Fur Ball helps raise funds and awareness for New Hope Humane Society

WORLAND – Every year, approximately 6.5 million animal companions enter animal shelters nationwide. Out of that number, it’s estimated that 3.2 million shelter animals get adopted every year.

New Hope Humane Society in Worland provides an opportunity for people in the Washakie County area to adopt a pet and give a rescued animal a ‘fur’ever home.

Several members of the Northern Wyoming News staff shared their stories about their adoptions leading up to this Friday’s Fur Ball fundraiser for New Hope at the fairgrounds.

Staff writer Tracie Mitchell recently adopted her puppy Willow a couple of weeks ago. This is the first animal Mitchell has adopted from NHHS.

“Something inside me had said ‘this is your dog and you need to have her,’ from the minute I saw her,” Mitchell said. “After I saw her and told her [Humane Society director Edie Cliame] I wanted to have her I went up there every day for a week, twice a day so week could start the bonding process.”

Willow, now 9 weeks old, comes to work with Mitchell every day and has been named the office emotional support animal and mascot.

“She’s doing beautiful, she’s well behaved, she’s already learned how to walk on her leash and she knows how to sit…” Mitchell said. Willow’s also starting to learn how to get along with her older sister.

Buddy and Chuck are also two furry friends adopted from the NHHS by Northern Wyoming News Editor Karla Pomeroy.

The two feline friends were adopted together from the humane society three years ago.

“We always adopt or do rescue animals. And these specifically were supposed to be outdoor mousers, but they’re still part of our family, as can be seen by the beds, the heated house and the cat tree by our front door,” Pomeroy said.

Pomeroy decided to adopt Buddy and Chuck due to a mouse and rat problem.

“Even though they were adopted for a purpose, they’re still members of our family,” Pomeroy said. “They still have a stocking at Christmas; they go for walks with us when we walk the dogs. They do their job well, but we have a lot of fun with them.”

Buddy and Chuck are now 6 and 7 years old.

Also having adopted from New Hope Humane Society is Production Manager Jane Elliott.

Elliott has adopted two dogs from NHHS, the first in October 2005. Her second dog was adopted in August 2017.

“I volunteer for Basset Rescue. Because of that, I realized how many dogs were in need,” she said. “There’s something about taking an animal out of a shelter that they seem to bond really strongly with you.”

Elliott’s dogs are now 14.5 and 5 years old.

Another adopted companion is Whiskey. Staff intern, Cyd Lass and her family first adopted the dog almost eight years ago.

“He’s grown up to be such a good boy,” Lass said. “He’s my brother’s best friend. He always waits by the door for him to come home from school, snuggles with him and overall seems to make the household complete. Not to mention, he’s the perfect kitty-sitter when the cat is doing something he’s not supposed to.”

“He was a puppy at the time, which probably played to my family’s appeal, but I personally believe that with so many animals in need, adoption should always be a first option,” she said.

Whiskey will be 8 years old in October.

Three years ago, Advertising Director Amanda Owens also adopted a furry friend from the shelter. Her canine companion, Malibou is now 3.5 years old.

Owens believes it’s important to focus on animals that still need homes instead of supporting puppy mills.

“It felt nice to give her a home,” Owens said. “It’s her house, we just live there.”

NEW HOPE HUMANE SOCIETY FUR BALL

This Friday, New Hope Humane Society will be holding their ninth annual Worland Fur Ball.

The Worland Fur Ball is an annual fundraising event to benefit the humane society. The event will be held at the Washakie County Fairgrounds; with doors opening at 5 p.m. Dinner catered by The Brass Plum will start at 6 p.m.

Organizer Deb Coronado of New Hope said that along with dinner, the fundraiser will also include other activities and events. There is a silent and live auction and a dog-house challenge. According to Coronado, the dog house challenge is were individuals or businesses can create unique dog or pet houses to be auctioned off.

There will also be raffle boards, gift baskets and other activities.

Tickets are available for purchase at Tharp Veterinary Clinic, Pet Barn, Larsen’s Bicycles, Cloud Peak Veterinary Service, Big Horn Co-Op Farm Store and New Hope Humane Society.