Dear GHHS Family,
To begin, I would like to say thank you for your encouragement and support this year. Over the past twelve months, we, the GHHS staff, volunteers, fosters and you, our community partners and donors, worked tirelessly to advocate for nearly 1000 animals.
Our strategy in 2023 was going Back 2 Basics!, a plan of action that motivated us to focus on building the future of GHHS while we remained rooted in our mission of using rescue, training, adoption, education, and advocacy to ensure the humane treatment of all animals. One facet we focused on this year was community resources. Over the past four years, GHHS has seen a continuous growth in assistance needs within our local pet-owning community. During 2023, GHHS provided 400 families and fellow nonprofit organizations pet food and supplies through our King’s Community Kitchen. In addition to the pet food pantry distributions, we were able to re-establish our Good Samaritan fund, a community initiative that allows us to help provide support to area pet owners in times of emergency with local partnered vets thanks to the commitment from Huntsville resident, Judy K. Danley. A third component under the community resources umbrella was expanding our partnerships with other local animal rescues and shelters, allowing us to aid in more hoarding situations and neglect cases within Madison and neighboring counties. Additionally, our pledge to amplify the importance of spay and neuter to stop the overpopulation of pets expanded this year through community support and our outreach during Community Day in June.
These efforts led to our second commitment in expanding the GHHS foster program. With surrenders at an all time high, including returns, along with multiple pets coming in from county cases, we knew the support of fosters was going to be imperative to the success of our efforts. Fortunately for us and the pets in our care, our new fosters throughout the year have gone above and beyond, not only opening their homes and hearts, but becoming active volunteers within the shelter!
A third promise was the addition of the FIV/FeLV Cat Sanctuary to the GHHS campus. The build of the cat sanctuary was completed this year, and we are working on final touches before we can declare the refuge for our feline friends “open”. This initiative would not have been possible without the support from private donors, grants, fundraising events, the hard work of Bestline Builders, and the amazing contribution of lifelong animal lover and advocate Mr. Ronnie Hornbuckle. Although we had to unfortunately say goodbye to Mr. Hornbuckle earlier this year, we are honored that his legacy will be a part of GHHS, through naming the life-saving center Ronnie Hornbuckle’s Haven for FIV/FeLV Felines.
Moving into 2024, GHHS invites you to join us in celebrating 55 Years of Advocacy, Achievement, and Appreciation! The new year will bring multiple opportunities for you to be engaged with the pets of GHHS! Together, we can accomplish more than ever, for the unowned pets that need us!
May the new year bring you health, hope, and happiness,
Spencer Batcheller
GHHS Chief Executive Officer
