**Exciting News & Upcoming Events at IMHS**

Dear Friends,

First off, a moment of celebration....what an incredible year 2012 has been so far! Since January, we have provided shelter and care to 524 cats and dogs and placed 441 animals into homes! Our volunteers and supporters have enabled us to help 266 orphaned and special needs animals by providing them with foster care and extra TLC in a loving home environment. We're also delighted to report that volunteerism in the shelter is up by a staggering 160% just since January. Thank you all, so much, for helping us impact the lives of so many needy animals this year--truly, we couldn't do it without you!

We've got exciting news and events to report...

Nicole Willis joined our team this week as our new Shelter Supervisor and we couldn't be more pleased with the level of experience, dedication, and sense of energy she brings to the position! Nicole has relocated from Coos Bay, Oregon where she was responsible for oversight of daily operations at the county-operated Coos Bay Animal Shelter for the past 4 years. During that time, Nicole initiated volunteer and foster programs and forged collaborative partnerships with other agencies to dramatically increase the shelter's live release rate (i.e. number of animals saved). Nicole's first day on the job at IMHS was Tuesday and she has already hit the ground running with terrific new ideas to help animals. Stop by when you can to say hello and welcome her! We're so excited to have Nicole on our team to serve the animals of IMHS.

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

Saturday, Sept 22nd, 9am - 4pm-- Shop the IMHS 2nd Chance Thrift Shop's Sidewalk Sale and End of Year Clearance! ALL store merchandise will be 50% off!! Free gifts with each purchase or donation. We'll have brand new merchandise for sale at wholesale or below prices. Items donated and purchased all benefit the animals of IMHS, so join us for this super-sale extravaganza next Saturday! This sale will be held on-site at the IMHS Second Chance Thrift Shop, located at the log building in Pine Junction (67318 US Hwy 285 S, parking lot and just upstairs from the shelter).

Saturday, October 20th, 2pm - 4pm-- Please JOIN US for the 2012 IMHS Silent Auction! This is our largest fundraising event of the year, and we dearly hope you'll help to make it special by joining us at The Ranch Grill, 19423 N. Turkey Creek Rd, Morrison (theranchgrill.net). This is shaping up to be our most exciting Silent Auction ever with an unbelieveable variety of quality items to bid on and musical entertainment provided by Kicked 2 the Curb...stay tuned to our website at IMHS.org for more details to follow, but please SAVE THE DATE and plan to be there!

More ways YOU can help animals every day:

Before your next GROCERY trip, stop by IMHS to purchase a $10 Safeway gift card! These are reloadable cards and may be used to purchase groceries, gas, postage stamps, and Gift Card Mall items from Safeway...and best of all, the animals benefit from your purchases when IMHS receives a 5% rebate! Call us at 303-838-2668 for more details.

BRING US your aluminum cans!! IMHS cashes in your donated aluminum soda and beer cans to help the shelter animals...how EASY is that? Simply toss your empty cans into a bag and drop them off ANYTIME at the IMHS shelter. If you arrive after-hours, leave your bagged cans at our doorstep and we'll get 'em! Please...tell your friends, tell your classmates, tell your co-workers...the change from each little soda can adds up to a lot for the shelter animals, and this program makes a BIG difference for animals!

Here's to a terrific fourth quarter of 2012!

Thank you for your compassion for animals,

Marta Anderson
Shelter Director
ADOPT, VOLUNTEER, DONATE, SHOP our 2nd Chance Thrift Shop!
Shelter open EVERY DAY for adoptions