‘A beacon of hope for pets’ August 4, 2025

“In July of 2023, I was working for a national rescue organization and was assigned to work hand-in-hand with the Nebraska Humane Society for 12 months. At the time, I had no idea just how much this place and the people would come to mean to me.

I’ve worked at shelters across the U.S. and Canada, from small rural rescues to large municipal shelters. But this one… this one was different. From the very beginning, there was something in the air. A warmth in how the staff and volunteers welcomed me. A quiet, unwavering sense of purpose in how everyone showed up for the animals and for each other every single day. I didn’t just feel like a guest passing through. I felt like I had found a place where I could plant roots. A place that felt like home.

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most compassionate, creative, and committed people I’ve ever met. We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve pulled off the impossible more times than I can count. We’ve challenged ourselves to grow, embraced big changes, and found strength in the hard conversations. We’ve raised the bar—not just for ourselves, but for the animals and community we serve.

When our shelter faced a medical outbreak, it could’ve broken us. But instead, it brought us even closer together. We became one team, stronger and more united than ever. Staff and volunteers alike jumped in to help—showing up early, staying late, loading transport vans in the dark, meeting with community partners, and brainstorming late into the night. No one hesitated. Everyone just showed up. For each other. For the animals. For the mission.

Since July 2023, we’ve launched innovative programs, strengthened return-to-home efforts, and expanded how we support our community. Our foster and volunteer programs are thriving. Our behavior and medical teams work what often feel like miracles. Every department, every person, has played a role in building the momentum we’re seeing today.

One of the most personal reminders of what we’re capable of is curled up beside me right now: a sweet, scrappy little pug I fostered and couldn’t let go of. When he came to us, he’d likely been hit by a car. He had multiple fractures, a shattered leg that had to be amputated, and a jaw that had to be wired shut. Thanks to the incredible care of our veterinary team, he recovered fully and today, he’s thriving as part of my family. Every time I look at him, I see the heart of NHS in action.

But what truly makes this place extraordinary isn’t just the work we do, it’s the people who make it possible. The staff who come in early and stay late, even after a full day of physically and emotionally demanding work. The ones who offer a kind word or a gentle hug to a community member who just needs to be seen. The coworkers who listen, really listen, even when our ideas are a little wild, because they believe in pushing boundaries and doing whatever it takes to save lives.

This work is hard. It’s emotional. It’s often heavy. But we carry each other through it. We celebrate the wins, big and small, and we remind one another that every single life matters. That every saved animal is a victory. That together, we are stronger. This is more than a job. It’s a calling. And these aren’t just colleagues and volunteers— they’re friends, teammates, and chosen family.

The Nebraska Humane Society is a beacon of hope for pets, for families, and for anyone who believes in the power of second chances. I’m proud to be part of its story, and even prouder to help write the next chapter. Here’s to 150 years of hope. Here’s to every life we’ve saved and all the ones still waiting for us.”

-Jakie, NHS VP of Shelter Operations and Strategy

(148/150)