HSSC makes a lifetime commitment to their animals. Working hands on with the animals, they offer several essential opportunities.
Such as,
Dog walking, Cat cuddling, Matchmaking, Feline fanciers, K-9 coaching and Off site adoptions days. These programs are life altering for many of the animals and without their volunteers, they wouldn’t exist.  The Volunteers are a huge part of every aspect of the shelter! Here you see Mrs. Marsha & Mrs. Carrie taking a pair of Cocker Spaniels for a walk. The volunteers also do other exercises. They do a review of the pets as they come in. Such as a Social Test, Tolerance Test, The HUG test, theses all tell what kind of personality the pets have. This helps in placing the “RIGHT” pet with the “RIGHT” owner.

 The Humane Society of Sarasota County offers a variety of services, including:
Pet Therapy, Humane Education,
 “FUR FUN” for Teens,
Lost/Found, Special events,
Just to name a few!

Pet Therapy Program - Volunteers and their companion animals visit ill and frail elderly, dying and recovering of all ages at various area agencies. HSSC provides extensive evaluation and training of prospective Pet Therapy volunteers. Nearly 80 human/animal teams are currently visiting over 70 different facilities which include hospice homes, nursing homes, hospitals and schools for handicapped children and adults. These teams touch the lives of hundreds of people each month offering compassion and joy to those who may be facing a most difficult time. The residents benefit greatly from the powerful and comforting animal-human bond.
Call for information: 955-4131 ext.114
Or e-mail: education@hssc.org

Humane Education Programs - The Humane Society of Sarasota County, Inc offers a wide variety of humane
education programs including HUGS for children with special needs, classroom
visits, shelters tours, and the monthly newsletter, KIND News. If we do not
have a program that fits your needs we would be happy to design a program
for you.
Call for information: 955-4131 ext. 114, or e-mail: education@hssc.org

The following are some of these humane education programs:

Fur Fun Fridays (Ages 7-12)
The FUR FUN Club is a program where kids ages 7 -12 learn about animals. Activities include: dog walking, cat cuddling, animal themed arts & crafts, animal care lessons and games. The program meets every month on Fridays from 4-5:30 p.m in the Education Center of the Humane Society of Sarasota County – 2331 15th St. , Sarasota. The cost is $30.00 per child per month. Registration is required. Spaces are limited.
For more information and to reserve a spot - please call Dee at 955-4131 ext 113.

Community Service for Teens
Volunteer service not only helps area agencies, it greatly enriches the lives of those who donate their time and talents to the community. HSSC appreciates the desire of children and teens to help the orphaned animals we care for. HSSC offers a program for kids under the age of 18 to earn community service hours to meet school, scout, church or other organization's requirements. Volunteers complete a number of hours of work helping to promote HSSC and its orphaned animals. Once the project has been completed and documented, the volunteer may attend an HSSC shelter tour and visit with selected dogs and cats.

Community service hours may be earned by individuals, or with groups and organizations of all kinds. Projects could include food and supply drives, brochure distribution, recycling, or whatever you can do for the shelter. We are always looking for new ways to help the animals. Projects must be approved in advance by HSSC’s Education Department, and the work performed must be documented. For more information about teen community service, call 955-4131 and speak to Kate (ext. 114) or Dee (ext. 113).

Program has kids reading to dogs - Gulf Gate Library has gone to the dogs this summer. Each Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30, kids practice their reading skills by reading books to a four legged audience. Pet Therapy dogs from the Humane Society of Sarasota County are all ears as they listen to stories about animals. Reading to animals helps kids relax about reading; it’s also a lot of fun to cuddle with a furry pet.The turnout for the summer program has been huge. Kids from all over Sarasota are enjoying the program.
For more information, call Kate Franklin at the Humane Society of Sarasota County, 955-4131, or Marcia McKinney at Gulf Gate Library, 861-1242.

“Using animals in the Classroom” a work shop for teachers, Field Trips, Dog Training Classes, Low Cost Spay/Neuter, Foster Care, “Beyond Violence” presentations, KIND News newsletter for 4^th grades, Membership, Volunteer Programs, and the HSSC newsletter, “FUR the Record”.
Be sure to help in doing your part & have you pets Spay/Neuter.
Ask about their programs
& tell them LocalSarasota.com sent you!!!!