Driftless Humane Society: Kia Pet Adoption Grant Report

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

The Kia Pet Adoption Grant allowed our small shelter to offer waived adoption fees in collaboration with "Clear the Shelters" in August. Within two weeks, we depleted the funds provided in the grant on adoption fees.

We kept the free adoptions going through the entire month and are still ecstatic about the outcomes. The event was a huge success and allowed 68 animals to find their forever homes.

For our small, rural shelter in southwestern Wisconsin, this number is HUGE for one month. It equates to 20% of the total adoptions that Driftless Humane Society (DHS) had in 2021!

As a non-profit shelter that is funded mainly by private donations and adoption fees, we would not have been able to offer the event without this generous grant. DHS and all of the animals who found their forever families are eternally grateful!

How many pets did this grant help?

68

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

Sheila (first and second photos) is a 2-year-old domestic shorthair who had spent her life outside. She was a friendly neighborhood cat who was unowned by any one person, but cared for by a collection of neighbors.

In the spring of 2022, it became apparent that Sheila was expecting a litter of kittens and, as her belly grew, so did the concern of the neighbors. It was decided that, to give Sheila and her litter-to-be the best chance at survival, she should be brought to Driftless Humane Society (DHS).

After coming to DHS very pregnant, she enjoyed the comforts of inside life and couldn’t get enough attention! She had four of the sweetest babies, all of whom found their forever homes right away.

Sheila, however, wasn’t so lucky and ended up being in the care of DHS for 21 weeks. Despite her sweet disposition, potential adopters kept passing her by. Sweet, soft, loving, friendly, and a great mama — what more could you ask for?

When we launched our free adoptions for the month of August in collaboration with Clear the Shelters, traffic drastically increased at the shelter. This increased exposure allowed Sheila to meet Rhiannon, a wonderful woman who took the time to get to know Sheila and fall in love.

You know how the rest of the story goes: They lived happily ever after!