April is Heartworm Awareness Month! 

Colt is a little groggy. He’s just coming out of sedation and seeking snuggles from our veterinary team, who are only too happy to oblige. The handsome hound mix has completely melted our hearts, but it’s actually his heart we’re keeping an eye on.

Colt has Heartworm, a disease that is spread to dogs through mosquitos. When an infected mosquito bites a dog, it leaves behind infective larvae, which mature into adult heartworms. (At this point, we could show you a picture of some infective heartworms, but we’d much rather show you more pictures of Colt’s beautiful sweet face!)

Compared to dogs, cats are somewhat resistant to infection, but it can still occur. These parasites can cause heart failure, lung disease and damage to other organs as well. Not only can Heartworm be life threatening to animals, treatment requires a series of sedated injections and oral medications over several months, as well as re-tests and extremely limited activity.

Heartworm treatment is lengthy, complicated and risky. Thankfully though, preventing it is much easier! According to the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control Abatement District, dogs are typically at highest risk of acquiring the disease from May through August. This means NOW is the perfect time to talk to your vet about the best method of prevention based on your pet’s risk factors and lifestyle.

We began Colt's treatments when he first came to us from a partner shelter and, now that he has been adopted, we’ll continue to work with his new family for the duration of his treatments. We are grateful to his family for providing a safe, loving home where he can continue to heal and look forward to a lifetime of snuggles and fun times ahead.

We are also grateful for YOU! Your compassionate support enables us to take in animals in need of lifesaving veterinary care. You make these loving second chances all possible and we appreciate you so much! 

Kitten Season is here and our shelter dogs are throwing a party!

Woof!! Taking care of kittens is a full time job! And HSSC will be inundated with hundreds of kittens in the coming months. They will need food, litter, heating pads, baby bottles, spay/neuter surgeries, and so much more!!

Our shelter dogs know how ruff things can get - so they're hosting a virtual kitten shower to help raise funds, supplies and fosters for their little furry four legged counterparts!

Your gift to our Kitten Shower helps supply these precious babies with all  they need to thrive on their journey to adoption! Find out how you can help a kitten today by clicking the button below! 

From all of us, especially the shelter dogs...

Thank You! ❤

Thank you, Julie Atwood and the HALTER Project for sponsoring Wags, Whiskers & Wine! 

Sponsoring our 2022 gala is just one of the many ways Julie Atwood and the HALTER Project help animals in our community! Julie founded the HALTER Project in 2013 as a grassroots initiative dedicated to the safety and welfare of people and animals in emergencies and disasters. The HALTER Project’s mission is two-fold: they facilitate training for first responders assisting animals in emergencies and they empower the community by connecting individuals who care about animals with the resources they need to be safe and prepared.

We are so grateful to Julie for supporting HSSC’s mission and for making our community a safer place for animals and the people who love them! halterproject.org

We're on the lookout for WONDERFUL sponsors to help us make this year's gala event our VERY BEST EVER! Please click the link above for all the details and contact us at gala@humanesocietysoco.org if you have any questions. More event details will be coming soon!!