In 2021 the Danville Boyle County Humane Society, alongside its partner Boyle County Animal Control, placed 250+ pets in loving homes, reunited more than a hundred lost animals with their people, and provided access to low or no-cost spay/neuter surgery for more than 1100 cats and dogs!

Two highlights of the year include launching Home to Home and expanding the Community Cat Program.

Home to Home is an interactive platform created to help families, people, and pets with the difficult task of transitioning pet ownership from one home to another. The Community Cat Program provides FREE spay/neuter surgery to caretakers for outdoor cats.

Because you used safety nets like Home to Home and the Community Cat program last year, we improved the lives of 1400+ animals, yet only 300 of those dogs and cats had to enter the shelter. This compassionate care puts the animals’ needs first, and we appreciate you making it happen.

By far, however, the biggest accomplishment of the year came from our low-cost spay/neuter clinic, Happy Paws.

The high-quality clinic hit a huge milestone: since it opened in 2007, its provided high-quality spay/neuter surgery to more than 17,000 animals in Central Kentucky!

This achievement is even more impressive when you consider that the clinic has only two paid employees: the veterinarian and the veterinary technician. The other 10-15 people who care for the dogs and cats are volunteers. That includes director Katie Turbyfill, who spends countless hours ensuring the clinic runs smoothly.

One volunteer notes that Happy Paws has volunteers like no other group: dedicated, cohesive, fun, and addicted to chocolate! Another volunteer said, “This group with a shared mission has always been a pleasure to work with.”

It’s a good thing that they like one another because the job itself is a tough one. Surgery prep and post-surgery care is messy work! It’s a long day, too, starting well before 7 a.m. and sometimes lasting 12 hours.

Four paws up for Happy Paws program director Turbyfill and her current volunteer team: Dorothy Apple, Jennifer Back, Carla Bates, Charlotta Bright Norby, Bettie Byrd, Kathy Crown-Weber, Neil Eklund, Mary Beth Gay, Laurie Hood, Anita Jacobs, Cathy Jerome, Nancy Ketelhohn, Paula Meckes, Beth Minor, Bettie Poland, Brian Reynolds, Julie Rodes and Rachel White.

About Happy Paws: the clinic was established in 2007 to address the problem of pet overpopulation in Boyle County. Most of the owner surrenders and pets having unwanted litters came from areas that are under-resourced and underserved. The low-cost clinic’s services are income-based, making them accessible to the underserved community. Support the clinic, its volunteers, and the dogs and cats in our community and donate today: dbchs.org/give. Please note that your donation is for Happy Paws.

The Danville-Boyle County Humane Society is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) established in 1972 that promotes the humane treatment of animals through compassionate care, engagement, and support. To donate, please visit DBCHS.org/give or mail a check to DBCHS P.O. Box 487, Danville, KY 40423-0487. We’re grateful for our generous community!