Returning the loyalty that pets show their owners, the Washington Humane Society (WHS) will host a benefit fashion show, Fashion for Paws, Saturday, April 14th at the Embassy of France. Proceeds will go to fund the Good Home Guarantee, a new initiative of WHS.
The Fashion for Paws will bring together 50 of DC's outstanding social personalities, who have pledged to raise money and model top fashion. The event is unique—a two for one—a human and a pet fashion show together: "Spring 2007 ready-to-wag designer doggie couture and women's and men's ready-to-wear spring 2007 apparel," according to WHS website.
The volunteer fundraisers and models, such as DC's Jason Van Buren, MTV's Paul Wharton, among 29 others, have stepped up to use their social networks of friends and colleagues, email and word of mouth to raise money over the month proceeding the fashion show. The fundraising drive can be accessed at: www.washhumane.org.
The Good Home Guarantee is a five year plan that promises to find a good home for every adoptable animal brought to either of the two shelters in the District of Columbia who enter by the year 2010. The goal is to eliminate the need for euthanasia.
The Good Home Guarantee initiative has coupled increasing adoption with decreasing the number of potentially homeless animals through providing affordable spay and neuter services, and public education. The plan now focuses mainly on increasing placements for cats and providing medical treatment and behavioral correction to help dogs overcome obstacles to adoption. It is a very ambitious plan and if it succeeds in providing 100% adoption, Washington may become the model in the nation for other animal shelters.
As part of the Good Home Guarantee plan, the Washington Humane Society Spay/Neuter Clinic re-opened its doors in February of 2006, and has been providing an average of 400 sterilization surgeries a month for its adoptable shelter animals, public animals, as well as a number of animals from shelters in Virginia and Maryland.
WHS was chosen to operate the D.C. Animal Shelter and operates a private shelter on Georgia Avenue. Both shelters maintain an open admission policy. No animal is ever turned away for any reason, says their website.
Washington's Humane Society also includes a tough Humane Law Enforcement Division that comes to the rescue of abused animals. Anyone can report suspected or confirmed abuse 24 hours a day by emailing or calling (202) BE HUMANE.
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