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Volunteer's Presentation About Old Dominion Humane Society Earns Geico Philanthropic Foundation Donation

Lenora Kruk - Mullanaphy

Cindy Barnett, of Fredericksburg, can tellyou how Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) in Fredericksburg has captured her heart and that it’s the organization she and her two children chose to volunteer. She can talk about the rescue dogs and how the no-kill, nonprofit organization and its mission resonated--and that’s just what she did. Barnett, who works in policyholder relations at

GEICO, presented ODHS for the GEICO “Fast Pitch.” She presented information about

the organization to a panel that, ultimately, selected to award ODHS with a $7,500

donation.


Cindy Barnett and the GEICO mascot.
Cindy Barnett and the GEICO mascot.

The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation supports organizations that provide programs and

resources to help strengthen communities across the U.S. It has donated to more than

7,000 charities and averaged between $6 and $8 million in annual giving in the last two

decades. Part of the Foundation’s vision is to improve communities and support local

organizations through volunteer and outreach efforts, including animal welfare and

advocacy.


“ODHS has captured my heart, and I can’t imagine my life without volunteering there,”

said Barnett. “When I researched an animal rescue for my kids to volunteer, the name

that kept coming up was ODHS. I believe in its mission of ‘providing well-matched,

permanent homes for animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education’.”


Barnett provided the history of ODHS and how it began with Founder Chrissy Blake’s favorite class, small animal care, at Massaponax High School. Her love of animals led her to create ODHS in 2013, a place where rescue dogs could be cared for and feel safe as they waited for the perfectly matched family to adopt them. In the beginning, ODHS consisted of a few dog crates, Blake’s mentorship from her jobs at veterinarian clinics and an abundance of love to give to the rescue dogs.


Eleven years later, ODHS has found forever families for more than 7,500 rescue dogs.

These dogs have come from a variety of situations, including mistreatment, neglect and

owner surrenders, as well as taken from high-kill animal shelters. Recently, several dogs

were taken from a rescue in South Carolina to help alleviate the overcrowded facility

because of the influx of dogs from two devastating hurricanes.


ODHS has 300 active, trained and dedicated volunteers who are involved with every

facet of the organization, from helping at the adoption events and cleaning the facility to

being a part of the Intake Team (new dogs are brought in for examinations,

microchipping and vaccinations) and the Puppy Team that provides the youngest, four-

legged residents with exercise and feeding, as well as thorough kennel cleanings.

Barnett feels that one of the best things about ODHS is that volunteers are given plenty

of opportunities to help and the flexibility to assist in tasks for five minutes or five hours.


“I felt ODHS would be able to use the donation to help the rescue dogs in so many

ways,” said Barnett. “One of the goals for 2025 is for ODHS to find its own location

instead of renting, which is very costly. In addition, the cost to provide care (intake) for

new dogs that arrive at ODHS is $250 for each rescue. We take medically fragile dogs

that normally wouldn’t get the same level of care in other facilities. Each month, ODHS

sees an average of 10 dogs that need extensive medical assistance.”

Address

3602 Lafayette Boulevard

Fredericksburg, VA 22408

Adoption Center Hours

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

  5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

  6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

11:00 am – 3:00 pm

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Old Dominion Humane Society provides well-matched, permanent homes for animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education.

Copyright © 2024 Old Dominion Humane Society | All Rights Reserved

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