Good Cause of the Month: Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire

This New Hampshire nonprofit helps more than 2,200 cats, dogs and small animals each year

Photo of Helen on a conference call at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. Courtesy photo

Starting last year, we began alerting you to events and causes worthy of your time and philanthropic treasure in our Good Cause of the Month series. Keep an eye out for a Good Cause every month here at NHMagazine.com, from charitable events to volunteer opportunities to nonprofits you should get to know- and, by the end of the year, your do-gooder cred will be off the charts.

For the month of June, we’d like to introduce you to the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire. This nonprofit helps more than 2,200 cats, dogs and small animals each year. They work to improve animal welfare in local communities around the Granite State by helping pets and the people who care for them. Read on to learn about their work and history and out how you can get involved.

What They Do

For 114 years the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire has been helping people and their pets around the Granite State. Not only is the nonprofit a shelter, but it also employs one of three shelter-based Animal Cruelty investigators in the state. Their main focus is to help people who love their pets. However, if they are currently struggling to care for their animals, the League offers community outreach programs, such as a pet food pantry, low-cost spay/neuter clinics, and safe haven temporary housing where they protect pets involved in domestic violence cases. The League’s dedication to animals is one of the many reasons that Director of Administration & Communications Marianne L. Jones decided to join the team.

“As a life-long time animal lover, I was excited to see an opportunity in the newspaper for a part-time position 15 years ago,” says Jones. “Since that time, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a member of this team of amazing and dedicated individuals that always goes the extra miles for the animals.” With 15 paid staff members, over 300 active volunteers and animals in varying stages (like off-site foster homes or within a quarantine period), it truly takes a village to ensure that each and every animal receives the quality of care and attention that it deserves. “There is no better feeling than watching animals from different situations arrive in varying conditions, and being able to enhance their lives medically and behaviorally before placing them in their ‘forever home,’” says Jones.

The League works to save the lives of animals every day, and in turn has come across many inspiring rescue and adoption stories, like Helen's, for example. For Helen, a transport dog from South Carolina, the journey was more than just the 900 miles to New Hampshire. The senior dog was found with bulging eyes, suffering from severe cataracts, glaucoma and heartworm disease. “Our friends at Humane Society of Marlboro County removed her eyes to alleviate her pain and also treated her for heartworm disease,” says Jones. “Her spirit remained strong, and we couldn’t resist helping the sweet girl.” Her lack of eyesight did not prevent Helen from getting around, enjoying cuddles and even climbing a few stairs. She was a perfect shelter guest for the League, but has now found her own retirement home where she enjoys walks, helping her new mom with conference calls and snoozing in her very own comfy bed.

How You Can Help

From visiting their home base at 545 Route 101., Bedford, to donating your time to the cause, here are a few ways that you can help:

• Donating: The League receives no state or federal funding, and is almost entirely dependent on donations. Your donation would help thousands of dogs, cats and other small animals. Any money amount helps. If you are interested in contributing, click here.
• Volunteering: Volunteer your time for one day, or consider becoming a longterm volunteer. Learn more about volunteering here.
• Spreading the word: Sharing information about events, issues, fundraisers and programs go a long way in positively transforming communities. Find out more about events and programs here.

To learn more about the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire and all the ways you can get involved, visit the website here. Be sure to follow along and stay up to date on all that is to come for the nonprofit in 2018.

Do you know of an organization or charitable event that would make a great Good Cause of the Month? Send your ideas to Assistant Editor Emily Heidt at eheidt@nhmagazine.com