Hello All,

This is for a good cause so I am sharing it with you guys, if you are interested in helping. They can do credit card donations over the phone. Checks need to be mailed in.

"100 Members Shy of Third Stage Goal

The Humane Society of St. Thomas announces a one-week summer appeal to take its membership drive over the 1,500 mark. Randy Knight, Owner of Knight Quality Stations, challenged the Humane Society to grow its membership from 167 in 2002 to 1,000 in 2004 for a $500,000 matching donation toward the construction of its Animal Care Campus. When the Humane Society reached that goal, Knight challenged the organization to double its membership for another $500,000 in 2005.

However, Knight stipulated that 500 members would have to be raised by July 1 and another 500 by the end of the year.

“In what has continued as a competitive event for a great cause, we are closely approaching the magic number of 1,500 members; however, we need 100 members to join our cause before the end of the week,” said Joe Aubain, President of the Humane Society’s Board of Directors. “Call us now at 775-0599 to join.”

Funds raised by the membership drive directly benefit unwanted animals through activities encouraging adoption and education about spaying and neutering. Membership also supports the Humane Society’s efforts in animal control and cruelty investigations.

“Every membership is crucial to our efforts in taking care of animals and working toward the effective enforcement of the new animal cruelty law,” said Joe Elmore, Executive Director of the Humane Society of St. Thomas. “We continue to be plagued by animal cruelty with the most recent case occurring on Saturday near Coral World when a dog was tied to a rock and thrown into the sea to drown.”

With the completion of its Animal Care Campus, the Humane Society plans to launch an expansive educational program targeting young children to teach them the values of humane education. “Teaching children the values of being kind to animals and the environment is important. If we can influence children’s attitudes when they are still young, they will grow into responsible adults. These responsible adults will in turn influence their children and others in our community,” said Elmore.

With nearly 100 members to raise in the next 4 days, the Humane Society is appealing to the community to join its cause. By enrolling at $30, an individual’s contribution will raise several hundred dollars through Randy Knight’s matching challenge. To join, call the Humane Society at (340)775-0599 or email it at [email protected]."