• Annual Spaghetti Dinner! At Magnolia’s Restaurant, this is a fun evening including dinner and silent auction. Begun in April 2010, this extremely successful fundraiser also kicked off the HSMC’s first NFL Jersey Raffle.

• Annual Pet Wash! Begun in 1982, this July fundraiser continues to be the HSMC’s most popular event. Typically, more than 150 dogs come to be pampered with a brushing, ear cleaning, nail clipping, and last but not least, a massage. O.K., we do include soap and water with that massage which, according to Fido, makes it a bath! Fido still seems to enjoy the pampering, thanks to the local businesses that support this event and the volunteers who devote their time to this labor of love.

• Bark in the Park! Every October, approximately 100 dogs take their families out for a morning stroll around the Courthouse Square.  But not like any stroll.  Bark offers door prizes, contests, and vendors offering free samples and current information about the pets we love.  Bark would not be possible without the local businesses who sponsor it and a community that supports it.

• Spay/Neuter Program.  The HSMC, local area veterinarians, and the McDonough County Animal Shelter work together to promote spay/neuter for every animal adopted from the McDonough County Animal Shelter.  The HSMC also has a low-income spay/neuter assistance plan to help promote spay/neuter throughout McDonough County. 

• Animal Shelter Adoption Poster Program. Each week, dedicated volunteers take pictures of the animals available for adoption at the McDonough County Animal Shelter, create a poster and distribute the poster throughout the community. The pictures are also posted on the HSMC website (www.hsmcil.org) and Petfinders (www.petfinder.com). This is possible every week of every year because of the never-ending dedication of the Poster Committee volunteers, a contribution from WATTS Copy Systems with the printing, and the permission of the McDonough County Animal Shelter for allowing HSMC volunteers access to the shelter animals.

• Proof of Purchase Program. If you have pets, then you feed them.  The HSMC has a program that can turn your pet food proof-of-purchase UPC’s into cash or products. All you have to do is cut off the pet product UPC’s and turn them in to the HSMC.   All UPC’s can be turned in, but the HSMC has a long-term association with some pet companies that always give returns.  Mail your UPC’s to PO Box 7, Macomb IL 61455 or go to www.hsmcil.org for more options.

• Angel Fund. Each year, a discretionary fund is allotted to the local area veterinary clinics to assist animals in need of emergency services.  It is the HSMC’s view that no animal should suffer because they have been injured while lost or because of a crisis.

• Cat Vaccine Fund. The HSMC can’t take credit for the idea behind this fund, but we’re proud to be a part of Dr. Blakeley’s brainchild to prevent infectious diseases from spreading amongst the cats housed at the shelter. A very special thank-you to everyone who has donated. 

• Humane Education. The HSMC provides K-12 classrooms with the Humane Society of the United State’s publication, Kind News. This acclaimed publication teaches children about animal care and behavior with age specific information.   The HSMC also sets up booths at local events, such as WIU Home Show and Earth Day, to provide information and education regarding the animals we live with. 

• HSMC Tag Machine.  Remember, an up-to-date, readable tag is the quickest way for your pet to find his/her way home if lost.

Please consider helping to shape the future of the Humane Society of McDonough County for the upcoming years ahead by maintaining a membership and volunteering!