Humane Society of Highlands County: Disaster Response and Recovery Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

Storm relief from Hurricane Irma
Four extra spay/neuter surgery days in our clinic
Heartworm treatment
Vaccines
Microchips
Antibiotics
Skin treatment: medications and shampoos

With the funds, we were able to schedule four extra surgery days to be able to spay/neuter the large amount of animals coming to us. We were able to order extra supplies and medications. Several of the dogs we received were heartworm-positive. We had many who were extremely emaciated and needed special food. We had broken bones and extreme skin issues. We were able to save all who came through our doors except for two: one precious cat and one precious dog.

Watching these animals come through our doors in horrific condition and seeing them heal and learn to run and play is a feeling like no other. Our animals enjoy five large play yards and a huge swimming pool to swim and cool off. We feel we are the lucky ones, being able to heal their wounds and their hearts. Just one happy tail wag or lick on the cheek makes what we do worth very second of hard work.

How many pets did this grant help?

Following the weeks of the storm, we had more than 142 dogs and 137 cats come to us.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

There were so many, it is difficult to pick one. However, here are pictures of just a few who came to us in need. They had obviously weathered the storm and were found wandering the streets. We worked diligently with these animals. The public brought them special toys and treats. It was an honor to serve them and watch them heal. Without the extra funding we received, it would have been very difficult to treat as many as we did.