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HINSDALE HUMANE SOCIETY

Annual Report 2025

Found his forever family in May, 2025

MISSION

Hinsdale Humane Society, a private nonprofit organization, operates the Tuthill Family Pet Rescue & Resource Center with a mission to transform the lives of animals and the people who care for them. We provide exceptional care and adoption services for animals, including those animals with special placement needs, while serving as a steadfast voice for those who rely on us for their well-being. Through community education, advocacy, and innovative programs, we nurture the human-animal bond, promote animal welfare, and champion the compassionate treatment of every animal in our care and beyond.

AXL:

DEAR FRIENDS,

In the lifecycle of any long established organization, there comes a time where it’s clear that a healthy reassessment is necessary to continue a legacy of excellence in mission fulfillment. In the months leading up to 2025, the HHS Board of Directors and I set forth on a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of Hinsdale Humane Society’s culture, structure, and processes to identify what was working, what wasn’t, and areas for innovative improvement. We seized the opportunity to remake Hinsdale Humane Society into an organization that’s poised to fulfill its mission better than it ever has before, and I’m proud to say that 2025 saw us transformed.

So, what does that look like today, and moving forward?

First and foremost, our focus and priority was the health and well being of the animals in our care, investing more into our animals beyond providing a roof over their heads and food to eat.

We made their time with us count by ensuring that they are ready for adoption through expanded behavior and enrichment activity: the addition of a “Real Life Room” that models a home environment that provides time out of the kennel, and the introduction of “Paws and Play Getaways”, a dog day out program open to the public that provides mental and social stimulation outside of the shelter. Our cats and kittens enjoy increased socialization time by our dedicated volunteers, and even have their own projection system in their lodge that casts videos of underwater sea life onto the walls. It is of the utmost importance to us that when an HHS animal finds their family, they are as mentally and physically healthy as possible.

But we didn’t stop there: our adoption services are no longer transactional- we’ve instituted robust post adoption support to our adopters, from staying connected during the critical adjustment periods and offering training support at home, to securing partnerships to offer options for more affordable veterinary care.

Externally, we’ve expanded our community programs that further explore the mental health benefits of the human/animal bond and increased the reach of our existing Pet Therapy program.

Lastly, and most importantly, we’ve built a dynamic and highly engaged team that live our values daily: resilient, empathetic, and the heartbeat of our work.

Building this strong team that partner every day with our incredibly dedicated volunteers has created a culture where everyone can thrive, and has been critical to our success in 2025. I cannot tell you how proud I am to work alongside them.

As I close, I want to pause for something that cannot be said enough- thank you.

Hinsdale Humane Society exists because of you. Not because of a building. Not because we have been part of this community since 1953. Not because of a team or a board.

Because of you.

There are no municipal dollars behind this mission. No safety net beyond the generosity of people who care deeply about animals who cannot speak for themselves. When you give to HHS, you are not simply making a donation- you are providing surgery, rehabilitation, vaccines, food, warmth, and time. You are giving frightened animals the opportunity to become beloved family members.

This year has been one of growth, reform, and forward momentum. We have strengthened our operations, expanded programs, and deepened our impact. But none of it would be possible without your trust and support.

So on behalf of every wagging tail, every soft purr, every foster family, every adopter, and every team member who shows up day after day- thank you.

Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing in this work. And thank you for helping us change livesone animal, one family, one act of compassion at a time.

And as we look toward 2026, I promise you this: we will continue to steward your generosity with integrity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the animals who depend on us.

With gratitude,

Jodie Arquilla

Jodie Arquilla

MATOR

On November 9, 2024 Mator, a stray cat who was found in a tow yard, arrived at HHS. Severely malnourished, we learned that he was cast out to fend for himself. Consequently, he was slow to trust and often misunderstood.

During Mator’s nearly year-long stay with us, he confidently established himself as the resident “Lodge Cat,” and his curmudgeonly charm quickly made him a favorite among staff and volunteers.

Nevertheless, as Mator’s stay progressed, he started showing signs of depression. He lost interest in food, he slept more, and his social spark dwindled.

But luckily, fortune soon intervened: Mator met the affectionate and endearing new guy in town, Twister. The two struck up an instant friendship in the cat lodge, and Mator’s mood began to lift. Not long after their relationship began, a lovely young couple came to the shelter with interest in Twister. During their visit, it was obvious how much the two boys depended on each other, and the couple found they had room in their hearts for Mator, too- and with their adoption, they were officially made family that day!

