Styx makes a stunning comeback!

When you hear of a dog named Styx, you might assume he’s called after the infamous river of Greek mythology. Or you may remember the rock band, with cigarette lighters waving in the dark of a packed auditorium. But Styx came by his name organically. It was born out of affection and a wry sense of humor.  

Styx will soon be able to chase squirrels and balls again. He’ll be freed from the wrappings and orthotics encasing his front legs these last several months. His foster mom marvels at how resilient he’s been through it all.     

We don’t know how Styx was injured. In his foster family’s Instagram feed, he jokes that he jumped from a cruise ship. Probably not. Styx was found in a ditch by the side of a road, unable to walk or pull himself out. Someone had cared for this handsome young pitbull mix, though: he wore an expensive halter designed for dogs with pelvis issues. He was otherwise in good condition and was calm and trusting when approached by the good samaritan who came to his aid.      

Upon examination at Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), there were no outward signs of injury. A visit to a vet and imaging, however, revealed that Styx’s carpal joints (wrists) were hyperextended, and the tendons torn and bruised. It’s suspected that Styx jumped or fell from a great height. He’d need surgery and months of rehab, but it was highly likely that the dog—not yet two years old—would make a full recovery. That’s when the SAS Foundation stepped in to cover the cost.    

SAS placed Styx with a very dedicated, experienced foster parent who happens to manage a vet clinic. She’d like everyone to know this: not only is Styx’s recovery going “perfectly,” he’s also a very good boy.    

At first, the splints were uncomfortable and rubbed sores. At that point, Styx didn’t want to walk much and wasn’t interested in interacting with the humans or dogs around him. That changed when he was fitted with custom splints made by Pawopedic, paid for by the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF). It’s amazing how quickly he adapted to walking on his “sticks,” says his foster mom, who’s lovingly documented his progress and playful nature on Instagram. Though his wrappings still had to be changed every 5-7 days, Styx was patient and cooperative. When it came to hour-long foot soaks, Styx just laid down and relaxed.  

He had surgery on his left front leg to fuse the joint three months and it’s healing nicely. He’ll have his right leg done later this month. Fingers crossed, Styx should be able to shake off his braces at the end of his treatment in another 5 months or so. Then he’ll be able to hike, jump and play like the healthy 2 year old he is.          

His idea of a perfect day? Styx likes to sleep in a little and then, after breakfast, take a nice little walk followed by a soothing belly rub. He’s obsessed with his Chuckit! Ball and carries it around, chewing on it, perhaps dreaming of the day soon coming that he’ll be able to chase it at full throttle. Yet he’s a couch dog, too, and sometimes a lap dog. And he enjoys following his person around. He is a gentle soul who seems to go with the flow.   

Styx comes when called and “sat” well on command when he first came to his foster family. He picked up “lay down” quickly and is now learning to “spin.” He does bark when people come to the door but once they enter the house, he’s “all over them” in a friendly way. A big, enthusiastic dog, he’ll likely need more leash training once he shucks his splints. He’s great in the car, gets along with other dogs in the home, and hasn’t shown separation anxiety. He’s not sound reactive:  he even took Fourth of July in stride. 

When pressed about any behavior challenges, Styx’s foster mom had to think hard. This is what she finally came up with: He’s freaked out by helmets and cowboy hats. But baseball caps are ok (maybe it’s because he heard the Mariners did so well last season? Baseballs remind him of his favorite chuck it ball?).  

His most endearing quality? His foster mom just can’t get over how resilient and how patient Styx has been throughout his treatment and months of rehab. She also loves his funny voice. He’s very talkative, she says, especially if bored or if his ball rolls under the sofa.   

Styx is her 27th foster and she says he’s one of the easiest dogs she’s every had. “I just don’t understand why he’s not adopted yet,” she says. “He deserves a nice, stable home.”  Now, he has one!     

Great news! Styx has found his forever home! If you are interested in meeting other currently adoptable animals, visit the Seattle Animal Shelter adoption portal. To help animals in need like Styx, please consider making a valuable donation to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation 

Furevermore 2022 raises record-breaking $230,000!

