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How Can I Help?
Your Support Is Life Saving!
Monthly Giving
Become a Paw Protector for as little as $5/month and join our community of monthly donors bringing care to pets in need. For more than 50 years BRHA has been the only animal shelter in Ravalli County working to protect animals and place them in loving homes. Our work wouldn’t be possible without regular, monthly gifts from Paw Protectors. Becoming a Protector is a simple and easy way to make a difference in the life of the animals who need us most.
Monetary Donations
BRHA must raise $450,000.00+ per year to cover the general operating costs of the shelter. We receive no ongoing taxpayer funding and we depend on the generosity of our community to keep our doors open. Monetary donations help:
- Pay the utility bills (electric, gas, water, sewer, telephone and internet.)
- Maintain the heating, air conditioning, ventilation systems and make facility repairs.
- Purchase veterinary services (routine & emergency), vaccines, micro-chips and food for the shelter animals.
- Pay for staffing, professional payroll and yearly accounting services.
- Purchase training and grooming supplies for our animal guests.
Become a Volunteer
Volunteers are an integral part of the Bitter Root Humane Association and are involved in virtually all aspects of the BRHA from serving on the board of directors, to maintenance & grounds keeping, to interacting with the animals on many levels. Some of the volunteer opportunities include:
- Grounds & Building Maintenance, including Janitorial
- Kitchen & Laundry Duty
- Dog Walking & Socializing
- Cat Socializing
- Humane Education Outreach Presentations
- Adoption Off-site Events
- Senior Outreach at area retirement, nursing & senior care facilities
- Foster Care
- Special Fundraising Events
- Serving on the Board of Directors
Some of our volunteer opportunities require a set schedule and some are more flexible, working around the time a volunteer has to give. If you’re interested in finding out how you can help, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (406) 363-5311 or email: [email protected]
A PLACE TO REFLECT - BRHA Pet Memorial Park
The Bitter Root Humane Association has a new Pet Memorial Park. You will find pathways made of memorial bricks to honor loved and lost pets as you sit in quiet contemplation.
Memorial bricks can be purchased for $125.00 each and the vast majority of that is considered a donation to BRHA. You order your brick(s) through BRHA, we will order the bricks which will be sent to us, stored and installed when the pathways have been created.
This is a wonderful way to remember your pets while benefitting the lives of our guests who will soon become members of another loving family.
Order forms are available by clicking the button below, in-person at the shelter or by emailing a request to [email protected]
If you have any questions or need more information contact Sue McCormack at 406.370.8071.
Community Pet Pantry And Everyday Wish List
Our Community Pet Pantry provides food and animal care items for our community members that are in need of just a little assistance in order to keep their pets healthy. Donations of dry and canned dog & cat food along with animal care items are always needed.
Our shelter everyday wish list includes all the items we use daily to provide the best care possible to our furry guests. The wish list also includes links to our online wish list at Amazon and Chewy.com
Become a Member
If you or your business are interested in our purpose and mission, support our programs and services by becoming a member! Our membership year is January 1st through December 31st, but new & renewed memberships are welcome all year long. A three-month grace period will be applied to dues received after October 1st and will carry membership through the end of December the following year. Membership dues will not be applied in advance for more than one year past the current calendar year. By paying your annual membership dues, you are entitled to one vote at our Annual Membership meeting, usually held in March of each year. You’ll also receive our periodic newsletter, keeping you up to date on all the current organization happenings!
Purchase a BRHA
License Plate
Since 2013, our beautifully designed Montana license plate has been one of our very important ongoing fundraisers with sales bringing in $69,080 to date.
By purchasing a BRHA license plate you are not only donating much needed funds to the shelter, but are helping to spread the word that we exist!
Check with your local Montana Motor Vehicle Department or https://dojmt.gov/driving/license-plates to get your BRHA plates!
Be An Adventure Day Volunteer
Have you ever gone on a solo hike and wished you had a dog with you? Ever gone to the river with your kids and visualized a dog splashing in the water with them? Ever thought it would be nice to take a dog to work? “Adventure Day” is a program that aims to do just that!
Shelter dogs need excursions and off-site socialization to be well-rounded, happy and thus more adoptable and we are depending on our community to help us do just that. Spend the day exploring the mountains, splashing around our rivers, hiking all the wonderful Montana trails or taking a dog to work; we can pick the perfect dog for your activity and send them with you for a day of exploring and exercise. Don’t have a whole day to spend…how about a couple hours of leisurely walking the neighborhoods? Dogs come with leash, food, poop bags, and unparalleled eager excitement. Be thanked with huge smiles from the BRHA staff and grateful sloppy kisses & wagging tails from your day’s companion. To ensure we have the right fit, we do ask you to contact us 48 hours in advance. Come in to meet our dogs, fill out the application and be on your way to a great fun filled “Adventure Day!”
