The Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society celebrated its annual Holiday Open House on Sunday. Approximately 200 GMHS supporters from the shelter’s service region, which extends from the Peninsula to Northern Neck, visited with Santa Claus, created holiday crafts and learned about the GMHS mission to improve the lives of all animals, a release stated.

GMHS staff fielded questions about homeless pets available for adoption and educated attendees about the shelter’s mission and programs. 

Coordinated by GMHS volunteer Beverly Spencer, the event also included an Angel Tree. Tags with animals’ gift requests were available for homeless pets from rabbits to cats and rats to dogs. The Angel Tree will remain up through the holidays. Tags may continue to be selected and gifts delivered during the shelter’s business hours through the end of the year.

The Cookie Sale—a signature part of the event—proved successful yet again. A record-setting number of cookies were baked and donated by GMHS volunteers. Guests selected their own assortment of cookies, ranging from shortbread to chocolate chip brownies. Proceeds from the cookie sale benefit the GMHS Angel Fund, which provides life-saving non-routine veterinary care for homeless pets.

The event also included the sale of limited-edition Angel Scarves. Handcrafted by a GMHS volunteer, the scarves are available for purchase from the GMHS website until they sell out. One hundred percent of sales will be donated to the GMHS Angel Fund.

New this year was the GMHS Miracle Wall, which is adorned with photos of homeless pets who have been with GMHS for 30-plus days. As a participant in Maddie’s Fund Get ’Em Home Challenge, GMHS seeks to find forever homes before Dec. 31 for all animals pictured on the Miracle Wall in the shelter lobby.

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