The Furevermore Auction & Gala returned to the National Nordic Museum in Ballard with over 250 supporters thrilled to be having fun for a good cause. 

Beautifully dressed attendees caught up with each other, shared stories of their pets, and enjoyed a lively cocktail hour. After a two-year hiatus of hosting Furevermore in person, people were ready to party. They flocked to new event features: an animal watercolor portrait, a magician, and raffle tickets offering one winner a weekend getaway. 

Meanwhile, bidders looked down lines of tables at all of the silent auction items, like cat and dog care packages, an electric boat sailing excursion, and Seattle sports tickets. Best of all, adoptable kittens and bunnies from the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) greeted attendees. 

Dinner and the live auction began with tremendous fanfare when supporters received a visit from surprise guests – adoptable shelter puppies! The auctioneer introduced a new live auction experience – puppy playtime. It wasn’t long before these floppy pups brought in over a $1,000 donation! And the bidding didn’t ease up there. Vacation getaways, Seattle dining and entertainment, and the chance to feature your pet in Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) event materials all went to the highest bidders. 

All this fun was in support of raising money to improve the lives of dogs, cats, and critters at the shelter Since the pandemic, the shelter has leaned on its incredible foster program to care for pets. However, the foster program has reached its limit of what volunteers alone could sustain. 

In addition to supporting existing programs like the behavior team, this year SASF needed to raise enough money to fund a full-time foster coordinator to improve the foster experience for people and pets alike. 

During the Fund a Need portion of the evening, guests could pledge donations that would specifically be ear-marked for this foster need. A few donors went above and beyond, pledging $5,000 during Fund a Need! Many generous donors pledged $100, $200, or $500 after hearing from existing volunteers and foster parents about the current limitations of the program and how a loving foster home benefits shelter pets. 

SASF Fund-A-Need (captions) 

Even with all the cocktail hour activities, 100+ items to bid on, and a delicious dinner, Furevermore supporters were quick to raise their paddles and donate to fund the foster program to expand and stabilize the foster parent network, improve coordinated care for foster pets, and save the lives of more pets. 

And wow did our supporters show up to help. We are thrilled to share that Furevermore raised a record fundraising total of $232,352! 

With this money, SAS will begin hiring for the foster coordinator position at the end of this year. Plus, a portion will go toward the shelter’s general grants fund to cover a range of programs, including veterinary services, medical equipment at the shelter’s in-house clinic, and the behavioral therapy program. 

Many thanks to everyone who attended, donated, got wonderfully competitive in the exciting live and silent auctions, all the volunteers, and shelter staff who made such a fantastic event possible. We couldn’t have done this without you! 

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to our email newsletter, and return to this website for updates on how the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation is improving the lives of our most vulnerable pets in our community. 
 

Team-Building Workshop Features Feathered Friends

Seattle Animal Shelter Staff holding chickens at team-building workshop

Staff members of the Seattle Animal Shelter took part in a team-building workshop in early September with a unique goal – to train a chicken.

Jocelyn Bouchard, SAS Deputy Director, chose the chicken training workshop after she learned about it from animal control officer Bobbi Soper. Soper attended a six-day chicken training camp in May and found it incredibly useful in teaching dog trainers new skills. Both thought it would make a great team-bonding exercise. “It was animal related, and the training could be beneficial to all of us, plus how fun would it be to train chickens?” Jocelyn said. Most importantly Jocelyn felt the SAS staff needed a fun reason to come together after the COVID pandemic. “It’s been a rough few years. It’s important to support the staff and have these opportunities to work with other team members and get rejuvenated.”

Diane Canafax, the co-founder and lead trainer of the non-profit Kitsap Animal Rescue and Education (KARE), provided the hens and leads chicken training camps throughout the Puget Sound area. She said the purpose of the workshop is to help trainers break down tasks and communicate properly so the trainee understands what they are being asked to do.

