President’s Letter – December 2021

Dear RCHS Friends and Family,

As 2021 draws to a close, there are a few silver linings in recent news headlines. First, the spirit of giving is way up! On Giving Tuesday, November 30th, the online global generosity movement reported record-breaking giving by millions of people. In just a 24-hour period, donations to charities across the U.S. totaled $39,354,187! Californians were among the top five states with highest total donations per person.

At Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS), we always approach Giving Tuesday with cautious optimism, and our own campaign was a best-ever success. Thanks to you, RCHS unlocked a $75,000 matching gift challenge, bringing total donations to more than $160K! Donations weren’t just monetary, people gave gifts of time, skills, goods and supplies, showing that everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts! 

This holiday season, we’re also sharing with you the story of Bellwether. It’s our year-end, final appeal and a heartwarming narrative that shows how TOGETHER we’re saving lives of companion animals in our community, fulfilling the promise that Every Animal Deserves a Tomorrow®. 

Second, more than 23 million American households acquired a pet since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the ASPCA. Alarmist news headlines reported that, as lockdowns lifted and more people returned to work or resumed their social activities, there was a nationwide spike in animals being surrendered to shelters. That’s just not true!  Factcheckers now report that 2021 saw only a 0.56% (less than 1%) increase in intakes over 2020, and owner surrenders were down 23% in 2021. 

While our adoption process changed, RCHS protocols did not. By matching the needs of the pet with the desires of the adopter, RCHS is proud to report that companion animals that left our shelter during the pandemic continue to enjoy their “forever homes” and RCHS returns are still lower than the national average.

As we are once again greeting each other with masked faces, we must remember that brighter days are ahead! We know that to be true, because of the kindness, compassion, and generosity you show us every day.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!  Wishing you all the best in 2022!