The winter season we are currently experiencing in the High Country has been particularly cold and rough, with periods of snow and ice at times. Due to the abnormally cold conditions, our gang here at Appnet decided it would be a great idea to help out the folks at the Watauga County Humane Society in Boone NC by providing them with essentials that they needed as well as a gift card donation. All of us are dog and cat lovers and, in the spirit of the giving season, we sprang into action.

Those of us that have pets know what it takes to care for the animals—especially in the winter season—and we appreciate all of the services that the Humane Society in Boone offers to the community and to the animals in our area. After gathering donations around the office just after the New Year, we purchased numerous items, including cleaning supplies (they really do need lots of bleach!), food, treats, a few leashes, and put the rest of the money toward a gift card donation. As a group, a few of us took a trip to the Watauga Humane Society—in part to deliver the donations, but mostly to get to see the adorable puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats that currently reside at the shelter. Boy, were they cute!

We encourage those looking to adopt pets to head to the Watauga Humane Society, or a Humane Society in their local area, as these non-profit organizations work to keep animals healthy, happy, and safe from the risk of being put down by entities such as Animal Control. They also are one of the foremost forces fighting to keep our pets safe through education about pet population control and other important aspects of pet care. Our local chapter is also in the process of building a new shelter in a fantastic location, as the old one is deteriorating fast. If you are looking for a place to give back, this is a nice organization.

While some might argue that animals are not nearly as important as people—and we can certainly understand that logic at times—we appreciate our dogs and cats and could not imagine a world without organizations such as the Humane Society, that provides free and low cost spay and neuter services. Just think—without them, many more animals would suffer from homelessness, neglect, and abuse, and there would be many more forgotten animals running around town, which could cause a host of problems.