Lucy Cade-Galvez
The wall at Marin Humane Society depicts horses in a field and showcases their goals.
The Marin Humane Society is an animal shelter in Novato that provides many services in addition to housing animals. The Marin Humane has programs such as adoption, animal rescue, foster care, behavior training, human education, pet assistance, and more. They are an independent nonprofit that is funded almost entirely by the help of the community. They often host fundraisers to generate income.
The most recent event, the Woofstock concert and fundraiser, was on Sunday, May 4. The event included a bunch of local bands coming to play, and tickets were sold to the public to attend and support the cause. They have another fundraiser coming up in September called the “Tails by Twilight Gala.” The event is a celebration and fundraiser for the animals in the Marin community and was successful last year.
Marin Humane has adoption and fostering programs, where people can shelter or take dogs, cats, and other small animals. They offer different volunteer and internship opportunities, as well as programs, one of which is called the Pet Safety Net, which includes resources such as animal services and training. According to the Marin Humane Society website, the Pet Safety Net is a program for pet owners who do not have the correct resources to properly care for their animals. This program provides lower-income pet owners with assistance in veterinary care, vaccinations, food resources, and has recently added spay and neuter assistance and more. This program aims to keep pets and their owners together and supported.
In addition to taking in different types of animals and trying to find them homes, the Marin Humane Society also offers vet care, training, and rehabilitation to injured animals to prepare them to live an improved life. Youth Program Manager Amy McIntosh mentioned that several programs involve students and young people seeking to gain animal care experience and other related activities.
“We have an after-school club that runs both fall and spring semesters,” McIntosh said. “It meets once a month and students can come and learn about the shelter and also practice doing some of the animal care tasks, such as cleaning guinea pigs and bunny cages.”
Marin Humane Society also has a summer camp that is always looking for student interns who enjoy working with children as well as working with animals. The camp runs for six weeks in the summer and offers the option of community service hours or a stipend.
Marin Humane is a versatile organization with so much to offer. They have ways for the community to get involved with a cause that they care about in several different forms and programs.