Humane Society of the Ozarks a positive force in animal welfare

The HSO’s 25th annual Dogwood Walk is a perfect opportunity for proud dog owners to show off their canine family members.
The HSO’s 25th annual Dogwood Walk is a perfect opportunity for proud dog owners to show off their canine family members.

Prior to 1946, stray and abandoned dogs in Fayetteville had it rough: When they were picked up on the streets by Animal Control, they were unceremoniously deposited in the single pen of the city pound on South Block Avenue regardless of size, breed or condition. No veterinary services were offered, even for those animals suffering from illness or injury. No formal adoption program existed. If someone needed a dog -- for whatever purpose -- they simply plucked one from the crowded pen and took it home, no questions asked.

And when the pen got too crowded, the weakest were killed, sometimes by cruel and painful methods that would be unheard of now.

Humane Society of the Ozarks

25th Annual Dogwood Walk

WHEN — 9 a.m. Saturday

WHERE — Gulley Park, 1850 E. Township, Fayetteville

COST — $20 HSO member/$25 nonmember

INFO — (479) 444-PETS

But all of that changed when a group of concerned citizens that included Judy and Herb Fowler, Betty Lighton and Kathryn Stout, stepped up to form the Fayetteville Humane Society -- today known as the Humane Society of the Ozarks -- in 1946. Humane euthanasia methods were put into place, and an adoption program was established.

And it was a completely local effort.

"A lot of people get confused and think we're affiliated with the Humane Society of the United States, but we're not," says JoAnn Traw, director of fundraising and events. "We were actually started a few years before they were. One hundred percent of the money we raise stays in Northwest Arkansas to help the people and animals here."

Traw says that HSO's local status has many other positive aspects for the organization. For example, it's free to tailor its services to the region.

"We really get to shape our programs for the needs of the community," says Traw. "Through the years, the needs have changed, and so our role has changed. When we started out, we funded the first Fayetteville animal shelter along with the city." By 1991, Traw says, it was apparent that the shelter should be fully city-run, so the HSO ceded its interest in the shelter facility, allowing it to invest its funds in other HSO programs. "Now, our dogs that are up for adoption are either in a doggie day care facility, at a local veterinary clinic or in a foster home."

Traw says a foster home setting is ideal for many of the dogs they are trying to place, many of whom have never experienced life as an indoor pet. Foster pet owners can house-, crate-, and leash-train dogs, making them much more adoptable.

HSO is far more than a pet rescue/adoption agency, though. Its array of programs is carefully designed to target all of the high-need areas in Northwest Arkansas.

Its spay/neuter program offers half-price vouchers to low-income pet owners, and its emergency pet care vouchers offer low-income pet owners the opportunity to get their seriously ill or injured pet diagnosed at a reduced rate. Its senior pet program helps senior citizens deal with the complicated issues they face as they and their pets age. And the HSO feral cat program -- a collaboration with the Washington County Animal Shelter -- catches feral cats, spays or neuters them, then releases them back into their original habitat, greatly reducing their overall population.

Traw notes that these programs would not be available without the partnerships the HSO has formed with veterinarians and other rescue and pet adoption agencies throughout the area. In fact, there are several veterinarians throughout Washington and Benton counties that provide pro-bono services or services at greatly reduced fees in order to further the HSO mission.

"Partnerships are so important, because it takes all of us, and we all do different things," says Traw. "By working together, we can do the best work for the animals."

Take HSO's Animal Care Education program for example: In partnership with the Animal League of Washington County, For Pets' Sake and Spay Arkansas, the HSO visits area Washington, Benton and Madison county schools to educate students about pet overpopulation, the advantages of spaying/neutering pets and the appropriate care of pets.

"There was a study commissioned by The North Shore Animal League with Harvard University on the primary age group to target for teaching appropriate animal care and addressing complex subjects like spaying and neutering, microchipping [and] not tying them outside or keeping them on a chain," says Sally Baker Williams, HSO director of programs. "They identified fifth grade as the primary age for a couple of reasons. Number one, [children of that age] are able to understand complex subject matters. Number two, they're able to train on the knowledge. And number three, that's the primary age group that's going to take that knowledge home and say, 'Are our dogs microchipped?' or 'You know, it's not really a good thing for Lucy Cat to keep having litter after litter.'"

Perhaps the greatest evidence of the HSO's dedication to working with other animal welfare organizations is its grant program. Each year, it provides a number of grants that support those organizations' success. Williams says that HSO grants recently helped fund two spay/neuter clinics -- one at the Paws and Claws Animal Shelter in Huntsville and the second in Prairie Grove, sponsored by the Community Cat Project and Friends of the Prairie Grove Pound. Veterinarian Eric Jayne, who frequently offers his services to the HSO, spayed or neutered 102 cats at the clinics for a cost of $5 to the pet owner. Other organizations that have benefited from HSO's grants include Blue Moon Cat Sanctuary and the Prairie Grove Pound.

Because it isn't part of the national Humane Society organization, the HSO is solely responsible for the fundraising that supports these efforts. They do this through private and corporate donations, grants and two primary fundraisers. One is its annual "Tails of Love" publication, a yearbook of sorts that combines the history of the HSO along with photographs of sponsors and their beloved family pets. The other is the Dogwood Walk, which takes place Saturday in Gulley Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the event kicks off at 10 a.m.

"This year will be the 25th year of the Dogwood Walk," says Traw. "It's a longstanding tradition in the community and is always well-attended. Kids love it. We have around 400 people and their dogs that attend every year. It's the epitome of a fun community event."

The event is family-oriented, with plenty of kid-friendly activities, like face painting and a photo booth. Around 40 vendors will have tables set up, many offering samples and free goodies. The event also offers dog contests in 10 categories, which include Best Dressed Dog, Most Unique Dog and Best Owner-Dog Look-Alike.

"People go all out for these [contests]," says Traw. "One year, we had someone who made a peacock costume for herself and one for her dog that she had sewn for three months." At 11 a.m., all dogs and their owners line up for a walk around the perimeter of the park. "I always get questions each year from people who can't walk long distances. They can do this. It's not very far. And then, at the end, they come back, and we give awards for the pet contests and then honor our foster family and volunteer of the year."

Traw highlights a deal that's available at the event: Pet owners will be able to get their pets microchipped for the steeply discounted price of $20.

"It's very easy," says Traw. "[The microchip] is about the size of a grain of rice, they use a bit larger of a needle, and it's injected right under the skin." If pet owners are careful to update their registration information any time they move, a microchip is an efficient and fast way to find their pets should they ever get lost or run away. Traw says cats are welcome for the microchip process as long as they're in appropriate cat carriers.

And for those families who don't have a dog yet but are looking, Traw says that the HSO and several other adoption organizations will have dogs on site that are eligible for adoption.

NAN Profiles on 04/30/2017

Upcoming Events