This article was featured in WYDaily on 9/13/24
The Heritage Humane Society celebrated a successful 2024 Clear the Shelters event where 137 homeless pets found their fur-ever homes. During the month-long event held Aug. 10 through Sept. 10, people and pets became families with this year’s tally including 61 kittens, 33 cats, 35 dogs, one puppy, three guinea pigs, two rats and even two roosters – giving the shelter a lot to squawk about!
National event drives local solution
This year marked the 10th anniversary of Clear the Shelters. NBCUniversal Local, including WAVY TV 10 in Hampton Roads, teamed up with hundreds of shelters like The Heritage Humane Society across the country to host Clear The Shelters for 2024. Since 2015, this nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign has helped find loving homes for more than one million pets in need.
From being on the news to being in new homes
Adopters during this year’s Clear the Shelter event at The Heritage Humane Society were invited to spin the “Wheel of Pet Fortune.” Prizes included savings on adoptions and on merchandise in the shelter’s ReTAIL store.
Among the highlights of this year’s event was a visit from WAVY TV 10 on Sept. 4. Meteorologist Don Slater helped showcase several adoptable pets, including dogs Rascal Flatts, Skye, Mini Max, and brothers Max and Rocko. By the following day, every dog featured on the segment had found a home, either through adoption or foster-to-adopt arrangements. Rascal Flatts and Skye were officially adopted, while Mini Max and the brother duo Max and Rocko went to foster homes with plans for adoption.
Pawsitively heartwarming stories
Each one of the 137 adopted pets has their own story-filled journey that led to their adoption. Here are a few from this year’s Clear the Shelters chapter.
-
Rascal Flatts. This little pup had his own moment in the spotlight that led to his life turning into a success story. After seeing Rascal Flatts in one of the news segments on television, Rascal Flatts’ adopter was instantly drawn to the little star. The next day, the adopter drove from Portsmouth to The Heritage Humane Society where he waited with great anticipation for an hour in the parking lot hoping he was the lucky one to adopt Rascal Flatts. He was, and now the two are a happy duo.
-
Hey There Delilah. Named for the popular, catchy tune, Delilah the dog had been in the shelter’s care since Dec. 30. Her adoption was made possible by shelter friend Williamsburg Jewelers. The active community supporter sponsors the adoption fees for dogs from The Heritage Humane Society that visit their store on the fourth Saturday of every month. Delilah’s long-awaited adoption took place on Aug. 31, marking a happy ending for one of the shelter’s longest-resident dogs. Since the partnership with Williamsburg Jewelers began in Dec. 2023, 11 adoptable dogs have visited the store, with 10 finding forever homes.
-
Glinda. One-year-old Glinda, a dilute calico cat who had been at the shelter since Apr. 9 after being transferred from an overcrowded shelter. Glinda found her forever home on Sept. 4. Her adopter, Brittany Jeffries, shared that Glinda, now called “Linda” or “Kitty,” loves watching TV, playing with toys and receiving plenty of affection.
More pets hoping for their adoption day
Clear the Shelters might be over for 2024, however, there are over 260 dogs, cats and small pets currently in the shelter’s care. Adoptable pets are available to meet during The Heritage Humane Society’s visiting and adopting hours from noon to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
To learn more, visit HeritageHumane.org, call 757-221-0150, or visit The Heritage Humane Society located at 430 Waller Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185.
Sponsored content by
Be Kind to them All – Love them All – Save them All.
