As we approach the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to our incredible community for your unwavering support throughout the year. Your generosity, compassion, and dedication have been instrumental in allowing us to continue our mission of providing a safe haven for animals, promoting responsible pet ownership, and reducing pet overpopulation.

This year, we celebrated a significant milestone: five years at the Peggy Schilling Animal Adoption and Education Center. Our annual Tails on Trails event was a wonderful opportunity to come together to celebrate. I want to thank the volunteers and community members who helped us celebrate.

And a special thank you to Polk Burnett Electric and Dairyland Power Cooperative volunteers for their support of Day of Giving. Your time, skills, and dedication have made a tremendous difference in the lives of the animals we serve, and we are so appreciative of your support.

To all those who have donated, volunteered, and adopted from HSBC, I cannot thank you enough. Your contributions, no matter how big or small, have been essential to our success. Without your involvement, we would not be able to fulfill our mission and make a positive impact on the lives of animals in need.

This year, we were thrilled to offer three microchip clinics, made possible by a generous grant from Polk Burnett Operation Roundup. We also coordinated with Alexia Gannon from Beautiful Hearts Rescue to provide free shots. We hope to continue these essential services in the coming year.

I am also excited to share that we have made significant improvements to our facility, including new fencing and pea gravel in the outside runs. These upgrades were made possible by your generous donations and will greatly enhance the quality of life for our animals. Additionally, we have launched a new website to better serve our community and streamline our services. See related articles in this newsletter for more details.

Finally, I want to recognize the efforts of board member Geri and former board member Sally who have developed a new volunteer handbook to help us better utilize the talents of our volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering with HSBC, please contact us. Your time and skills can make a world of difference in the lives of our animals.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of animals in Burnett County, and I am so grateful to be a part of this compassionate community.

With gratitude,

Joanne Manning