Erie Gives Day | Aug. 8 | 8am-8pm
What Is Erie Gives Day?
Erie Gives Day is an important and exciting day for Erie nonprofits. This one-day, 12-hour-long donation drive is dedicated to financially supporting your favorite local nonprofit(s). For many organizations, Erie Gives Day is one of their largest fundraising opportunities.
For our organization, Erie Gives is a very great opportunity to show your support and make a gift, which allows us to continue helping as many orphaned and injured pets in our community as we possibly can. Each gift made ($25 minimum) to the Erie Humane Society also receives a prorated match, which helps to elevate our overall total.
New to Erie Gives Day? No problem. Check out these resources to help.
130 Years of Second Chances and Counting
Everyone deserves a second chance—especially animals who have been neglected, abandoned, or abused. At the Erie Humane Society, we’ve been providing second chances to animals in need for 130 years.
Mac’s story
Mac, a 14-year-old Chihuahua, was found lying in a ditch on a country road by a delivery driver. He was covered in feces and appeared to have no lower jaw. The Erie Humane Society’s Cruelty Division was contacted and immediately took him to Glenwood Pet Hospital for evaluation. They discovered that his jaw was lost due to a previous infection that was not treated. He was also significantly underweight and his fur severely matted. After an unsuccessful search for Mac’s owner, it was determined that he was most likely abandoned.
It's hard to imagine someone discarding an innocent and loving pet like Mac, but sadly, it happens every day. We’re thankful Mac found his way to us and can now live out the rest of his life getting the comfort and care he deserves.
Help us be their hope
Rehabilitation is a critical component of our no-kill mission at the Erie Humane Society. We’re committed to providing the necessary care to every animal that comes through our doors. This way, they can be adopted into loving homes and live happy, healthy lives. However, we can’t do that without the support and generosity of donors like you.
On August 8th, Erie Gives Day, please consider being part of that hope for more animals like Mac, by maximizing your monetary donation, and helping us continue our 130-year legacy of second chances. The Erie Community Foundation provides each donation a prorated match. Your donation truly makes an impact in creating a better life for a homeless pet. To donate on Erie Gives Day, visit www.eriegives.org and choose the ERIE HUMANE SOCIETY!
Every Dollar Raised Makes an Impact
Scrappy's Story
It was Monday morning; a new week just getting started. Then the phone rang into our cruelty department. Two witnesses reported seeing a female abandon a small dog in a crate, next to a dumpster, in downtown Erie.
Our Humane Officers responded immediately, recovered the dog, and took a detailed report from the witnesses. A request for the community's help was made for any information that would lead our investigators to the identity of the person that had abandoned this dog.
Little did we know at the time, that tips and information would lead right back to the two witnesses. Investigators would soon discover that they fabricated the entire report, and had in fact, agreed to take ownership of the dog earlier that day.
This dog was me. My name is Scrappy, and I am an 8 year old, long-hair chihuahua. When I arrived at the Erie Humane Society, I wasn't in the greatest condition. I had a lot of thinning hair, horrible dental disease, itchy, irritated skin, and I was underweight.
During my 6 week stay, I got neutered, vaccinated, and had to have all my remaining teeth removed due to infection and periodontal disease. It's ok though - because I can still enjoy my food, and progressively, I gained more weight. I also managed to capture the heart of every single staff member at the shelter. Even though I knew this was my temporary home (I was bounced around a lot from home to home in my life), I'd never felt so much love.
May 8th was truly the best day of my life. That's the day that my new mom and dad (plus my new niece, Alice) came to take me home. Even though I'd lived in more homes than I could count, I knew deep down in my tiny little heart, that this was my FOREVER home. I instantly fell in love with my new family, and I love my home. I've continued to maintain a healthy weight, my skin feels great, and can we talk about how amazing my fur looks now that it's growing back in?
If it weren't for my friends at the Erie Humane Society, who knows where I would be today. When you make your gift to shelter on Erie Gives Day, you are giving the promise of a better life, filled with love and warmth, to another pet, just like me. The Erie Humane Society needs you behind them, so that they can continue doing the important work they do each day, helping animals in need, like me.
