In 2012, MHHS:

• Celebrated our 125th year
• Was presented with the 2012 Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award by the Tech Valley Nonprofit Business Council (a council of the Albany-Colonie and Schenectady Chambers of Commerce)
• Was chosen as the Best Nonprofit by Metroland readers for the fifth year in a row
• Found new homes for 4,175 animals
• Had 84% of animals leave the shelter to homes (up from 82% last year)
• Seized over 200 animals during animal cruelty investigations
• Trapped, neutered and returned 113 free-roaming cats
• Spayed or neutered 821 cats and 336 dogs belonging to low-income owners (1,157 total, up from 1,007 last year)
• Was the only organization in the region to post found animals on our website, leading to 380 lost animals being reunited with their owners
• Delivered Humane Education programs and conducted shelter tours for over 1,500 students in elementary and middle school classes, Girl Scout troops, and other youth and adult organizations
• Held New York State's first County Animal Response Team (CART) live disaster-response exercise
• Held a large animal handling and care training class for CART members
• Established animal evacuation shelters in preparation for Hurricane Sandy
• Added a third satellite adoption center at Petco in Clifton Park, in addition to our two centers at PetSmart in Latham and Glenmont, leading to 604 adoptions from satellite locations
• Participated in 97 off-site adoption events and had 28 information tables at community events
• Had 1,126 animals cared for in volunteer foster homes (976 cats, 143 dogs, 6 rabbits and 1 ferret)
• Expanded food pantry program to distribute pet food to seven food pantries in the region
• Had a record year for our annual Around the World for 80 Strays gala, with event volunteers helping to bring us almost 400 attendees, raising over $100,000
• Raised $96,579.26 via Empties for Animals - volunteers sorted 1,207,240 redeemable containers
• Volunteers gave a total of 32,630 hours

• Held five storytime events where kids could read to therapy dogs
• Sponsored two Therapy Dog International/Canine Good Citizen test days - 19 dogs passed CGC, 3 passed TDI
• Paid for training 125 pit bulls
• Spayed/neutered 112 pit bulls