Chickens make excellent trainees because they are not interested in pleasing their handlers like dogs and only respond to positive reinforcement techniques, like clicker training. Clickers are small hand-held devices that make, you guessed it, a clicking sound. The trainer clicks the clicker and gives the hen a peck of feed out of a cup every time the hen performs a desirable behavior. The chicken soon learns to associate the sound of the click with a specific action and a reward and is more inclined to repeat the behavior.

Chicken pecking feed out of a cup

The technique may sound simple, but with clicker training, timing is everything and chickens add an element of difficulty. “Chickens are fast, so if the timing isn’t good, you may get what you click,” said Diane. In other words, not the behavior you want. If the feed cup isn’t pulled away quickly, the chicken will keep eating and the feed will no longer be viewed as a treat, she said.

For the workshop, Diane deliberately teamed people up who didn’t work together on a day-to-day basis. “That way there is no hierarchy, no overshadowing. It’s also a great way to meet others in the organization and establish a rapport,” she added.

Not everyone was initially enthusiastic about working with chickens. Arlene Ehrlich, an account technician at SAS and workshop participant had some hesitation at first about handling a hen. “I was afraid maybe I’d drop it or it would try to get away and I’d lose my chicken.”

Hens provided by KARE are well-mannered and used to being handled, said Diane, which can reassure people who may be a bit fearful of chickens. The first part of the workshop was a demonstration on how to properly get the hens out of their cages and handle them. Participants then watched a video on clicker training and broke up into groups to teach the chicken to consistently peck a red poker chip in the middle of the table. Once the hen mastered that task, the poker chip was moved to see if she would peck the chip when it was in a different place. The ultimate training task was to incorporate a second poker chip of a different color and train the hen to differentiate between the two.

Jocelyn said the feedback from the six-hour workshop was positive and most people really enjoyed working with the chickens. Bobbi Soper, who also attended the workshop, said it was nice to see co-workers having a good time and laughing while getting comfortable with offering suggestions and observations to their teammates.

chicken pecking red poker chip

Arlene echoed that. In addition to conquering her fear of mishandling her chicken, she said enjoyed the training more than she thought she would and was disappointed she didn’t have enough time with her chicken. However, a few hours of training were more than enough for the hens. “Towards the end of the session, our chickens were pretty spent,” said Arlene. She also got to know people in her organization she didn’t have much daily contact with and found the clicker training motivating. “I went home and taught my dog a couple of new tricks.”

Wiola Ruka, a SAS customer service representative, was curious about how chickens could be trained and a bit anxious about handling them. By the end of the session, she found the close contact with the hen calming. “It was almost like an emotional support animal,” she said. She encourages others to attend a chicken training workshop if they have the chance and see for themselves how smart chickens are. “They are so cute and fun to work with. It was a really amazing experience.”

Jocelyn Bouchard said the workshops not only foster team collaboration, but participants walk away with skills they can apply to other species and life in general.  Training a chicken requires great task analysis and timing as well as excellent communication techniques and an abundance of patience. 

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation funds grants for team-building workshops like this. Your contributions directly help shelter staff connect, collaborate, and learn new skills.

Behavior program gets to the heart (and mind) of the matter

For an animal, being involuntarily away from its home can bring up all kinds of emotions. Just like it would for a person. But without words, the feelings emerge as behaviors, which can be problematic.  

The Seattle Animal Shelter tackles these issues with care, knowledge and respect, thanks to its specialized Behavior Program.  

“Dogs and cats are social animals. They do best where they have social companionship,” said Dr. Sheila Segurson, Director of Outreach and Research for Maddie’s Fund and a behavior consultant for the shelter. “Oftentimes animals aren’t being housed with their best friends. The big things lacking in shelters are the companionship piece and control over their environment. It’s such a big factor in terms of wellbeing for animals.” 

This team of 10 people is a volunteer-based program that aims to correct behaviors that could be barriers to adoption. The program has a manager position that is fully funded by the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation. The first person to take on that role, Kimberlee Spicer, moved on in June 2022. 

“She did a great job collaborating with foster parents and foster leads,” said Tracy Bahrakis, Seattle Animal Shelter’s manager of animal care. “She would try to connect pets with the right parents and then help troubleshoot with parents of pets in foster homes. She did a great job taking the program from part-time into (something) really robust.” 