Please support the Erie Humane Society on Erie Gives from 8am to 8pm, with your gift!
Meet Princess
My name is Princess and I'm a 10-month-old tabby kitten. In cat terms, I may be a teenager, but in people terms, I'm still very much a youngster. I came to the Erie Humane Society in April after one of the worst experiences of my life.
My family's daughter had some of her friends over. One of her friends (who was only 11 years old) asked her if she could throw me against the wall. My human sister said yes, and before I knew it, I was flying through the air before making impact with the wall. I fell to the floor, not really understanding what had just happened, or why they would want to hurt me.
The girls were laughing and pointing a video camera around the room. Did they just do that to me on purpose? Because love people so much and want nothing more than to shower them with love and affection, I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
Later that day, I hopped up next to this girl again, to try and let her know that I forgave her. I couldn't prepare myself for what happened next. The same girl, who was holding her video camera, picked me up, and launched me clear across the living room. As I was flying through the air, I knew it was going to hurt when I landed. My body hit the floor, and I rolled a few times before I was able to get to my feet. I still didn't understand why they would want to hurt me.
Thankfully, someone who knew what these girls were doing to me, showed the video to an adult, and the Humane Officers from the Erie Humane Society came to my house and saved me. They took me to see a doctor, to make sure that there wasn't anything wrong with me on the inside, and that I hadn't broken any bones.
Since I was ok, I went back to the shelter to rest. I was a little scared, so the shelter staff moved me to a quieter location that I had all to myself. That day all of these nice people kept coming to meet me. They were gentle and kind and they told me they were sorry for what had happened to me. They assured me I would never be treated like that again. I was so happy to have these new people who clearly loved me, so I didn't hesitate to show them that I loved them too.
Not long after my arrival, I went to see another doctor for surgery, because I had an obstruction in my intestines. The doctor removed 5 coins (1 dime and 4 pennies) from my belly. I honestly can't remember how they even got there. The doctor assured me that I was going to make a full recovery.
I'm all healed up now, and I'm currently still at the shelter waiting for my perfect family to come meet me, fall in love with me, and take me home. I don't know them yet, but I already know that I love them so much! I keep telling myself that good things are worth the wait. My day will come before I know it.
If it hadn't been for the Erie Humane Society, I can't imagine where I would be. I'm so glad they saved me, gave me the medical care that I needed, and now are committed to helping me find my happily ever after.
When you make your gift to the Erie Humane Society on Erie Gives Day, you are giving pets like me the promise of a better tomorrow.
Please support the Erie Humane Society on Erie Gives, from 8am to 8pm, with your gift!
Peter's Story
When I say I traveled a long way to live the good life, I'm not exaggerating. My name is Peter. I'm a Pit Bull Terrier mix, and I'm originally from North Carolina.
The Erie Humane Society saved my life. Literally. You see, not all shelters in the south are like those you see here in Erie. Many shelters in the south are overwhelmed with homeless animals that have no place to go. People don't adopt the animals as quickly as they come in, so sometimes, you only get a short amount of time to get adopted.
In the spring of 2018, the Erie Humane Society committed to a rescue mission that saved me and my friends, Paul and Pat, from death row. I wasn't sure what this new place would have in store for me, but at the point, it was a better option than where I was headed.
My friends and I settled in to our new surroundings, and I immediately felt their warmth and compassion. Not long after my arrival, we discovered that I had Lyme Disease. I was a little nervous about what that meant for me, but my friends at the Erie Humane Society assured me that I would be given some medicine that would help treat the Lyme Disease. They had big plans for me and my friends to find the lives we'd been longing for.
I'm thrilled to say that I made a full recovery and was officially able to start my search for my forever family. The staff always commented on how I always appeared to have a smile on my face. I couldn't contain my happiness! I had a new appreciation for the sweet gift of life.
The day I met my new family was a day I will never forget. It was easy to win them over with my handsome looks and great personality, but in that moment, I realized that the promise my friends at the shelter made me, to find me the family that would love and care for me, was becoming a reality.
