Dane County Humane Society

We're paws-itively thrilled to recognize Alex Denny as December's Volunteer of the Month! Alex is one of our incredible Carestaff Assistants and his hard work and positive energy make every shift brighter at DCHS. From helping prep cat enrichment and dog care to jumping in wherever needed, he’s a true team player who makes a big difference every time he walks through the door. “Alex is an amazing volunteer!” says Jessica Hoch, Care Staff Member. “He takes on any task and keeps us laughing. Plus, his updates about his DCHS alum, Topaz, always make our day!” Whether it’s tackling a tricky task or bringing a smile to his team’s faces, Alex goes above and beyond. His upbeat attitude and willingness to help at a moment’s notice make him an invaluable member of the team! “Alex is a lifesaver,” shares Sam Mund, Kennel Operations Coordinator. “He’s always ready to help, whether it’s grabbing supplies or fixing a crisis—and his jokes keep us going during the busiest shifts.” Alex’s thoughtfulness extends beyond his shifts. Whether dropping off cookies to share or sending a quick note to check in during the holidays, he’s always looking out for the DCHS team. Thank you, Alex, for everything you do! We’re so lucky to have you on our team. #pawsome #VolunteeroftheMonth #DCHS #WeLoveOurVolunteers

Put your paws together for Leah Hartman, our December Employee of the Month! Leah’s impact at DCHS is nothing short of extraordinary. With her years of experience and calm, steady demeanor, she has become a cornerstone of the Adoption Center team. Her colleagues often describe her as the person who makes everything run smoothly—someone they can always rely on to handle challenges with dedication, compassion, and just the right amount of humor. One colleague summed it up perfectly: “Once Leah arrives for her shift, we know the rest of the day will go smoothly. Her leadership, experience, and ability to problem-solve are unmatched.” Leah is a natural leader who dives right into her work, whether she’s helping adopters, fine-tuning processes, or jumping in wherever needed. Her calm, reassuring presence is especially valuable during busy or stressful times. As another team member put it: "Working with Leah is a gift. I am immensely grateful for her guidance, perspective, and professionalism - I always learn something new and leave with a smile.” Leah’s dedication to DCHS and the animals in our care is unwavering, and we’re so lucky to have her on the team. Thank you, Leah, for your leadership, kindness, and years of incredible service. You truly make a difference every day! #ThankYou #DCHS #EmployeeOfTheMonth #pawsome

You made us leap for joy this #GivingTuesday! We're sending gratitude to everyone in our incredible community who donated, volunteered their time, engaged with us on social media, spread the word, and enjoyed the heartwarming tails we shared. Because of our generous supporters, we met our fundraising goal – the highest we’ve ever set! Thank you for providing specialized care and lifesaving interventions for the thousands of animals who come through our doors each year. We could not do it without you! Didn't get a chance to give on #GivingTuesday? That’s okay! You still have time to make a difference for companion and wild animals in need: https://lnkd.in/gZ_wkyaW We would like to send a special thank you to our $60,000 Matching Gift Challengers: https://lnkd.in/gMwQPKHa Catch up on all the happy tails from this past #GivingTuesday at https://lnkd.in/ggEeVdPY

#GivingTuesday is coming to an end, and it has been a FURTASTIC day for animals in need! Thank you to all who have donated to make a PAWSITIVE impact in the lives of animals. You have ONE MORE CHANCE to make a BIG impact for animals in need! Be sure to donate before midnight! Donate now at https://lnkd.in/gZ_wkyaW

INCREDIBLE NEWS! One of our generous donors was so inspired by YOUR generosity so far this #GivingTuesday, she surprised us with an additional $10,000 match! This brings our total matching gift to $60,000 and we're increasing our fundraising goal to $120,000! DOUBLE your impact now at https://lnkd.in/gZ_wkyaW to help Dane County Humane Society and our Wildlife Center reach our goal of $120,000 and continue our lifesaving work for animals in need! This year is the 10th anniversary of our turtle egg incubation program here at the Wildlife Center, and we were so excited to hatch a group of turtles from a species of special concern in Wisconsin: Blanding’s Turtles! The mother Blanding’s Turtle and her precious cargo arrived in late May after being hit by a car, which resulted in fractures along her top and bottom shell. We got her into surgery to secure the shell fragments so she could heal. She was bright and active, but her prognosis was nonetheless guarded. Upon realizing she was gravid, we began to check for eggs in her enclosure daily. In the wild, turtles lay their eggs and leave them to hatch on their own, so after our turtle laid her eggs, we collected and sent them to our wonderful volunteers performing turtle egg incubation from their own homes. Turtle eggs take about 90 days to develop and hatch, so there is a lot of watching and waiting involved, our team ever hopeful. Read these turtles’ full story at https://lnkd.in/gufVwN9w Thanks to supporters like you, our Wildlife Center has been able to care for over 3,000 sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife so far this year, including this turtle and her hatchlings. Thank you for donating and helping us save Wisconsin wildlife! Thank you to our matching gift challengers for making this $60,000 Matching Gift Challenge possible: https://lnkd.in/gMwQPKHa

