Change is not easy, and as my time ends as executive director of the South Wood County Humane Society, I owe a great amount of thanks to many people for making my role here at the SWCHS a life changing experience.
This includes a very loyal group of employees, with whom I have laughed and cried. The employees here work very hard with extreme dedication. The conditions they work under are not always pleasant, and we face sad and intense situations on an almost daily basis. I am very proud of the staff, and will continue to support them in any way I can; they deserve it.
The shelter is blessed to have a strong core of volunteers. From helping with the day-to-day operations to organizing and running our fundraisers, they are all so appreciated and needed. The board of directors of the SWCHS are some of the best people I have ever had the privilege to work and be friends with. They are the driving force, the guides of our mission, and they are all stellar individuals.
I also want to thank our central Wisconsin municipalities, all of our five local veterinarians, and the many local businesses, groups, and individuals who go out of their way to help the shelter succeed. I must mention the major contributions of Helen Mead, The Petco Foundation, Tim and Kim Krause, the WoodTrust-Bell Foundation, The Mead Witter Foundation, and the Kiwak family. the VOICE newspaper, WalMart, Quality Feed and Seed, Renaissance Learning, Carol’s Grooming, and the Dog Star Pet Resort are amongst local businesses who continually donate to the shelter. Special thanks also to the staff of Incourage, our community foundation, for their support during our capital campaign.
Last, but definitely not least, the gratitude I feel is for you. Our central Wisconsin community has embraced the shelter. From the employees, volunteers and board, I cannot thank you enough. You helped the shelter win a nationwide shelter challenge, you attended and supported the many fundraisers, you helped us move to the new facility, and you gave the much needed donations of time, goods and money.
It has been heartwarming to host or visit schools or children’s groups and see eyes light up when they see a puppy or kitten, or to hear a senior citizen at an assisted living home talk for the first time in months when a cat is perched in their lap. I cannot begin to share the hundreds of happy stories people have told me about their adopted best friends. It is truly what makes all of the employees, volunteers and board strive to make the shelter the best it can be; the hope that today is the day one of the pets at the SWCHS finds a new home.
I will now step back onto the board of directors for the SWCHS and continue to help guide the policies and fundraise for the shelter. And speaking of fundraising, the SWCHS Christmas Bazaar will be held on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the old Movie Gallery location next to Rocky Roccoco’s. There will be holiday decorations and gifts, scrumptious baked goods, Christmas trees and decorations, and much, much more. Another fundraiser that I hope you will support to help the pets.
I guess some things never change.
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