Working Hand in Paw

It’s been 70 years since the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County was founded, and in the words of a familiar saying, “You’ve come a long way, baby!”

Make that a long, long way.

From getting its start in a small makeshift building by the railroad tracks to a state-of-the-art complex on 77th Street between 58th and 66th Avenues, HSVB has expanded its shelter services to include adoption, foster care, wellness programs, community assistance, vaccines, spay/neuter services, and wildlife rescue, as well as educational and training resources that help people and their pets thrive.

“I don’t think people realize all we do,” says Susan Schuyler Smith, who has served on the nonprofit’s board of directors for 10 years, the last five as president. We need to change the perception people have of the Humane Society. We’re not a pound; we’re a social service organization.”

“As the community’s needs have grown, so have the services we provide, like our fostering program,” she explains. “Last summer, all of our kittens, and there were a lot, were being fostered, which was great. The animals are so much happier in a home, and because they’ve been living with people, we’re able to know so much more about them—how they behave and respond in certain situations. It makes a difference when assessing them for adoption.”

“We also have a Pawsitive Impact Program that provides resources and referrals for food and low-cost veterinary care that can help people who, because of inflation, are finding they can’t afford to take care of their pets any longer,” Smith says. “It’s heartbreaking, and we’re doing our best to keep them together.”

While families struggling financially may think surrendering their animals to a shelter is their only option, HSVB works to make alternatives available.

Community involvement is a big part of these efforts. Much of the support comes from volunteers who lend a hand wherever needed: at the shelter, at the Vero Beach and Sebastian thrift shops, and at special events throughout the year.

At last August’s Clear the Shelter event, they were there, assisting and cheering as 86 animals—33 dogs, 50 cats, two hens, and a rooster—found their forever homes. Adoption fees were waived during the annual one-day event, and the animals, which had already been spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, and vaccinated, were sent home with starter kits that included a cardboard carrier for cats, collar and leash for dogs, and Hill’s pet food. It was a win-win situation that couldn’t have happened at a better time, as the shelter had been stretched beyond capacity.

Each January, it’s Bark in the Park, a free community funfest featuring food and drinks, vendor booths, a kids’ zone, and performances by the Disc-connected K9s and Ultimate Air Dogs. Unfortunately, due to Riverside Park’s role in tornado cleanup efforts, it will not be cleared in time for the event; but enthusiasm is already building for 2026!

In March, Cause for Paws, HSVB’s largest and longest-standing fundraiser, will be held at Windsor. The gala celebration features cocktails, gourmet cuisine, entertainment, and melt-your-heart stories of lives saved. At the end of 2023, nearly 2,300 pets had been adopted into new homes or reunited with their families, and the save rate was 95 percent.

Rocky was one of those saved last spring. His story could have had a sad ending; instead, it’s one of resilience and remarkable recovery (cue “Gonna Fly Now” from the Stallone movie).

The 2-year-old dog was found in a chicken coop, malnourished and weighing only 25 pounds. Despite being skin and bones due to a history of neglect, and having a malformed front left wrist, Rocky had a spunky spirit. Thanks to a caring HSVB team that nursed him back to health, within three weeks the voracious pup had packed on 7 pounds and had a shiny coat and sparkling eyes. His new life began when a family took one look, fell in love, and made him their own.

It’s Smith’s love of animals and success stories like Rocky’s that have led to her ongoing commitment to support HSVB, not only in the boardroom but on the ground. “Right now I’m working in our new Vero Beach thrift shop. I’m in housewares twice a month,” she smiles, eyes bright as she talks about the successful opening of the facility on U.S. Hwy. 1.

“The store is spacious, has all new fixtures, and people have just been inundating us with donations,” she says. “It’s been glorious, just like Christmas. There is so much cool stuff—like the other day I opened four boxes full of little dogs. It was somebody’s much-loved life collection. They’re going to be just what someone is looking for. We also got a big box of really good pewter, and there are whole sets of china. It’s all being repurposed. I price it, wheel it out on the floor, and arrange it on the shelves.” It’s a perfect volunteer role for Smith, a well-known interior designer with an eye for what attracts.

“The day the Vero store opened, we sold $30,000 worth of merchandise, and that was mostly one- and two-dollar items. We lost that income for five months after the old store closed. The Vero store brings in over a million dollars a year, and we get half a million from the store on Sebastian Boulevard.”

The thrift shops are more than just places to find bargains; they’re community centers where every purchase makes a direct impact on the lives of shelter animals.

“We’ve come a long way in 70 years, but we have a long way to go. There’s so much we want to do; for instance, we get in 500 to 600 wildlife a year: eagles, hedgehogs, ducks, chickens, donkeys, and rabbits,” says Smith, hands flying as she describes the menagerie currently in residence. “Eventually we’d like to have our own wildlife facility.

“We also need a second vet. Right now we have Dr. Tanya Ciacciarelli, who is full-time and wonderful, but with another one we could do so much more outreach. Right now there’s a nationwide shortage of vets, but we’ll keep looking, and maybe there’s a retired vet who would volunteer to come in and help out part-time.

“Also, we need volunteers all the time, and for people to foster and adopt. Animals give you a purpose, a reason to get up and get going in the morning. I know, and that’s why, even though I’ll be handing the gavel over to Jill Collinson, our vice president, I’ll still be on the board supporting the work the Humane Society is doing. It’s important.”