Dear Friends:

Thank you for your support and making 2011 a turnaround year. It is because of you – either through your monetary donations, your volunteering and your moral support – that we have been able to achieve so much and save so many lives.

You have made it possible for SOHS to start 2012 on solid financial footing. I am extremely happy to report that we have satisfied the loan on our facilities at 2910 Table Rock Rd. and are once again debt free.

In 2011, Southern Oregon Humane Society found new homes for 1320 cats and dogs. Among those animals placed were 667 animals that came to us via our Saving Train program. These animals were facing or were already scheduled for euthanasia when we reached out to facilities in our region and offered these pets a second chance.

2012 holds many challenges for us. We are committed to providing the animals entrusted to our care a healthy, safe and warm environment. Doing so has been a challenge in our aging facility. That challenge was taken up by the community is surprising and wonderful ways this past year. First was Georgia – the dog who came to our rescue after we came to hers. The person who adopted Georgia from SOHS anonymously gave us $75,000 to keep our doors open. Next came Feia, a cat so beloved that when she passed, her owner could not conceive of getting another companion. Instead, Gloria Neumann of Central Point asked us to establish a Feia Matching Grant. Neumann, who died this past fall, personally donated $100,000 for kennel repairs. Ongoing projects funded by her generosity include improving the effectiveness of the heaters and wind barriers for our large-dog population; installing safety mats in public and animal walkways to get feet and paws up off the ice and prevent injuries; and finding better ways to handle illness-prone puppy populations and providing isolation areas to better control disease.

While some of the solutions may involve renovation or construction, we are working to make as many immediate low-cost improvements as possible to ensure the best use of our limited funds.

I am grateful for our wonderful, caring staff and the dedicated group of SOHS volunteers. Through their hard work and commitment, all of the animals in our facility receive a triangle of care. For example, each dog gets walked daily, gets separate play time in one of our play yards and, due to our unique PALS program, receives quality “quiet time” with a local high school student who simply sits with the animal as a true pal. While the volunteer handling the walking and play time varies from day to day, the animal’s PAL is consistent. This helps these dogs rebuild their trust that humans do come back and that calm and quiet moments are a valued part of the human/animal bond.

Earning and maintaining your trust and faith is equally important to all of us involved with SOHS. Staff, board members and volunteers alike know that everyday we have the opportunity to improve a life and also the responsibility to be good stewards of the donations of people who care so deeply about homeless animals.

I look forward to meeting you this coming year at one of our events, including Toast for Tails, scheduled May 12.

Thank you for your trust, your support and for making the successes of 2011 possible.

Sincerely,

Kenn Altine

Executive Director