The program is now in a transitional period, evaluating its needs while looking to hire a new manager. SAS is working with Dr. Segurson, DVM, who has advanced specialty training in animal behavior, to identify shelter needs and develop the job description for the new leader. 

“Seattle is so lucky that the (Seattle Animal Shelter) Foundation funds this position,” Dr. Segurson said. “Even having one funded position is really not enough — this person is responsible for supporting the welfare of all animals in care: helping them get adopted, support them after adoption, and to prevent animals from coming in with regard to behavior. This position relies so heavily on volunteers.” 

Dr. Segurson has been working to help define the scope of this role and match resources to needs. Goals looking forward include stronger focus on supportive training for staff, volunteers, and foster and adoptive parents to decrease stress in shelter – supporting the animal throughout its journey.  

Watch this video to learn more about the Behavior Program and animals that the volunteers and staff have helped. 

The program will continue to shift away from just doing behavior modification in the shelter and instead using techniques to support adopters and keep the animal in its home, out of the shelter in the first place. Shelter behaviors can be artificially stimulated and not reflect the true personality of the animal. 

“The future program in behavior is about the mental health of the animal, really focusing on enrichment,” said Jocelyn Bouchard, deputy director of the Seattle Animal Shelter. “Some animals don’t do well in a shelter setting. To move them into foster and work with them in foster is all part of it. We’re making sure we’re doing everything to minimize stress and care for their mental health.”  

“The general goals haven’t changed,” she said. “It’s to save more lives and to help rehome these animals in a way that they’re going to be successful. How we’re going about it will change a little.” 

_________ 

To support the important and valuable programs Seattle Animal Shelter runs, like the Behavior Program, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation
___________ 

Putting the focus on fostering

Foster parents have cared for 562 animals in partnership with the Seattle Animal Shelter in 2022. That’s a lot of people, appointments, supplies and meetings. All managed and cared for by 20 volunteer leads who liaise with veterinary questions, care and support for foster families and potential adopters.  

Thanks to the focused donations of this year’s Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation Furevermore, the shelter leads are going to get some help.  

This year’s fundraising gala will be providing for a new position of Foster Coordinator for the Seattle Animal Shelter. 

“We’re excited that the foster parents will have the support they so desperately need,” said SAS Animal Care Manager Tracy Bahrakis. “And to have someone who will be the consistent communicator. Anxiety and guilt doesn’t feel good, and our foster parents give so freely of themselves, their homes, their love – we should do better by them, but in current structure we just don’t have capacity for it.” 

The new coordinator won’t take over for the leads, but rather will provide better communication between the foster program and the animal care manager, shelter behaviorist, veterinary team and field services team, which handles cases. The position basically will provide one point of communication between the foster program’s many stakeholders and shelter staff units.  

The foster program at SAS is around 20 years old, and it’s a fairly recent development that adoptable animals have been able to move into foster homes. The shelter also can put animals taken during law enforcement cases into foster homes, which is “absolutely amazing for the animals,” Bahrakis said.  

“As much as we work so hard to make the shelter environment a comfortable place for animals to live, we struggle with a few things, such as choice and control over what happens, providing social interaction, and reducing stress,” said Dr. Sheila Segurson, DVM, a behavioral consultant for the shelter. “Homes are generally a lot less stressful and more happy. Less scary noises, less weird smells, less stressed animals, more comfort, more play, and more love.” 

During COVID shutdowns, the shelter needed to limit staffing so the vast majority of animals needed to move to foster. And the Seattle community stepped up.  

“There were over 250 small animals, and our foster parents just showed up in force. There were so many parents who helped take care of this … to take pressure off the shelter,” Bahrakis said. 

Bringing in the Foster Coordinator supports this move toward creating a more robust program.  

“(We’re working to) shore up what we have and continue to build,” Bahrakis said. “While we do our very best, a shelter is no place for an animal to stay long term. (We want to create) a more sustainable foster program, the best we can do for animals in our community.” 

