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Our Community Partners...
They Support us!...and we encourage you to support them.
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executive director kATE mEGHJI Takes the Helm January 2, 2019
The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County (HSVB) has, following a nationwide search, appointed Kate Meghji as the organization’s new executive director effective January 2, 2019. Meghji will direct the operation of HSVB's 44,000+ square-foot nonprofit facility, its wellness clinic, and its two thrift shops as well as overseeing the organization’s many programs that serve to protect the animals of Indian River County.
Kate has extensive experience in the field of animal care and sheltering. She is currently serving as the executive director of the Lawrence Humane Society in Lawrence Kansas and was previously the executive director of Sinai Temple in Champaign Illinois, and shelter manager for the Champaign County Humane Society. Meghji holds an M.B.A. from University of Illinois in Urbana and a B.S. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Evergreen State College in Washington.
READ MORE. . .
Bark in the Park - January 12, 2019!Hop your pooch in the car and join the Humane Society’s shelter dogs for a FREE family friendly, dog’s day at Riverside Park.
We will have the Disconnected K9’s performing their world famous Frisbee acts, the Ultimate Dock Diving Dogs, a kids zone, lure course, vendor and food booths, and much more. This is a free admission event for all to enjoy. Thousands attend every year. If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor, or would like to showcase your business through a vendor booth, please contact Maria Springer at mspringer@hsvb.org. |
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Great Grants! Thank you to our funders.
The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County (HSVB) recently received a coveted Spark Grant for Animal Welfare Innovation from the American Society for the Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA). The $20,000 grant supports HSVB’s Adoption is a Click Away program. The ASPCA provides Spark grants to ignite creative ideas that can improve welfare and/or outcomes for vulnerable cats and/or dogs. More than 700 letters of inquiry were received for the competitive program.
READ MORE...
HSVB’s Adoption is a Click Away program will fundamentally change the way a potential adopter is introduced to an adoptable dog by showing dogs to their best advantage. We all know that first impressions count. In shelters, the traditional matchmaking of people and pets begins with a visit to the kennel. People walk past the line of dogs and are greeted by a chorus of barking animals. Visitors size up the dogs through a cage barrier and try to decide which dog to get to know better. In their mind, they are looking for a particular breed, size, color, etc., while we know that better adoptions are made when adopters are attuned to a dog’s personality -- something nearly impossible to discern while the dogs are in an unnatural and stressful kennel environment. Six months ago, HSVB undertook a new behavioral playgroup program called Play Dogs Play, which has a state of the art play yard placed front and center adjacent to our adoption center -- the perfect environment for adopters to observe specific dogs at play and get to know their personalities. But of course, playgroups only run a couple of hours per day, so the constant refrain from our staff and volunteers is: “if only everyone could see the dogs playful and enjoying themselves all the time, we know they would be adopted faster.” This project will allow all potential adopters to do just that – see what our big dogs are like when they are playing and being social in a natural environment. The ASPCA Spark grant supports the purchase of equipment so that staff and volunteers can take short video clips of each dog in our Play Dogs Play group, and then upload the clips to Instagram (and other social media platforms). The videos will be channeled to touchscreen monitors mounted in the main kennel where the dogs are housed. When potential adopters visit the kennel, they will be able to touch the screen and see a particular dog at play in their natural environment. They will see how the dogs react to and interact with other dogs, how energetic and playful they are and what behaviors adopters can expect to see when they bring their dog home. In addition, potential adopters can view the videos on their phones, on a touchscreen monitor in our busy thrift shops, and in our mobile adoption unit. This allows potential adopters in all areas of our county to see all of the dogs currently up for adoption in the kennel. |
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Shelter unites Hurricane Maria refugees with their displaced animals.
You could feel the warmth and love in the Humane Society's lobby as dogs from Puerto Rico were reunited with their families in Vero Beach. After being displaced by Hurricane Maria, many families made their way to Florida but were forced to temporarily leave their pets behind...
READ MORE ABOUT THESE REUNIONS...
These thirty cherished dogs arrived at the Vero Beach Regional Airport and
were greeted by the Humane Society's staff and volunteers. The dogs are
transported to the shelter, which is serving as a way station. Throughout the
day, families arrived at the shelter, eager to smother their pups with hugs and
kisses. We said our farewells to most of the dogs as they set off for their new
homes in cities including Orlando, Bartow, Winter Haven, Clearwater and
Jacksonville. You can help us continue our vital mission by making a donation.
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SUPPORT SPAY/NEUTER THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.We are so thankful to have received a grant from Florida Animal Friend! This great assistance will allow us to provide hundreds of additional animals with low cost spay and neuter services. Help us further this cause! Purchase a Florida Animal Friend Spay and Neuter license plate TODAY, so that other organizations across the sate of Florida can make a difference too!
Learn about this special license plate. |
What does it mean?
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We are Indian River County’s only open admission animal shelter. That’s an important distinction. It clearly sets us apart from every other Shelter in the area. But, do our friends and supporters really understand...
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Sheri and Buffy
Judy & Mason Blue
Horace and Whitey
Kathleen & Otto
LESLIE & sPIRIT
Mike and Nala
Rachel and Tigger
Michelle & Jeff with Gracie
Missing out?
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Animals do speak, but only to those who know how to listen. |
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Click image to download
a copy of our current Annual Report. |
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization with a mission to find lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together.
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The Hill's Food, Shelter & Love® program donates food to shelters across the country, providing the proper nutrition that helps pets find their way to loving homes.
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