The Humane Society for Greater Nashua is located at 24 Ferry Road in Nashua.

NASHUA – Best friends, companions and soul mates come in all shapes and sizes – and species. There is something so special about our relationships with our pets that it’s almost indescribable. The bonds they develop with us are seen in the light in their eyes, their excitement when we walk in the door, their curiosity and jubilation when we include them in our outings and their clear contentment when we cuddle up with them.

Pet adoptions have been on the rise in the last decade, and the public’s advocacy for pets in need has certainly been a prominent influence through outreach and social media, but that doesn’t mean that rescues and adoption agencies have any less work to do.

There is no government institution or animal organization that is formally responsible for gathering the numbers surrounding animal protection efforts; national estimates pertaining to domestic animal needs are based on numbers loosely gathered by individual states, which vary greatly from one to another.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in 2020, it was estimated that roughly 6.5 million companion animals were entered into shelters all across the nation. That number is a significant decline from the estimated 7.2 million in 2011.

Difficult to talk about, but nonetheless unavoidable, is the topic of euthanization of shelter animals due to overcrowding and lack of funding and donations. About 670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats, or 1.5 million total, were put to sleep, according to last year’s estimates, which is, in another silver lining, a decline from the estimated 2.6 million total from 2011’s estimates. The decline is mainly due to the uptick in adoptions, TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) efforts by individuals, community groups and shelters to curb the numbers of kittens born on the streets, and the increasing success of transports from overrun shelters in the South and Midwest to those in areas with fewer challenges to face.

The question is often asked within the pet-rescue movement, “who rescued who?”

Rescued animals clearly benefit from finding forever homes after living through all-too-often dangerous, neglectful situations, but many people who live with mental health-related struggles and addiction recovery find solace and added meaning when bringing a pet into their lives. Testaments to the comfort and structure that people find in their pets when facing personal difficulties and loss can be found in everyday life online and in many of our own homes. Children who are able to grow up with pets can learn more compassion and responsibility, and from receiving alerts to having a buddy to walk and relax with, the elderly benefit greatly from the companionship provided by having a pet in their home.

The rewards of the emotional and social connections we have with our pets are limitless, and the truth of that is seen right here in our own homes.

Marjory the cat was found starving and close to death in some woods at the foot of Mt. Monadnock in winter 2009. After it was realized that she very much disliked the cats of the kind man who rescued her and took her in, she found her way to his stepdaughter’s friend, Kim Watson of Manchester, who has given Marjory full reign of her home, and unconditional love.

Marjory lives with several health issues in her senior years, but because of Kim’s devotion, she has lived well past the veterinarian’s original estimate.

Pickle the American pitbull’s first owner passed away, and he unfortunately wound up in a dangerous living situation. Through advocates and Petfinder.com, Chelsey and Dan Champagne of Nashua saw him and immediately fell in love. They drove all the way to Rhode Island to scoop him up and give him the best life possible. Pickle’s favorite things are snuggles, wearing T-shirts and jammies, and playing with his sister, Misfit the German shepherd, who was saved as a puppy from a very likely life of backyard breeding and neglect.

Vernon “Vee” Shelby of Nashua decided to try fostering with Hearts & Tails Animal Alliance in the spring of last year, and that’s how he met House, a confident and bold chihuahua-terrier mix who quickly became his best friend and a prime example of a “foster fail.” House is Vee’s co-pilot in life, and whether he’s at home working remotely, watching a game on TV, having his weekly Saturday-morning breakfast with his dad or running errands, they always are together and looking out for each other.

Even more successful rescue stories can be found by looking at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua. Since its inception, more than 120 years ago, the HSFN has been advocating for and improving the lives of pets in the area.

The Crookers, of Derry, adopted their cat, Macie Margaret, from the HSFN almost six years ago, and she bonded with their daughters and their other cat right away.

Liza Blondeau and her husband adopted their dog, Sidney, about 14 years ago. They taught her some sign language commands early on, and now that Sidney is older and has lost much of her hearing, she still is able to get communication from them while she continues to enjoy her life of naps, rolling around in the snow and more naps.

My own cat, aptly named “Kitty,” but usually addressed as “Bub,” has been my rock since I adopted her from the HSFN 12 years ago. She has been by my side through good times and bad, and a few moves. Since I rescued Lenore (Lenny), the two-legged chihuahua from Mississippi in July, she somehow manages to overlook my audacity and still gives me endless slow blinks and cuddles. She has yet to, and may never, cuddle with the dog, though.

As a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, The Humane Society for Greater Nashua takes in roughly 2,000 pets each year. With the help of volunteers and community donations, they feed them, house them, treat their medical needs and foster them until they are able to find their forever homes and families. The shelter also takes in found pets and coordinates to reunite them with their owners.

The HSFN operates numerous programs to benefit pets and pet owners in the community. Adoptable pets, which often include gerbils, hamsters and other small animals, can be viewed online at hsfn.org/adopt, and it is highly recommended that anyone entering the shelter with an interest in adopting has an application and waiver (if renting) already filled out. Capacity is limited inside the shelter due to current health guidelines, and social distancing is closely monitored.

Animal surrenders are never easy to address, but shelter officials do their part to assist when a pet loses their home due to the death of an owner, or the owner’s loss of income or moving restrictions.

The Humane Society for Greater Nashua provides low-cost weekly clinics for spaying and neutering, vaccines, microchipping and registration, heartworm treatments, flea and tick preventatives and much more. HSFN officials stress that these clinics aren’t meant to replace veterinarian relationships, but to provide one-time services at low costs to those in need.

Training classes taught by a certified, professional trainer are available for puppies and adult dogs, with basic and advanced courses for your pup who might be needing some help in the manners department. The six-week course costs $110, but is discounted to $100 for HSFN alumni and new adoptees. Private lessons are available for $50 per hour.

Puppy Play Time is slated to start up again in the spring once COVID-related protocols are finalized. This fun and safe interaction-based program is for puppies between 3 and 5 months old, and helps them develop healthy social behaviors with other dogs into adulthood.

Cremation and burial services are available at the shelter site, as well. Burial plots at the Proctor Cemetery can be reserved, which is encouraged to ensure a spot for your pet’s final resting place. Cremation is performed by a local, private crematorium that shares the shelter’s philosophy of providing the service with respect and dignity. With your pet’s ashes, an urn of choice, cremation certificate and the promise of a 72-hour turnaround time are included. Fees for this service are determined by the weight of the pet.

Numerous fundraising events throughout the year provide a large portion of the capital needed to make HSFN’s operation possible. The Have A Heart Campaign, Walk For Whiskers and dozens of business-partnered fundraisers and sales help provide everything from medicine and veterinary supplies to basics like food, kitty litter, bedding and toys for the shelter pets.

Private monetary and material donations from the community are vital to the mission of the staff and volunteers at HSFN. From Girl Scouts volunteering their time and raising donations to the food and supplies that are dropped off in the donation shed, every little bit helps, and everything donated by an adult is tax deductible.

To learn about volunteering and other opportunities at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, click on the “Get Involved” tab on the website. All events and services could be susceptible to cancelation, delay or restriction due to the pandemic. Visit the website at hsfn.org or call 603-889-2275 to inquire.

The bond between humans and animals has been evolving ever since we ourselves started walking on two feet, developing cognitive thought, hunting, gathering and cultivating. They depend on us as much as we depend on them, and every act of kindness, every rescue, foster and adoption, is a step toward a brighter future for all of us.