2022 End of Year Letter

Dear Animal Advocates & Friends,

This year was all about Unleashing Possibilities, and thanks to our amazing community of supporters, GHHS was able to do more than we could have ever imagined in 2022. Together, we, the staff, volunteers, fosters, donors, partners, and adopters saved over 700 animals this year!

Our strategies moving into this calendar year were founded in building a future from our past. We were committed to expanding our greater Huntsville area partnerships, along with building a voice for homeless pets not only in our community but beyond the local area.

Locally, we were honored to receive encouragement from more than one hundred Huntsville area businesses. This expanding community support allowed us to embrace our vision of building long lasting relationships and establishing true “partnerships”.

Due to this community support, GHHS was able to continue and develop two passions, King’s Community Kitchen, and the Community Day, both assisting the low-income pet community in Huntsville and surrounding areas. Our pet food pantry, the King’s Community Kitchen program expanded to 304 households, distributing over 40,000 pounds of food. This program also provided support to nine other Alabama rescues and shelters for the second Road to Rescue initiative this fall.

In partnership with Rocket City Veterinary Hospital and the Spay and Neuter Clinic of North Alabama, GHHS hosted the 3rd Annual Community Day. This year’s event provided record breaking numbers for our organization, completing twenty wellness exams, microchipping twenty-three pets, and scheduling twenty-eight spay/neuter surgeries.

Nationally, GHHS was provided a multitude of opportunities that allowed our organization to progress. We had the privilege of partnering with Atlanta Dogworks allowing some of our adoptable pets to become the “stars” we knew they were, on the big screen! The Bissell Foundation welcomed GHHS as a Partner for Pets, opening doors to networking and grant possibilities. Additionally, I was honored to visit to the Kong Company earlier this year, which lead to officially becoming a delegate for their new, innovative and educational initiative, Kong Classroom.

An emotional and humbling highlight for the GHHS team this year was our ability to aid Best Friends Animal Society. These efforts assisted in relocating the homeless pets from Florida shelters and rescues due to Hurricane Ian. On the evening of October 7th, GHHS staff and volunteers welcomed over fifty animals into our facility, offering refuge overnight on their way to multiple northern facilities. Although only ten hours were spent together, each of these souls reminded us of why we do, what we do. Moving into the new year, GHHS will focus on building a future, based on our mission of using rescue, training, adoption, education, and advocacy to ensure the humane treatment of all animals. In 2023 we will go Back 2 Basics.

Back 2 Basics, allows us to return to our roots, commence the GHHS Cat Sanctuary, expand our current foster program, along with continuing to provide resource programs to the Huntsville community.

Thank you for helping us be a voice to the homeless pets, this year and always.

May your holiday season be filled with peace, joy, and love,

Spencer Batcheller, Chief Executive Officer