Stepping in to my forever home for the first time was a magical moment; one that I savor every day of my life. My new parents love and adore every ounce of my being, and I will never be able to completely show them just how grateful I am for it. They even threw me a birthday party; cake, candles, singing, and all, with our family and friends, when I turned 2.
My parents often share pictures of me with every one at the shelter now where my perpetual joy for life shines through in my smile...the very smile they helped put on my face.
From death row, to now living the best life ever, I am eternally grateful to my friends at the Erie Humane Society for rescuing me, seeing my true potential, and helping me find the incredible two people I now call my mom and dad.
When you give to the Erie Humane Society on Erie Gives Day, you are helping to give an opportunity, just like I had, to a deserving pet who really needs it.
Please support the Erie Humane Society on Erie Gives, from 8am to 8pm, with your gift!
Support the Erie Humane Society
We encourage you to support the Erie Humane Society with confidence this Erie Gives Day for these reasons:
The Erie Humane Society is a managed admissions shelter, and by definition, operates under “no-kill” standards. A “no-kill” shelter is an animal shelter that does not euthanize healthy or treatable animals, even when the shelter is full. Furthermore, under “no-kill” standards, a shelter will employ many strategies to promote shelter animals, expanding its resources to volunteers, foster care, and working actively to lower the number of homeless animals entering shelters through education and spay/neuter advocacy.
The Erie Humane Society is an independent, registered 501-c3, non-profit organization in Erie, PA. Our organization was founded and incorporated by a group of compassionate individuals on November 14th, 1892.
WE HAVE NO AFFILIATION with the Humane Society of the United States (which wasn't founded until 1954). We are not a chapter of the HSUS,we do not receive supplies from them and receive no funding from them or any other national advocacy group.
In fact, the HSUS clearly states on their website that "As a national animal advocacy organization, the HSUS doesn’t operate or oversee local shelters or rescue groups. We are neither a parent or chapter organization for any group, nor an inspection agency. Each shelter and rescue group is an independent organization governed by its own board of directors or local officials, and each group sets its own policies and rules."
We are funded by and rely on grants, modest adoption fees, and the generous contributions made by our supporters and community members who believe in the work we have done and continue to do over the past 128 years. We are proud to serve the Erie Community -- without you, our work would not be possible!
There is no time-limit for the length of stay a pet has at the Erie Humane Society. Healthy, adoptable pets remain at the shelter until they are adopted. Additionally, there are no restrictions of age of pets. We take-in newborn kittens to senior pets, giving every animal the opportunity to thrive so that they may have a second chance at a happy, healthy life with a loving family.
The Erie Humane Society has operated a cruelty investigations unit for over 33 years and has one of the longest and most consistent histories of animal law enforcement in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
We employ two full-time Humane Police Officers. These officers are trained by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Bureau of Dog Law. They are sworn by the Erie County Courts, employed and supervised by the Erie Humane Society, and work closely with state and local law enforcement units, local animal enforcement agencies, the county court system, local governments and the Office of the District Attorney.
Through our long history of working with and assisting other entities, we also enjoy strong professional working relationships in the community. The Erie Humane Society's Humane Officers enforce the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Cruelty Law. This body of law governs and protects against the negligent, abusive or cruel treatment of domesticated animals, including farm stock and horses.
The Erie Humane Society is dedicated to the welfare of the animals we care for and ensure each pet has an opportunity to thrive. We also educate the public on humane and responsible pet ownership through various outreach events, public education programs, and grass root efforts such as Shelter Buddies Reading Program, Shelter Service Program for Veterans, and Rescue Day Camp for children.
The Erie Humane Society focuses on ensuring the mind, body, and spirit of each animal is healthy and balanced. We do this by providing pets with both emotional and physical rehabilitation, allowing the whole pet to heal.
Our efforts are successful by employing a dedicated, compassionate team, assisted by a devoted volunteer base. Ultimately, it is because of the incredible support of our community, that we are able to continue our mission and create a better future for all pets in need.