News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Folks in Sisters love animals. They show it in many ways, from their relationships with their own pets to creating pet-focused art to support for the Furry Friends Pet Food Drive.
And some help out by volunteering for the Humane Society of Redmond.
Sana Hayes is one of those volunteers. She visits the shelter regularly to walk dogs and play with animals - and she uses her talents as a photographer to help them find adoptive homes.
"I've been going every Tuesday and taking photos of the new animals that are coming in and posting them to petfinder.com," she told The Nugget. "A really good photo can make a big difference."
It has helped. According to Humane Society of Redmond board member Reese Mercer, adoptions were recently up 17 percent over the previous quarter.
The shelter in Redmond is committed to setting up animals for success, Mercer explains. There is daily enrichment to stimulate the animals and help those that have been neglected or abused regain their equilibrium and socialization. Every dog is walked every day.
"We want them to want to be around people again," Mercer said. "It's amazing how quickly they overcome and come back."
The Redmond shelter is considered a "high save" shelter; with a 97 percent save rate.
They also provide support services, including spay and neuter and "surrender intervention" before someone has to turn a pet over to the shelter.
Sisters provides homes for about seven percent of the animals at the shelter, Mercer reported.
As with all nonprofits, fundraising is a constant project for the Humane Society of Redmond - and every little bit helps. The shelter has managed to raise some $12,000 a year region-wide through collections of cans and bottles. Central Bark in Sisters collects on their behalf.
For more information on the programs of the Humane Society of Redmond and to inquire about volunteer opportunities, visit www.redmondhumane.org.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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