BRAND: Humane Society needs aid in recession

You turn on the TV and you get bad news — or at least it feels that way to me.

Every day, we hear about more budget cuts, lost jobs, etc. Wouldn’t you like to get some good news — to hear a story with a happy ending?

Well, we’re all about happy endings at Caring Hands, and there are plenty of easy ways you can help us create them, without opening your wallet!

You can surf the Web and save animals!

It’s as easy as switching search engines. GoodSearch.com donates 50 percent of its revenue to charities and non-profits designated by its users.

It works just like any other search engine — in fact, it’s powered by Yahoo.

When you want to look something up on the Internet, just go to www.goodsearch.com or, better yet, make it your home page and, in the field labeled “Who do you Good Search For?,” type in Caring Hands Humane Society.

More Good Searches for Caring Hands means more money to help the critters in our care. It’s that easy!

If you shop online, use their sister site, GoodShop.com, and the charity or non-profit of your choice will receive a portion of your purchase.

Or you can save the environment as well as companion animals!

Bring your recycled aluminum cans to Caring Hands, and we will redeem them for salvage value.

Again, the proceeds benefit the animals in our care.

Used towels, blankets and newspapers help, too!

Want something a little more fun?

Show off your pet and save animals!

Enter your furry friend in our 2010 Calendar Contest. We have extended the deadline to July 15. For $5 each picture, your pet will have a chance to be featured in next year’s Caring Hands Humane Society Calendar!

You can enter online at www.caringhandshs.com — details are on the homepage. You also can mail your photo with a check or just stop by! Photos with attractive backgrounds focusing on your pet have the best chance of winning.

If you don’t mind keeping the door closed in one room of your house, fostering cats or kittens is easy, cheap and fun! All of our cats use the litter box, and keeping them in a closed room means zero impact on your resident pets.

If you take pairs or small groups they will keep each other entertained too! All veterinary care is provided by Caring Hands. All you need to provide is food, a litter box and love. Fostering is a great experience for kids!

Time in foster care varies, usually from about four to eight weeks — sometimes less. For more information call Caring Hands Humane Society or visit www.caringhands-hs.com/foster.html.

We need large dog fosters, too! These can be long-term or short-term — you decide! Don’t forget the best way to save animals — adopt! Adopting an adult cat is free and you save a life — not to mention getting a new friend!

This recession will pass. Imagine how great it would feel to look back and know during this time we brought Caring Hands to no-kill.

This goal is within our reach. We were overwhelmed with 20 shih-tzus recently and, thanks to members of the community stepping forward, 19 of them are adopted or in foster care — leaving just one, Griffin, waiting to meet his new family here at Caring Hands.

More challenges lie ahead — but with your help, we can turn these tough times into happy endings!

Caring Hands Humane Society is a private not-for-profit Humane Society dedicated to improving the quality of life for companion animals and their guardians.

For more info. visit www.caringhandshs.com and look under the “I Want to Help” column, visit us at 1400 S.E. Third St. in Newton or call 283-0839.

Jack Brand is marketing and public relations coordinator for the Caring Hands Humane Society.