Walk/Run for the Animals marked a truly great day for pets in our community – more than 1,100 walkers and runners joined us in Downtown Vancouver for the 34th annual event. The sun was out, spirits were high, and together we raised more than $270,000 to fuel our lifesaving work with pets in need.

Walk/Run is only possible thanks to our remarkable community of animal lovers. Whether you donate, volunteer, adopt, or make a difference in other ways, you bring us closer to our vision of a community where everyone loves and cares for animals. 

Thank you for making Walk/Run for the Animals a great success.

Relive the fun of Walk/Run! Check out all the excitement—including photo booth moments— at hssw.org/walk

This summer, we invite you to take a deeper look at the unseen work behind animal welfare with our inaugural Summer Lecture Series. Whether you're a lifelong animal advocate, curious community member, or just looking for an evening of thoughtful conversation (and light refreshments!), this four-part series offers an inside view into the heart of HSSW's mission.

Each session features subject matter experts and leaders from HSSW and beyond, diving into the complex challenges and inspiring solutions that define modern animal welfare. Join us for an evening of connection, learning, and Q&A with the people making a difference for animals in Southwest Washington.

Space is limited—RSVP today to save your seat.

Get Tickets  

Shelter Medicine

Monday, June 2, 2025
5:30 PM Mingle | 6:10 PM Discussion | 6:40 PM Q&A
HSSW Vancouver Campus Education Room

Featuring:

• Dr. Sydney Lee, HSSW Lead Veterinarian
• Justin Pepperling, HSSW Vice President of Veterinary Services

Shelter medicine is a sophisticated medical specialty recognized by leading national veterinary programs. With no one to speak for them, shelter animals present unique challenges such as unknown medical history and life experience, lack of a safe and caring home for recuperation, and subjective factors like adoptability. Our highly credentialled shelter veterinarians are called upon to meet the gamut of medical needs of unowned animals in our community to prepare them to find a happy home.

Veterinary Forensics – From Victim to Verdict

Monday, July 28, 2025
5:30 PM Mingle | 6:10 PM Discussion | 6:40 PM Q&A
HSSW Vancouver Campus Education Room

Featuring:

• Linda Fielder, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Certified Animal Welfare Administrator

Animal neglect and cruelty is an unfortunate reality of our work. HSSW works in partnership with Clark County Animal Control, the Clark County District Attorney, the City of Vancouver and the other municipalities to investigate suspected mistreatment of animals, including the gathering and analysis of forensic evidence. HSSW also provides shelter and medical care for these animals and helps them find safe and happy homes. Thanks to a grant from the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), officers are receiving advanced forensic training and specialized tools to ensure that animal crimes are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Animal Behavior Management in Shelters

Monday, August 25, 2025
5:30 PM Mingle | 6:10 PM Discussion | 6:40 PM Q&A
HSSW Vancouver Campus Education Room

Featuring:

• Jenn Rylander, HSSW Vice President of Shelter Operations
• Michelle Reeves, HSSW Cat Team Manager, Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist
• Cierra Whitcomb, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, CCFC AKC Evaluator

Animal shelters are uniquely stressful places despite our best efforts. To further complicate things, animals that enter HSSW come with a whole history of experiences that may lead to less than desirable behaviors, often at no fault of their own. Learn about the common categories of animal behavior in shelters, and how the Behavior Management Team at HSSW develops behavior plans to help prepare cats and dogs for successful placement in homes.

Community Medicine & Behavior – Keeping Pets and People Together

Monday, September 15, 2025
5:30 PM Tour | 5:50–7:30 PM Discussion
Nierenberg Community Veterinary Clinic

Featuring:

• Andrea Bruno, HSSW President
• Justin Pepperling, HSSW Vice President of Veterinary Services
• Cierra Whitcomb, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, CCFC AKC Evaluator

At HSSW, we joke that the unspoken goal of our work is to put ourselves out of business by supporting the community in ways that keep animals from ever needing to come into the shelter. Imagine if every animal in Southwest Washington got the veterinary care and behavior training it needed so it could stay with its loving family for its entire life? For too many pets, that is not the case. The Nierenberg Community Veterinary Clinic is a key example of an upstream strategy that will keep people and pets together.  

We hope you can join us for this exciting inaugural series and become part of the conversation shaping animal welfare in our region.

Get Tickets