It’s #GivingTuesday and we’re thrilled to announce our $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge – our largest ever! Give today at https://lnkd.in/gZ_wkyaW to help us reach our goal of $100,000 so DCHS can continue our lifesaving work for pups like Brownie and other animals in need! It started as a routine lifesaving transfer like any other, but within hours, our staff would discover this young dog needed complex and risky surgery in order to survive. We thought Brownie would be another of the many young, healthy dogs we’ve brought to our shelter for a second chance at finding a loving family in our compassionate community. During her intake exam, we were shocked to find she had extensive internal injuries that left her struggling to breathe and needed quick intervention. The procedure she required was complex and risky. Even with a specialist and our expert veterinary team, we knew there was a heartbreaking chance she wouldn’t make it through surgery. We also knew we had to try. Read Brownie's full story here: https://lnkd.in/gQRdsZUT Thank you to our matching gift challengers! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gMwQPKHa

November may have snuck past us, but we're still celebrating our Volunteer of the Month, Liz Kurth! She's an extraordinary Adoption Assistant and feline foster parent who has been volunteering with DCHS since July 2022. In just over two years, Liz has dedicated more than 810 hours to the animals and every minute of it has been a treat! Liz is a joy to work with and embodies the qualities we cherish most in our volunteers. One of her team members summed it up perfectly: “She’s knowledgeable, reliable, kind, and always willing to lend a hand where needed. Basically, she’s the perfect volunteer!” From the very beginning, Liz impressed everyone with how quickly she picked up on training and her willingness to dive into any task. Whether it's assisting with adoptions, fostering some of our most vulnerable kittens, or even staying late to help with closing duties in the Adoption Center, Liz goes above and beyond. Her dedication as a foster parent is remarkable. Liz has taken on everything from high-risk neonates to under-socialized kittens, always providing exceptional care and communicating promptly about their needs. One team member shared how much of an impact Liz makes: “When Liz is in the Adoption Center, you just know everything is going to be great. She’s kind, compassionate, dependable, and fun to work with.” Liz, thank you for your incredible dedication to DCHS and the animals we care for. You make a difference every single day, and we’re so lucky to have you as part of our team. Please join us in congratulating Liz as our November Volunteer of the Month! #WeLoveOurVolunteers #VolunteerOfTheMonth #DCHS #Foster #Adoption

DOUBLE your impact up to $50,000 by giving today to help animals in need at https://lnkd.in/gZ_wkyaW Join us tomorrow, December 3rd, for #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving! We will share stories of rehabilitation and new beginnings made possible by YOU. We thought the arrival and return to the wild of the first bobkitten ever admitted to our Wildlife Center was a once-in-a-lifetime success. Imagine everyone’s astonishment when, earlier this year, two more bobkittens were found in desperate need of specialized care. The orphaned bobkittens from Verona arrived at DCHS’s Wildlife Center a few days apart. Malnourished and dehydrated, they were each in critical condition. Our staff estimated they were just 12 to 16 weeks old. Read their full story at https://lnkd.in/grhii78X Thank you to our matching gift challengers: https://lnkd.in/gMwQPKHa

We are thrilled to announce our $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge – our largest #GivingTuesday match ever! DOUBLE your impact by giving today to help animals in need at https://lnkd.in/gZ_wkyaW Join us next week on December 3rd for #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving! We will share heartwarming stories of animals like Tunnel Bob, a unique kitty who needed surgery to fix a medical condition he was born with. “I saw his one-of-a-kind face on the website and knew he was mine,” says Hailey, a community member who adopted Tunnel Bob. He came to DCHS from Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC). He was born with a condition called eyelid agenesis, which means part of his eyelids did not develop before birth. His eyelashes and fur rubbed on his sensitive eyes, which caused chronic irritation and could potentially lead to ulcers, and his inability to blink caused his eyes to dry out. The poor kitty faced daily discomfort. MADACC didn’t have the capacity to manage Tunnel Bob’s complex medical issues, which would require a surgical procedure and follow-up exams. Fortunately for him, DCHS did. Read Tunnel Bob’s full story and give now through Tuesday to double your impact and give second chances to animals just like him: https://lnkd.in/ghQWDJDe Learn more about the incredible donors who are giving you the chance to make double the impact for pets, livestock, and wildlife at DCHS at https://lnkd.in/gMwQPKHa

Tomorrow (Nov. 30th) is Small Business Saturday, and Dane County Humane Society Thrift Stores are the purr-fect place to shop! 🛍 Stop by Thrift West (6904 Watts Road in Madison) or Thrift East (5231 High Crossing Blvd in Madison) to enjoy 20% off almost everything in the store (excludes DCHS merchandise, Bucky Books, City Tins, and Firefighter Calendars). Every purchase helps support the animals and programs at DCHS. It’s a tail-wagging good time to shop, save, and give back! Learn more about DCHS Thrift Stores by visiting www.giveshelter.org/thrift