After months of planning and a couple of key grants and donations, we are finally able to start our dog room remodel! Our remodel will provide a more Fear Free space for the dogs housed in the shelter and a safer environment for staff and volunteers handling dogs. This includes dividing the room into three smaller spaces, installing new kennels that will offer double-space for housing, creating a new kennel layout that will reduce noise levels, lessen dog reactivity and stress, and help prevent the spread of disease. The project will begin on Monday January 16th. During the first phase, the co ..read more

Juliet and Mishka are so thankful for you. Giving Tuesday, the biggest giving day of the year, is only 2 weeks away! While many of the animals that come through our doors spend their time in kennels in our shelter, others are better served by using our foster program. Some situations require longer stays – such as when we have a bonded pair of animals. A foster home is more comfortable and provides us with a lot more information about how these animals act in a home environment. We do our best to keep bonded animals together. Juliet and Mishka came to us in March. They were big beautiful cats ..read more

Boone arrived at Homeward Pet in May of this year, terrified and shaking.  He had never seen a leash and it was all we could do to safely get him from the car to his room at the shelter.  At 9 months old, he was already so very scared of the world, so our Behavior Manager knew we needed to come up with a clear plan for his care and confidence building.   Homeward Pet uses Fear Free practices for all of the animals under our roof. Fear Free entails making decisions to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets during every interaction.  Admission to any she ..read more

Our commitment to the animals in our care doesn’t start with the day that they enter our shelter, nor does it end on the day they leave it. Twyla was a special behavior case back in 2020-2021. She was terrified and unable to be touched from day one. For a month prior to her arrival, multiple staff members worked together to ensure we had the right set-up (foster, behavior medications, planning surgeries/medical care, etc.). We did not want there to be a single avoidable fearful moment for her during her stay with us. In her foster home, she was untouchable for over a month, needing even longer ..read more

Jan Steiner Homeward Pet Adoption Center Every Saturday afternoon since 2008, Jan has been at the reception desk, ready to help. Saturdays are the busiest time of the week: upward of 50 excited potential adopters, as well as ringing phones, excited extended families, incoming donations and much more. Not only has Jan handled each of those, she trains new reception volunteers and even helped build the reception knowledgebase. Please vote for Jan by September 5 at visit.mudbay.com/vae ..read more

Sometimes, for no apparent reason, a great cat stays here too long. They get lots of love and care, but they just don’t make a connection with the right family. These are our Overlooked Animals. They’ve been with us a little longer than others, but that just means that we know more about their most charming qualities and quirkiest attributes.   And in this case, it’s two great cats! Juliet and Mischka are a beautiful, bonded pair who’ve been in our care for over 5 months! Originally brought to us when they were not liking the new puppy in the home, these senior sisters are sweet as c ..read more

Homeward Vet recognizes your United States military service by providing a fee-waived adoption of any available cat, dog, kitten, or puppy at Homeward Pet Adoption Center. Adoption also includes a certificate for a free pet exam one year after adoption. Please complete this form when you visit Homeward Pet during adoption hours. After your adoption counselor has helped you find an animal who is a good fit for you, present this form to have their adoption fee waived. This program is made possible through private donations to thank military veterans for their s ..read more

This Give Big month, we are focusing on the medically fragile animals that need us the most. Thanks to your support, we are one of the few shelters in our area that have been able to continue to take in animals with more severe medical needs during these stressful years. Oscar is one of those animals. Oscar, a 5-year-old dachshund, walked into Homeward Pet with a small limp, a wagging tail, and a heart full of love. After an initial medical check, we discovered Oscar had a long list of medical challenges, and would need multiple surgeries to improve his quality of life. Some things could ..read more

We’re looking forward to being back in person this May for another Fur Ball Auction & Dinner! This year will be at the roomy Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Bid NOW until 8:00 pm on Sunday for our virtual auction. Doors Open for VIPs – 5:00 pm Doors Open for General Attendance – 5:30 pm Silent Auction, Games, Cocktails – 5:30 – 7:00 pm Dinner, Live Auction, and Paws for a Cause – 7:00 – 9:00 pm Dinners Vegan (and Gluten Free) – Emerald City Risotto, with asparagus tips, roasted maitake mushroom, and smoked tomato vinaigrette Vegetarian – Wild Mushroom Ravioli, with wild ..read more

To find someone who embodies the values, the history and the heart of Homeward Pet, you need to look no further than our beloved Peggy Noll.  As of this year, Peggy has been with Homeward Pet for 29 years. Peggy’s professional career started in hospitality for the airlines. She worked with Alaska Airlines for 29 years in sales management. Her job, as a liaison for large corporations, allowed her to indulge her love of travel and to experience exotic locations. Her favorite travel destination was Nepal where she spent time living in a tree house which she traveled to and from on the back o ..read more