President’s Letter – September 2021

Dear RCHS Friends and Family,

Summer is winding down, students are heading back to school, and fall is just around the corner. It’s that time of year when we start to think about new beginnings. Everyone needs a “fresh start”. . . a chance to wipe the slate clean and begin again or give it another try. It has always been the goal of Rancho Coastal Humane Society (and my personal goal) to give every adoptable pet a fresh start and a second chance to become a lifetime companion.

Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) just launched the “Fresh Start” Program, providing adoption incentives for some of our long-term residents. We have far too many dogs, cats and rabbits that have been with us an extraordinary amount of time. While we care, feed, comfort and socialize our pets, nothing can replace a forever home with a loving family. Some of these adoptable pets have been with us a year or more! This is not happening just at RCHS. In shelters across the country, pandemic-related challenges have led to a decrease in adoptions and an increase in intakes.

Intake is at the heart of our Friends of County Animals Shelters (FOCAS) Program, bringing in adoptable pets from over-capacity shelters where they may not have a chance at adoption. Normally, RCHS would take in homeless animals from the hurricane and wildfire zones to help our partner shelters, but our kennels are full and our hearts heavy with the prospect of saying, “We cannot help right now!”

The national Clear the Shelters campaign is focusing attention on shelter animals. RCHS is focusing our attention on our long-term animals that lost the chance to go home as “new arrivals” due to the pandemic and, for a variety of reasons, need a helping paw to impress potential adopters. RCHS is providing Fresh Start gift baskets (or kiddie pools!) filled with specially-selected treats, toys, plush beds, food, supplies, and even in-home training sessions to complement our usual (but extraordinary) post-adoption follow-up. 

RCHS is committed to finding homes for these deserving pets. Hopefully with our Fresh Start Program and the widespread efforts to Clear the Shelters, that won’t take too much longer! You can learn more about Fresh Start and how you can help right here in Fetch.

This Fall, let’s fall in love with RCHS adoptable pets and send them all home again!