Helping Those Without Homes
Photos and Writing by Aydan Garland-Miner
The Humane Society of Skagit Valley, is one of thousands of humane societies across the country, serving unwanted and abandoned animals. It was founded in 1974 with a four part mission: to provide shelter and care, to give the animals respect, to relocate them to proper homes, to create education programs to teach the public about humane treatment of animals, and to extract animals from disaster areas. Multiple wings for dogs take up the majority of shelter, the aniamsl ranging in size, age, temperament, and length of stay. There is also a wing for cats, where they have rooms for them to roam, and cages for those who must be kept separate. Animals as young as a few months, and as old as a decade reside there, in hopes that they will be relocated to loving homes.
A few of the many collars and leashes provided at the shelter for volunteers to take the dogs for walks.
This is what a typical dog unit looks like at the Humane Society of Skagit Valley.
This dog was one of three of the smallest dogs at the shelter, all kept in separate spaces, set apart from the medium and large sized dogs.
LillyAnna, a ten year old Carolina Mix that was surrended by her owner in early October.
Of all the cats in the shelter, this one was by far the loudest and most demanding of attention..
/>A young man sat on the floor of the cat room, snuggling with his soon to be new companion.
Some of the cats were less socialable and kept to themselves, like this one, which was perched on a bed high above the rest.
This kitten bounded around it's unit, running from one end to the other and back, very excited by the presence of new people in the room.
The one luxury of being a long term cat at the shelter is the freedom to roam around indoors and outdoors.
Like this one, all of the kittens are kept in their own units with a litter box, a bed, and a few toys.