Mator and Twister, though not formally “bonded,” found their forever–together.

ADOPTIONS & ANIMAL CARE

Animal Care and Adoptions were refreshed in 2025 to reflect the shelter industry’s best practices, and in doing so, we’ve been able to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress for animals in our care, optimize shelter efficiency and flow, and achieve successful, lasting outcomes for pets and their adopters.

Efforts included establishing a thoughtful and locallyfocused intake process, performing consistent and expedient vetting on new animals, offering “fosterto-adopt” to reduce length-of-stay, and streamlining adoptions with a more open application process. Through those initiatives and more, we reduced our return rate by 2%, and we achieved population equilibrium for the first time in recent history, moving the needle over 12% from 2023. This indicates that the number of intakes and outcomes were roughly equal.

We continued our partnerships with many area police departments to serve their stray animal populations, welcoming Hickory Hills, Hodgkins, and Willow Springs in 2025. Other villages served include: Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, La Grange, La Grange Park, Oak Brook, and Western Springs. For the year, 25% of our total intakes came in as strays, representing a 12% increase over 2024 (368 and 175 intakes, respectively).

HAZEL

Hazel came to HHS on January 3, 2024 from our partners at the Wabash County Animal Shelter, her home for the previous six months. Hazel had a rough start to life, having entered the shelter system at just 7 months old. By the time of her adoption, she had spent more of her life in a shelter than in a home.

Our team at HHS quickly fell in love with Hazel. She was social, incredibly smart, and loved the companionship of people; and though the natural restrictions of shelter life resulted in a few quirks for Hazel, it was difficult for our team to understand why this gem was still with us as the months passed. We knew it was just a matter of time until Hazel’s family found her; we just loved her a little harder during the wait.

And what a joy it was when the day came when Hazel met her amazing mom Jennifer for the first time! They were a perfect fit. Today, Hazel is thriving in her forever home where she enjoys a nice big yard, her very own couch, plenty of local human and canine friends, and all the green beans she could ever want. Hazel and Jennifer come back frequently to visit, and Hazel even went on to be a star pupil in our Agility Class!

Hazel was, and is, a staff and volunteer favorite, and we are all overjoyed that she finally found her forever.

An important advancement in our ability to provide the best possible outcomes for our animals and adopters was the implementation of ShelterLuv, an animal-based data management system. This software is specifically designed for shelter management: it facilitates efficient and consolidated record-keeping, increases timely communication about the population, and accurately tracks multiple important data points such as lengthof-stay. Access to this information informs our practices and ensures positive, timely outcomes. Furthering our commitment to post adoption support, we partnered with Petszel, a free HHS branded post-adoption app that guides adopters through the early days of pet parenthood with personalized support, education, reminders, and medical records.

In order to further ensure health and consistency for our population, we began a partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, joining their shelter program. With their support, we are able to provide high-quality food at a sharply reduced cost.

Moving into 2026, we plan to continue to refine our internal process in order to provide the highest quality of care and compassion to the animals and people we serve.

2025 AT-A-GLANCE: ADOPTIONS & ANIMAL CARE

Intake:

Total: 1,480

Dogs: 526

Cats: 895

Other: 59

Strays: 368

25% of total intakes

12% increase over 2024 175 strays in 2024

ADOPTION STATISTICS:

2% more animals left the shelter than entered in 2025

Represents a 12% move in the positive over the previous two years

Total Adoptions: 1,372 Animal Save Rate: 98%

2025 AT-A-GLANCE: HEIDI GEBAUER MEMORIAL FOSTER PROGRAM

In 2025, our foster program was proudly named to honor the memory of Heidi Gebauer as an enduring tribute to her compassion; compassion that carries on in every life saved. Heidi’s parents continue to honor her legacy and follow in her footsteps, opening their hearts and homes to foster animals in need. As we move into 2026, the Heidi Gebauer Memorial Foster Program continues to evolve with fresh ideas, a renewed focus, and a modern approach to support both our animals and the people who care for them.

With the launch of our new website and animal-based data management system, the Foster Program now has greater access to real-time information. This allows us to better match animals with foster homes, provide timely updates on which animals are in immediate need of foster care, and share detailed behavioral and medical information to help foster families feel confident and supported.