And beyond that, the scope of the Foster Coordinator role could expand even into community engagement, giving new audiences a voice in animal welfare and inspiring new people to volunteer. 

“There’s room for us to reach out to more underserved communities, to folks who may not know that we are their shelter, that we have these opportunities in-home and in shelter to volunteer.”  

______ 

To support the Seattle Animal Shelter’s new foster coordinator position and the many animals in need, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation hosted the 2022 Furevermore Auction and Gala. Thanks to all of our supporters, donors, and volunteers for the outstanding evening. 

Furevermore 2022 Sneak Peak!

In the lead-up to the event, we will be featuring some of our donated items that will be available. Check back for updates and more of what you could win at Furevermore on October 29th, 2022. And if you haven’t already, get your tickets before we run out!

A couple quick notes:

  • We now have a raffle going where you can win further prizes like a wine tasting!
  • We are excited to reveal the signature cocktail at the event: The Paws-mo! We don’t want to give too many spoilers out, so come try this cocktail!

XOBC Wine Tasting

XOBC Cellars bottled the goodness that comes out of sharing a meal with a friend or stranger. The winery was founded in 2019 by multi-Grammy winning artist Brandi Carlile, her wife Catherine, and their friends, Jeri and Amy Andrews. These women fused music and wine with a common goal of making a difference by donating proceeds from XOBC Cellars to Brandi’s Looking Out Foundation (LOF).

A true outlier, showcasing female & LGBTQ+ leadership, this team of women in wine has raised the bar for the entire industry. Now you and up to 12 of your friends can sip on this wine. Let Team XOBC treat you and your guests to a tailored private experience.

During the tasting (typically 60-90 minutes) we share the story of how XOBC Cellars began, why our Walla Walla vineyards make such fantastic wine, our sustainable farming practices, and the ways in which your support gives back to LOF, all interspersed with questions from your group and plenty of tasting.

6-nights on an African Safari

Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve provides a unique bush experience in the heart of one of South Africa’s most diverse conservation regions. Nestled between the wilderness reserves of Mkuze, Hluhluwe, St Lucia and Sodwana Bay, this lush stretch of paradise is home to a wide variety of game, from the majestic elephant to rhino, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, the secretive leopard and cheetah and the shy Nyala antelope that are endemic to the region.


The privately owned reserve is home to over 40 different species of animal and magnificent birdlife. A large variety of game reserve activities and excursions are available to all guests of Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge and Hemingway Tented Camp.

Read more in this document about the trip!

2 Seahawks tickets and a signed football

Claim 2 tickets to see the Seahawks play at Lumen Field and sit amongst the fans in section 126. Specific games are TBD at Furevermore.

Winners of this prize will also receive a signed football from NFL Hall of Famer Walter Jones! Jones played with the Seahawks of 180 games and was selected into the Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility.

Guided Truffle Hunting

Join us on a truffle hunt with an exclusive Guided Truffle Hunting Experience. Our guide will take you to a known truffle patch and show you the fascinating world of truffle hunting with dogs. We promise you will not be disappointed when you see the dog and handler work in tandem to locate the underground treasures. Please no dogs as it can be very distracting to the dog who is working.

We recommend you budget about 1/2 day for this experience. The truffle hunt itself will last about 1.5 to 2 hrs from the moment you set boots and paws in the woods until the time you return to vehicles. Travel time to location varies and is generally 1.5 to 3 hours round trip from the nearest major city (see locations in the scheduling form below).

Guests provide their own transportation and bring proper attire and any food/ water. You get to keep everything that is found. We’ll show you how to clean and care for them, as well as provide some recipe ideas, and we’ll sample some delicious truffle-infused goodies back at the vehicles! It’ll be a magical day in the woods. Read more!

2 tasting menus with wine parings and a night at the willows inn

The beautiful Willows Inn is located on Lummi Island and is widely known for its world-class restaurant. Booked months in advance, this is an excellent chance to try to food for yourself, then retire to your room on the premises.

Lummi Island’s quiet atmosphere is great for relaxing and taking in the beautiful views. During the day there are art communities, farms, and other small attractions. For outdoorsy folks, there are some hikes and kayaking options available as well. Get away from the city and enjoy the beauty Lummi and an outstanding evening of food.

