BRATTLEBORO — Windham County Humane Society (WCHS) has been aiding the pets and people of Windham County for over 130 years.
“Hundreds of dogs, cats, bunnies, rats, mice, and even a gerbil or two find a safe caring place to temporarily reside until his/her next home is found” WCHS operations director Keri Roberts said in a news release.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Roberts said the Humane Society rolled out basic vaccines and services to help local pet owners provide for their animals, thus helping pets stay well and stay with the people who love them.
“Adding an entirely new program, along with meeting the increase in the cost of vaccines and medications for the shelter animals, is something everyone at the Humane Society is focused on,” said WCHS executive director Maya Richmond. “Being fully self-funded, what we are able to do is dependent on fundraising and donations.”
Save Our Tails Online Auction is the humane society's newest event. It is an online auction featuring gift cards and certificates from dozens of area businesses. But Richmond said what is really a treat is that among the gift cards are unique experiences for the shelter's animals.
“We know people love putting their donations right to work making life better for the animals,” she said. “So, instead of asking for a donation to provide medication or vaccines, we thought 'let's give these cute yappy fuzzballs some special pampering!'”
Along with Clicking, Bidding, and Winning a gift card for dinner or a great local beer, you can buy the dogs a steak broth popsicle party to cool them off on a sweltering day.
If you are a cat lover, you can indulge and warm your heart by doing a “buy-it-now” Cosmic Catnip experience for the shelter cats. Your donation will provide the cats with fresh Vermont-grown catnip, guaranteed to have them purring for hours.
Or, are you wigged out by creepy-crawly things? Gift the shelter a “Tick mitigation experience” and let the experts whack away the risk of ticks hopping on the animal's fur or taking a ride inside the pant leg of a volunteer while walking around their property.
Finally, give the dogs a day out on the town, a field trip to the city. Toss on an “adopt me cape” and let that drool cascade out of an eager dog's mouth as they head into town to sniff so many unimaginable scents.
These are just a few of the special offerings an animal lover can win or buy as part of the Save Our Tails auction. All funds raised go directly to animal care and veterinary expenses.
You can find the auction landing page by visiting the Events page on WCHS's website at windhamcountyhumane.org, or by going directly to 32auctions.com/Save-Our-Tails. Bidding ends on Friday, June 10, at 5 p.m.