24/06/2026
🐾 Where Do Our Animals Come From? 🐾
One of the questions we hear most often at the Humane Society of St. Thomas is:
“Where do all these animals come from?”
The answer is simple—but heartbreaking.
Every animal that walks through our doors has a story.
🏝️ Stray Pick-Ups
Many of our dogs and cats are found wandering neighborhoods, beaches, roadsides, and vacant lots. Some are lost pets, while others have spent weeks, months, or even years surviving on their own.
🏠 Owner Surrenders
Sometimes families face difficult circumstances and can no longer care for their pets. While surrendering a pet is never an easy decision, it happens more often than many people realize.
🐶🐱 Unexpected Litters
Every year we receive puppies and kittens born from unplanned pregnancies. One unspayed female dog and her offspring can produce dozens of puppies over time. The same is true for cats, which is why spay and neuter programs are so important.
🚨 Emergency Rescues
We often respond to animals that are injured, abandoned, neglected, or in immediate danger. These animals may require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and patience before they’re ready for adoption.
🌊 Dogs Found Roaming Our Beaches and Streets
It’s not uncommon for us to receive calls about dogs wandering our beaches, parking lots, hiking trails, and roadways. While some are reunited with their families, many are never claimed.
The reality is that every kennel, every cat condo, and every foster home represents an animal that needed help.
The good news? The community can be part of the solution.
✅ Spay and neuter your pets.
✅ Microchip and keep identification on your pets.
✅ Support responsible pet ownership.
✅ Foster when you can.
✅ Adopt when you’re ready.
✅ Report animals in need.
Behind every animal at the Humane Society is a story. Together, we can help make sure that story has a happy ending. ❤️🐾