Custom Dog house from Backspace Sheds

The winner of this awesome item will get a custom dog house, courtesy of our friends at bAckspace Sheds. After a hard day of chasing squirrels, protecting your yard from airplanes, and generally zooming about, your dog deserves to relax in luxury. Perfect for all dogs, these houses will keep your furry friend out of ruff conditions.

If you want to check out some of the designs by bAckspace Sheds, check out their Instagram!

2022 Furevermore Auction & Gala

*** For tickets to Furevermore 2023, please visit this page! ***

___________________________________________

Here is our 2022 event information:

fundraising for animal shelter programs

It’s time to auction like it’s 2019! We are returning back in-person to the National Nordic Museum in Ballard on October 29th, 2022. Join us for a fun evening of catching up and bidding on a wide selection of items from our generous donors. Proceeds from this event go towards supporting crucial programs at Seattle Animal Shelter.

Sports tickets, local restaurant tastings, pet gear, and one-of-a-kind travel opportunities are just some of the items ready to go to the highest bidder. Plus, there’s the chance to feature your pet on the next SASF calendar or make them the star of next year’s Furry 5K and Furevermore! 

Space is limited to 350, so get your tickets today to win cool stuff, play games, and help animals all over the city get the care they need.

More than just an auction

Furevermore includes all kinds of fun events for animal lovers. Here just a few of the planned activities for the evening in addition to the 100+ items in live and silent auction:

  • Meet and greet with adoptable puppies, kittens, or bunnies 
  • A full course meal 
  • Cocktail hour 
  • “You as an animal” portraits 
  • Photo booths 
  • Other exciting raffles and entertainment 

Save the Date: Furevermore Returns October 29, 2022 

Posted August 8, 2022

UPDATE: Registration is now closed, thank you!

The Furevermore Auction & Gala is back on October 29th, 2022! 

After going virtual in 2020 and cancelling in 2021, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation is thrilled to announce Furevermore is back in person this year. 

We’ll welcome 350 of our top supporters to the National Nordic Museum to enjoy: 

  • Cocktail hour 
  • Meet and greet with adoptable puppies, kittens, or bunnies 
  • “You as an animal” portraits 
  • Photo booths 
  • Other exciting raffles and entertainment 
  • A full course meal 
  • Bidding on 100+ items in a live and silent auction 

Sports tickets, local restaurant tastings, pet gear, and one-of-a-kind travel opportunities are just some of the items ready to go to the highest bidder. Plus, there’s the chance to feature your pet on the 2023 SASF calendar or make them the star of next year’s Furry 5K and Furevermore! 

Have fun and donate to a good cause as we look to raise over $200,000 and to help fund life-saving programs at the Seattle Animal Shelter. 

With the money raised from this event, we’re looking to fund a full-time foster care coordinator to increase the number of dogs, cats, and critters that are placed in foster homes and provide direct support to foster parents and animals. Your donations in support of this foster care coordinator position will make a difference for so many neglected dogs, cats, and critters looking for a second chance. 

Seating is limited, so check back on our website or follow us on Facebook,  Instagram, or LinkedIn to see when tickets become available. 

Thanks for your support and we’ll see you in October! 

Furry 5K 2022: Over $115,000 Raised for the Seattle Animal Shelter!

Two dogs in bandanas at Furry 5K

We did it! This past year’s Furry 5K was bigger than ever before, thanks to generous donations, volunteers, our sponsors, and the hundreds of humans and pets who joined us on June 12 at Seward Park (and even those who participated virtually). The event was packed to the brim with opportunities to connect as a community and support the Seattle Animal Shelter.  

Dogs and walkers at Furry 5K

Fun on the day 

Upon arriving at Seward Park, runners and walkers (two-legged and four-legged alike) were invited to get in on the fun early. There were photo booths and vendors to explore, and presenting sponsor Mud Bay was handing out bandanas to eager pups. It was a joy to see so many furry family members sporting their new gear as they made the 5-kilometer loop next to Lake Washington. Even Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrel joined in, chatting with race participants and giving head scratches to animals as they headed out on the course. 