Hold a Fundraiser for BRHA
Our Fundraising Committee is busy all year long planning and holding fundraisers to raise money for our every day operating budget and special projects, but we can’t do it alone. This is where you would come in…do you have an idea for a fundraiser you’d like to hold for BRHA? We call this a “third-party” fundraiser…individuals, businesses or other organizations are encouraged to plan & hold a fundraiser and donate the funds raised to BRHA. Maybe it’s a birthday party, rummage sale, life celebration, dinner party or an event…your imagination is your only limit to ideas! If you would like information on holding a successful fundraiser, help in promoting your event or need something from us for your event, please email us at [email protected]
Business Sponsorship Opportunities
Our community businesses are a big part of our success. Without their support, we could not do what we do!
How can your business help BRHA?
- Sponsor an event! The BRHA Fundraising Committee plans events & promotions all year long. Sponsorship donations make many of our events possible. Event sponsors receive recognition at our events, social & print media promotion, in our newsletter and on our website!
- Hold an onsite event at your business! Your business is unique and your customers would love to attend an event at your location to help a great cause like BRHA. What type of an event is limited only by your imagination and we’re here to help you along the way.
- Host one of our “Dani Fund” donation jars at your place of business. BRHA will supply you with a logoed jar and visit your business monthly to empty them. The monies received from the donation jars is specifically used to help with medical needs for our “guests” that need just a little medical assistance in order to be adoptable.
- Pre-pay an adoption fee for a specific BRHA guest. There are many adopters who would be great pet parents, but just can’t afford the adoption fee…your adoption fee sponsorship not only helps a human adopt a pet, but saves the life of a wonderful animal too! For information on this type of sponsorship, please contact the BRHA Operations Manager at (406) 363-5311.
- Pictures get our guests adopted…it’s a proven fact! Both of our local papers, the Ravalli Republic (406) 363-3300 and the Bitterroot Star (406) 777-3928, offer great advertising opportunities for businesses that sponsor an adoption ad; call them directly for pricing information.
If you would like more information on business sponsorships or holding a fundraising event, please contact us at: [email protected]
Remembrances
Do you have a special person or pet you would like to honor, memorialize, celebrate a special occasion with or pay tribute to? BRHA offers you that opportunity with a Remembrance Donation. BRHA will send your heart-warming gift acknowledgement directly to that special someone…what better gift is there for an animal lover? Simply send your donation along with a note of what type of “remembrance” you are celebrating along with the name and mailing address you want the acknowledgement to go to. Please send to:
BRHA, PO BOX 57, Hamilton, MT 59840.
Help Us "Pay Off Our Mortgage"!
In this time of uncertainty, there’s a fundamental truth that gives us hope – that the Bitter Root Humane Association is here to serve our community, through good times and bad and that together we can do extraordinary things.
We thought we had all the funds to take our dream from paper to reality. However, due to some legal delays and the rising costs of materials and labor we have fallen short of our goal. Although we have raised 70% of our cost, now we must raise another $1,000,000 to fully fund our new home without debt.
How Can I Help?
All donations, even as little as $5 a month, will help us meet our goal!
Mail Donation
BRHA Building Fund
PO Box 57
Hamilton, MT 59840
Drop Off at Shelter
Bitter Root Humane Association
262 Fairgrounds Road
Hamilton, MT 59828
*Please note ‘Building Fund’ in check memo line
Buy-A-Tomorrow
by purchasing a $1,000 “leaf” for the UNLEASH TOMORROW TREE!
Once our new shelter is complete, a beautiful wall mural will be painted in our community room and your “leaf” & name will be proudly displayed as a generous donor & supporter!
Other Ways to Give
- New Shelter Naming Opportunities
- Wire Transfers of Funds
- Transfers of stocks and/or mutual funds
- Bequests and Will beneficiary
For more information or inquiries on any of the above, please email our Treasurer at [email protected]
BRHA is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization – Tax ID#81-0351709
PO Box 57, Hamilton, MT 59840
SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!
Like to shop? We got you covered!
- Visit the BRHA online Amazon store for great apparel & gift items.
Bequests and Estate Planning
Help provide homes, care and love to animals in your last wishes. Include BRHA in your estate planning. Your attorney or financial advisor can guide you in developing a method for your charitable intentions ensuring your vision is carried out. Including BRHA in your estate planning will help provide a future for the Bitter Root Humane Association and the animals it cares for long into the future, and give hope to the animals of tomorrow that come through our doors needing safety, shelter, care and love.
