A Salute to Our Humane Heroes

An excited young girl stood outside the doors of our Santa Rosa shelter clutching a Dora lunchbox, eager to show us what was inside. When we came out to greet her, she opened the mini lunchbox like a magician and showed us over $200 in one-, five- and ten-dollar bills. This compassionate “Humane Hero” took the toys and books that she didn’t want anymore, sold them at a garage sale — and was now donating all the proceeds to the Humane Society of Sonoma County! She had become acquainted with Humane Education is HSSC as a younger child doing essential to raising new some volunteer work with her generations of caring, family. A couple of years later, empathetic adults who her family adopted a cat from the advocate for all living shelter. Fast forward to this special things. As this young, day, as she carefully handed over her lunchbox-toting child hard-earned money to help the animals. walked away from Humane Education has been proven to reduce the shelter with her violence towards animals and people, as it builds family, we hoped her compassion for all living things. Classes, camps and kindness would spread school visits from Humane Educators harness children’s like wildflower seeds natural fascination with animals as a building block for to every person lucky empathy, compassion, respect and social and emotional enough to cross learning. Introducing children to the importance of her path. Humane Heroes: The future of compassion. compassion toward animals early on sets them up for a For more information about our Humane Education lifetime of animal advocacy that extends to human and classes, please visit humanesocietysoco .org/campsenvironmental compassion as well as advocacy.

HumaneSocietySoCo.org/camps

ANIMAL ADVENTURE

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities!

Afterschool Classes * Saturday Workshops

Winter Camps * Read to a Dog * Birthday Parties Check out our website for the latest!

Holly, cont.

FROM P.17 by the joy this dog radiates, she strikes up a conversation. Dots are connected, phone numbers exchanged and soon we are speaking with Holly’s adopter, Wendy, for a heartwarming update! Wendy says Holly is “all about the love!” When she brought her home 10 years ago, Holly was still making rehabilitative progress. Wendy would take her out for walks in a sling where Holly became an ambassador among the neighbors — breaking the ice and delivering smiles. Beyond her abundance of cuteness and charm, Holly inspires everyone she meets with her spirit. In 2015, she captivated hearts at St. Francis Winery’s annual Blessing of the Animals, winning the “Winery Dog of the Year” award. Holly continues to bring cheer to all who cross her path. Wendy states, “She has boundless love and does not know the meaning of social distancing!” At 13 years old, Holly now walks with just a slight wobble. “She worked so hard to get to where she is. She never gave up!” Wendy says Holly’s ability to persevere, coupled with her capacity for joy and connection, have taught her so much in their years together. “Holly has been such a comfort during the pandemic. Even through floods and fire evacuations — no matter what’s going on — she just goes with the flow.” Wendy wraps up this happy tale with one simple statement: Holly going with the flow. “She gives everything meaning.” All of us here at HSSC could say the same about the animals we care for each day. They are the reason we are here. And giving them a chance to love and be loved on this journey is our greatest reward.