Black Friday is coming and that means deals and savings. But there’s no greater saving than life-saving! Join us this weekend for FREE* adoptions! Come out to 8464 Beach Blvd. between Friday, November 29, and Sunday, December 1, to find your new furry friend. In addition to the hundreds of dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies available for adoption at JHS, our friends at Animal Care and Protective Services will also be joining us with some special furry guests. You won’t want to miss this lifesaving special!

*Additional fees may apply

It may not be Girl Scout Cookie Season, but this story is just as sweet. 🍪

Meet Girl Scout Troop 2286. When it came time to pick a project for their “Bronze Award”, the girls decided to support animals in their community by making “Pet Starter Packs” for dogs and cats in their communities.

The scouts spent time learning what supplies would be needed, shopping for the best prices and tie-dying the pillowcases. Each pillowcase was transformed into a bag and filled with the supplies a family would need to care for a pet during the first few days in its new home.

The bags had items such as dog/cat food, bowls, toys, litter boxes and scoops, and dog/cat treats. Labels were also attached so we could easily identify which bags were for dogs vs. cats.

 

Girl Scout Troop 2286 with JHS team member Allie Plummer.Not only will this project benefit families and pets in our town, but the girls learned many valuable lessons. They researched supplies needed to care for pets, comparison shopped, designed a bag that serves dual purposes as a pillowcase, and even learned how to tie-dye! Perhaps the biggest lesson of all was the joy that comes from helping others.

The project also has another layer – sustainability. According to Troop Leader Débora McCarty, “We are providing a simple flyer to be posted on the Jax Humane Society’s counter, so all who come can see how easy it is to put a bag together. We are also spreading the word on social media.”

Each bag had a label for “dog” or “cat” and supplies inside.As a local, independent 501c3 non-profit, the Jacksonville Humane Society relies on donations to support our mission. Donations come in all shapes and sizes – some even come in tie-dyed pillowcases. We are delighted that these young ladies chose to support keeping pets and people together. As we say … generosity breeds joy!

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If you would like to conduct a similar project, here are the steps to take:

1. Answer the following questions – how do you care for a dog or cat? what supplies are needed?
2. Decide how you will purchase the necessary items. Shop around!
3. Purchase pillowcases and tie-dye.
4. Make a list of items to go in each bag. Label as dog or cat.
5. Select an animal shelter in your area and deliver!

More Info:

• Looking to adopt a pet? Meet ours!
• Other ways kids can volunteer with JHS.
• JHS Kids’ Camp and Pawsitive Reading Program
• Find a Girl Scout Troop near you.

Find other fun ideas on the JHS Pinterest:

Your support on Giving Tuesday lead to a grand total of $44,286.26 for pets and the people who love them. Your donations will make a difference in the lives of families in our community.  Whether we’re treating pets like family by providing compassionate care, bringing families together through pet adoption, or keeping families together with their pets – family is our focus. Generosity breeds joy!

 

Unable to donate on Tuesday? No problem! You can still give by clicking here.

With kitten season nipping at our paws, JHS is in preparation mode and we need your help! We’re assembling kitten packs that are designed to fulfill every need of a kitten who comes to our shelter without Mama. These include items like milk replacement, bottles and rice socks to keep the babies warm.

We have an Amazon wishlist that has every item we need, including which items are most needed and why. With your kind donation we can get through kitten season together!

If you’re interested in being a potential kitten foster or if a kitten falls into your hands, JHS has a few great tips:

• If you come across an orphaned kitten, click here. Or, click here, for DIY heating pads.
• Receive a free kitten foster training class April 29th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 8464 Beach Blvd., hosted by the Jacksonville Kitten Army, by registering here. There is no obligation to foster after taking the class, it is designed to save the lives of orphaned kittens in Jacksonville!

You can also visit our foster webpage for more information on becoming a foster parent.

Last year, more than 11,000 kittens under the age of 5 months arrived at Jacksonville shelters. We can’t save them without your help. Thank you!