Mayor Harrell, Kara Main-Hester, and Esteban Rodriguez at Furry 5K

Once runners and walkers rounded the last corner and came in sight of the finish line, excited barking filled the park as humans and pets raced towards the finish line. There was the classic rehydration station and also a little something extra for the pups (tennis balls) that greeted finishers as they passed through the final arch — exciting many dogs who could have kept on going. 

The fun didn’t stop there. The various booths, food trucks and activities kept runners and walkers entertained long after their 3-mile loop. The dog agility course was a crowd favorite and showcased the talents of plenty of pups. 

Dogs, humans, and vendors at Furry 5K
Rainier Agility Team dog and handler at Furry 5K
Dogs lounging in kiddy pools at Furry 5K

Check out more event day photos in our 2022 Furry 5K photo album

We beat our fundraising goal!

The impact of the Furry 5K 

Beyond the joy of the actual race, this year’s Furry 5K helped provide the Seattle Animal Shelter with much needed funds and support. Every dollar raised through donations will help the pets at the shelter receive the medical attention, behavioral support, and loving care they need and deserve. 

We’re proud to say that we surpassed our fundraising goal of $100,000! This year’s Furry 5K event raised $115,145 for the Seattle Animal Shelter. This money will be used to support so many animals in the shelter and allow the facilities and people working within the shelter to continue their vital work.  

Thank you to all involved 

None of this would have been possible without the support of donors, volunteers, and sponsors. This year’s race was put on by more than 100 volunteers, and we all know it wouldn’t be the same without the dedication of that group. Volunteers actually created the first Furry 5K back in 1999 to raise funds for the Seattle Animal Shelter’s veterinary needs and they still organize the event to this day. 

The Furry 5K wouldn’t be what it is without the donors and participants that come out, rain or shine, to help support the shelter animals they care about. Whether you ran, walked, donated, led a team, shared a post on social media, or anything in between — thank you. Your support helps the Seattle Animal Shelter keep doing amazing work. 

It takes a village to put on a race like the Furry 5K, and a huge part of that community are our sponsors. These sponsors provide the shelter with invaluable resources to create a fun, impactful event that truly matters to the animals in need of the care that the shelter provides. Thank you to: 

A special shout out to our presenting sponsor, Mud Bay, for also donating $1 for each mile ran at the Furry 5K, for a total of $3,252! 

Looking ahead 

While this year was a smashing success, there are always more opportunities to support the shelter. Keep an ear out on future fundraising and community-building events by subscribing to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation newsletter. You can also donate today to help support the shelter’s ongoing needs.  

Mud Bay Delivers Donations and Sponsorship to Help Make Furry 5K a Success

Thank you Furry 5K image

Mud Bay is delighted to be a longtime partner supporting the work of Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, and a recurring Presenting Sponsor of one of SASF’s signature events—the Furry 5K. Last year, in addition to sponsorship, Mud Bay was also able to donate 1,600 pounds of high-quality food to the shelter. Since 2017, Mud Bay has donated over $1.3 million dollars supporting exemplary nonprofit organizations such as SASF.

This year, Mud Bay Delivery is pleased to be participating in several ways, including the bandana sponsorship, and will have members of our Delivery Team on-site to hand out bandanas—as well as pet treats—to folks at Furry 5K.

Also, Mud Bay Delivery has pledged to donate $1 for each and every mile walked/ran during the Furry 5K event on June 12th.

“We love working with Seattle Animal Shelter, and Furry 5K is always one of our favorite events,” said Justin Anderson, Marketing Program Manager for Mud Bay. “Between the adorable bandanas Mud Bay Delivery team members are handing out, and the $1 match for every mile, we hope this will be the best Furry 5K yet!”

So, grab your friends and family and register for the Furry 5K today, which benefits the Help the Animals Fund at Seattle Animal Shelter, supporting medical care for pets in need. And when you’re there, look for the Mud Bay Delivery crew to say hi and get a bandana and a treat for your pet!