First off, thank you to everyone who supported me last year! I hope you'll consider supporting again.

Just some quick facts:

• Our subsidized spay/neuter program - the Kindest Cut - has now performed 13,000 surgeries for low income families in the Twin Cities since May 2010. That's stopping animal homelessness in its tracks!
• AHS has exceeded an 80% placement rate. Most shelters our size (we help about 25,000 animals a year) don't exceed 50%. And we're on the march to 90%, which is unheard of for an open admission (we'll take anything) shelter. With your help, we can do it!
• A new committee this year alone has developed programs to (1) find homes for cats with litterbox problems, (2) find homes for cats that are shy and fearful in shelter, (3) create a way to handle orphaned kittens that are less than 6 weeks old, (4) and treat dogs with highly contagious parvovirus off-site. These are programs that will save hundreds of animals' lives, but also cost thousands of dollars. Help us do it!

Yes, I work here. Yes, I love animals. But I don't ask just for those reasons. I also know enough about nonprofits to truly be able to say that this is an organization that will use your support well. That will continually push the envelope to improve, even when it's already one of the most successful shelters in the country.

I personally give to this drive, in addition to donating to Animal Humane Society from every paycheck I receive. I believe in this organization and I believe in this cause. Please join me and support. Anything helps - $10 to $100. Please contribute something that shows you also care about homeless animals and the work Animal Humane Society is doing (or that you just heart me).

Thanks again to all of you!
Virginia, Emmett (15) and Betsy (5)