloyd Meadows The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County

RHSPCA Impact Report

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In Memory of our Friends (cont.): Morgan Charles & Kitty Cline Murphy, Faithful Companion of Moran Family Debbie Mason Nitnoi Karen Wood Odie, Casey, Nellie, & Alfie Sandra Good-Wetsel Pamela Jane Bodkin Rebecca Driver Phyllis Ritchie Shenandoah Enterprises Inc. Charles & Vickie Phillips Ralph Mathias, Sr. Benjamin & Lisa Charles Ricky Blizzard Truck- Thermo King Faye Hiner Judy Rees Lee & Brenda Burgoyne Sheryl Grant Robert Sellers Blue Ridge Florist Roger Lee Woodward Denton Family Charitable Foundation Ryan Shute Fidelity Charitable Fund Sammie Drechsler Janice Drechsler Shirley Hevener Vivian Hevener Shirley Shaver & Charles Baker June Simmers

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RHSPCA Impact Report

Spencer, Gretchen, and Chester Hotinger Ronald & Linda Hotinger William Seymour Lucy Seymour

In Memory of our Pets: Alexia Lynne Stover

Bentley Nina Smith Coda & Honey Sydney Wright Cooper McLennan John & Nancy Sowers Dema Darnice Pettigrew Doc, Annie, Maggie, Charlie, and China Paula Caldwell Ginger Russell Anderson Hercules William Bosley Jackson Steve & Susan Albrite Jada Charles Bowden Jake, Hercules, and Wendy Lisa & Scott Kiracofe Lady Paul & Marsha Rexrode Leo, Bullitt and Chance Pamela Ragland Mack Marianne Halterman

Memphis Ronald Fulk Morgan Cline Charles & Kitty Cline Nellie B, Christy, Chancy, and T.G. Jane Ritchie Prinsie Donald & Suzanne Criss Ralphie Brian Koerner Reba Jane Dinsmore Jean O'Brien Scout Janine Stenson Whitby Derek & Karen Brownsword Willy Good Cat Marlene Gillikin Yogi & Lulu Michael & Angie Gochenour

RHSPCA Impact Report

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Harrisonburg, VA Permit No. 9

2170 Old Furnace Rd. Harrisonburg, VA 22802 (540) 434-5270 rhspca.org