Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society

THE SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE LIFE FOR ALL ANIMALS BY PROVIDING TEMPORARY SHELTER, COMPASSIONATE CARE, COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EDUCATION. GMHS ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH ANIMAL SHELTERING, ADOPTION, COMMUNITY SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS AND A PET FOOD PANTRY.

ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTIONS. THE GMHS SERVES PRIMARILY THE COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDDLE PENINSULA IN VIRGINIA. THE COUNTIES SERVED INCLUDED GLOUCESTER, MATHEWS AND MIDDLESEX. THE GMHS PROVIDES ADDITIONAL OUTREACH SERVICES TO KING AND QUEEN, KING WILLIAM AND ESSEX COUNTIES. GMHS ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS IN THE NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA, PRIMARILY LANCASTER AND NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES. GMHS SERVES AS THE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY FOR MATHEWS COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS THE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY FOR CATS IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY, GMHS PROVIDES ALL DAILY AND VETERINARY CARE FOR THE DOGS AT THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY WHICH IS A SEPARATE LOCATION OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE REACH OUT TO ALL MIDDLE PENINSULA ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTERS AND SHELTER GROUPS TO FACILITATE ADOPTION OR TRANSFER OF THE ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE. WE COORDINATE TRANSFER OF ADOPTABLE DOGS IN OUR REGION THAT ARE AT RISK FOR EUTHANASIA DUE TO SHELTER OVERLOAD TO NORTHERN STATES THAT HAVE NO EUTHANASIA OF MANAGEABLE DOGS IN THEIR SHELTER. WE PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE TO ANIMALS WHO REQUIRE TREATMENT. THIS INCLUDES ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY FOR BROKEN LEGS AND HEARTWORM TREATMENT. WE ROUTINELY PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR SKIN PROBLEMS SUCH AS RINGWORM, MANGE, PUPPY SHINGLES AND ALLERGIES. WE SOCIALIZE, TRAIN AND WORK WITH BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TO OPTIMIZE THE SHELTER ANIMALS' CHANCES FOR A SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION. WE NURTURE THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE NOT ONLY BY PROVIDING THEM WITH SHELTER AND FOOD, BUT ALSO WITH LOVE, COMPANIONSHIP, AND ENRICHMENT AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO STAY HAPPY AND HEALTHY. WE WORK TO FIND ADOPTABLE HOMES THAT ARE A GOOD MATCH WITH THE PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS OF THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE, REDUCING THE POSSIBILITY THAT AN ANIMAL WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SHELTER. WE HAVE RIGOROUS CAT ADOPTION, FOSTER AND TRANSFER PROGRAMS. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY FERAL CAT COLONIES WHICH INCLUDES PROVIDING NO COST SPAYING/NEUTERING, VACCINATION, FELV/FIV TESTING AND EAR TIPPING. WE PROVIDE NO COST SPAY/NEUTER FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE FINANCIAL NEED. WE PROVIDE PET FOOD, BEHAVIOR COUNSELING AND OTHER MEASURES AS ALTERNATIVES TO SURRENDERING ANIMALS TO THE SHELTER. THROUGH OUR EFFORTS, WE BENEFIT ANIMALS AND PEOPLE BY STRENGTHENING THE HUMAN ANIMAL BOND.

SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC. OUR LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC PROVIDES AFFORDABLE SURGICAL STERILIZATION FOR OVER 3,000 DOGS AND CATS FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS, GMHS SHELTER, GLOUCESTER COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER, MIDDLESEX ANIMAL SHELTER, TAPPAHANNOCK ESSEX COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, KING WILLIAM REGIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER AND OTHER LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS ANNUALLY. THE CLINIC ALSO PROVIDES REDUCED COST VACCINATIONS, HEARTWORM TESTS, FELINE LEUKEMIA/FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TESTS, DEWORMING, EAR CLEANING AND MICROCHIPPING AT THE TIME OF SURGERY. IN ADDITION, THE CLINIC PROVIDES SPAY/NEUTER VACCINATION AND EAR TIPPING PACKAGES AT NO COST FOR COMMUNITY (FERAL) CATS IN GLOUCESTER, MATHEWS AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES FOR A NOMINAL FEE FOR COMMUNITY CATS FROM OTHER LOCALES. THROUGH GRANT FUNDING, THE CLINIC PROVIDES SPAY/NEUTER AND VACCINATION SERVICES FOR PETS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES. THE CLINIC ALSO SPONSORS PERIODIC RABIES AND MICROCHIP CLINICS.