October is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month! At Mascoma Bank, we are firm believers in giving back to the communities in which we serve, and that means ALL members of the community—including those with fur, feathers, and scales.
Let’s shine a light on some of the organizations doing the crucial work of caring for the dogs and cats who don’t have their forever homes . . . yet.
- The Upper Valley Humane Society (UVHS) in Enfield, New Hampshire, has been providing services to pets and families across New Hampshire and Vermont for more than 50 years. At UVHS, every animal receives a behavioral evaluation in order to best place them in a good-fit home. Many times, adoptions can be processed the same day a prospective owner meets the animal.UVHS provides many services in addition to their adoption program. They maintain a pet food pantry and offer spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, as well as emergency boarding and disaster planning. UVHS also has a robust volunteer and foster care program. Visit their website to learn more and maybe even meet your new best furry friend.
- The mission of Monadnock Humane Society (MHS) is to strengthen the animal-human bond by promoting and providing for the well-being of animals. “There’s that magic thing that happens between pets and people,” says Carol Laughner, Marketing Communications Manager. “People see pets as family. Our mission is to strengthen that bond and our programs and services work to promote and support the welfare of companion animals.” The work MHS does has supported a compassionate community for people and their pets throughout 44 towns in southern New Hampshire for more than 145 years. That’s a lot of unconditional love! They value the relationship between people and pets as a mutually beneficial one, and strive to give adoptable animals every opportunity to be placed in a home. In addition to their Adoptions Center, MHS also offers an annual vaccination and microchip clinic and a number of feline spay/neuter clinics throughout the year. They offer a food pantry, emergency boarding, and an Animal Safety Net for people who are going through difficult times. The Training Center at MHS is spacious, climate-controlled, and handicap-accessible, and is the location for a full array of dog training classes, from Puppy Kindergarten and Everyday Canine Essentials to intermediate classes such as Focused Fido and Canine Good Citizen, not to mention competition level classes in Obedience, Agility and Rally Obedience, and Therapy Dog Training. To learn more and find out how to support the great work MHS does, visit their website.
- Central Vermont Humane Society (CVHS) envisions a future in which all companion animals are wanted, cared for, and loved. As part of their mission, CVHS shelters domestic dogs, cats and other small mammals, and strives to place each adoptable animal in a suitable forever home. The organization also works to prevent and address animal cruelty and neglect and supports legislation that protects animals in Vermont. The Humane Heroes kids club and summer camp extends the message of humane treatment of animals to the next generation. Laurie Garrison, Executive Director, says “We go the extra mile because our community of supporters go the extra mile for CVHS.”In addition to the work they do to unite animals with loving caregivers, CVHS offers dog training classes, vaccination and microchip clinics, and education and information for caregivers. Each spring, CVHS holds their biggest fundraiser of the year, the Walk for Animals, which is a two-mile route through downtown Montpelier. It’s a day of fun, with a doggie costume contest, a kissing contest, vendors, and a demonstration with border collies. Mascoma Bank team members always look forward to this event. To learn more and find out how to support the great work CVHS does, visit the website.
We at Mascoma Bank are proud to be a part of the good work being done by nonprofit organizations like Upper Valley Humane Society, Monadnock Humane Society, and Central Vermont Humane Society. And if you talk to most of our team members long enough, you’ll probably hear some stories about our pets. We look forward to working with our communities to help those members who don’t have the voices to advocate for themselves. See you at the dog park!