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.

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.”