CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Our recent refer-a-friend campaign ended on April 30, 2021. Thanks to everyone who participated.

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A bright spot among the many challenges we’ve faced in the last 12 months is the unprecedented rate at which rescue animals have found their forever homes through the Oregon Humane Society (OHS).

OHS has had a busy year as it transformed its operations at the outset of the pandemic to safely meet the growing demand for new pets and foster animals. Before the pandemic, 100,000 people would visit OHS every year to view, meet and adopt its rescue animals. Today, OHS conducts its adoption process virtually, showcasing animals and accepting applications online with interested pet owners before contacting them for an in-person meet and greet.

OHS’s new virtual adoption process allows staff to work one-on-one with potential adopters to ensure the right fit while keeping everyone safe. Although the new approach is more time and labor-intensive, it’s also been very successful, with more than 7,000 pets finding loving homes in 2020.

“With many people working from home and practicing physical distancing, interest in adoptions has been very high,” said Sarah Yusavitz, Corporate Relations Officer, Oregon Humane Society. “Pets have provided a sense of comfort and calm as we’ve dealt with the stress of the pandemic.”

Shelter capacity relief allows OHS to respond to immediate needs

OHS has also responded to the community’s needs in a variety of ways during the past year. During the wildfires in September, OHS deployed responders to deliver supplies and set up kennels at evacuation sites. OHS also provided emergency boarding to evacuees and took in stray cats from the fire zone in Clackamas County. In response to the economic hardship brought on by COVID-19, OHS has hosted free pet-food banks and delivered supplies to animal shelters and food pantries around the state. OHS’s Second Chance program continued to be a lifeline for shelters around the country that face overcrowding. In addition, pets have been transferred to OHS from local animal services agencies and shelters as far away as Texas and Hawaii.

‘Refer a Friend’, save a life

You can support OHS’s critical work to create a more humane society by participating in our Refer a Friend campaign from March 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021.

During the campaign, members can invite friends, family members and business associates to become new OnPoint members. For each person who joins, we will give both the current and new members $50, plus make a $50 donation to OHS. Learn more about our Refer a Friend campaign and how to invite your friends to participate.

“The support of OnPoint and its members will help us save lives by making us more agile and able to say ‘yes’ to more shelter animals across the nation where natural disasters and other crises occur,” said Yusavitz. “We can’t thank the OnPoint community enough for its continued support, and we look forward to seeing the results of Refer a Friend this spring.”

Join us as we support OHS’s mission to create a society where all beings have a place, a purpose, and a sense of belonging. Learn more about OHS’s lifesaving mission and the many other ways you can be more humane.