We are also building stronger connections within our foster community. Foster homes will be able to communicate with one another, share experiences, offer tips, and provide peer-to-peer support, because fostering should never feel like you’re doing it alone.

Animal safety remains a top priority. To add an extra layer of protection, dogs in the foster program will be equipped with GPS tracking devices in the event they become lost, thereby giving foster families added peace of mind.

In 2026, we plan to host more foster home recruitment fairs and educational events for both new and experienced foster homes. These will focus on training support, medical care education, behavior guidance, and practical tools to help fosters succeed at every stage.

Our goal for the future of the Heidi Gebauer Memorial Foster Program is simple but powerful: to create a foster program that is informed, connected, supportive, and centered on giving every animal the best possible chance at a successful new story.

432 animals placed in foster

209 foster families

Foster animals included nursing mothers and litters, animals with medical needs, seniors, long-term residents, and a menagerie of critters like birds, reptiles, rabbits, and guinea pigs

28 new foster homes added

TRAINING & ENRICHMENT

Our Training & Enrichment Program serves both HHS and the community as a whole. Thanks to the efforts of our staff IAABC-accredited trainer and canine behaviorist, Jamie Kennedy, we offer positive-reinforcement training for pets and their families, and we also provide nuanced and tailored behavioral work for our shelter animals. The high quality training and enrichment that we provide maintains our animals’ well-being during their stay, aids in the adoption process, and provides crucial support to help them learn the skills they’ll need to thrive in their future homes.

In August of 2025, we were able to soft-launch our highly-anticipated “Paws and Play GetAway” program, a high priority initiative in 2025. This opportunity allows members of the public, who are not already established HHS volunteers, to take a shelter dog on a day trip! It is known within the animal welfare community that giving a dog even a brief time away from the shelter reduces their fear, anxiety, and stress, thereby increasing their overall adoptability. It also increases the visibility of our adoptable dog, as participants then post their fun day around town to their social media networks. Our friends had 35 successful outings by year’s end, and the program continues to flourish in the new year!

In September, we began offering the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen certification class, a 10-skill test that teaches dogs good manners and responsible practices for their owners. Most importantly, we simultaneously began providing Canine Good Citizen training to our shelter dogs; and for some of our previously harder-to-place residents, this program has made a remarkable impact in increasing their adoptability For 2026, we look forward to many, many more success stories through the CGC program.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

The Volunteer program is integral to the daily machinations of HHS. We are powered by hundreds of immensely dedicated volunteers, all who are united in the name of animal welfare. Our volunteers work side-by-side with our team, performing essential, often not glamorous, duties at the shelter.

With renewed focus, we’ve cultivated our strong volunteer base while also lowering the barrier of entry for new recruits. Updates include the implementation of a streamlined, easy to use software for improved scheduling and communication, an increase to the frequency of our redesigned comprehensive orientations and training sessions, and created new areas of opportunity in which to lend support. With these thoughtful changes, we’ve added 200 new volunteers in 2025, 87 of whom were youth volunteers representing the next generation of animal welfare proponents.

It Takes a Village

The Volunteer program’s scope and potential continue to evolve. Because of this ongoing growth, we offer many diverse ways to get involved with HHS. No matter one’s age, experience, or ability, HHS has a place for everyone.

And in honoring the skill and commitment of our existing volunteers, we’ve also established a “Volunteer Mentor” program, providing 20 of our long-time volunteers with additional leadership and development opportunities. This initiative not only reduces the pressure on staff to perform similar training and stewardship, but, more importantly, it also fosters ownership, belonging, and trust within our volunteer community. In doing this, we demonstrate just how much we value their partnership and dedication to our animals.

We also renewed the corporate and group volunteer opportunity program and were able to cultivate relationships with 11 local companies and organizations, and the 13 visits throughout 2025 were tremendously successful. The groups performed wide-ranging tasks including large-scale painting and installation projects, hauling and organizing pet supply donations, and even rolling up their sleeves and deep-cleaning our high trafficked areas in the shelter. We look forward to many more productive engagements in 2026! 2025 AT-A-GLANCE: VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

414 active volunteers

200 new volunteers

87 new youth volunteers

14,000 hours of service

The equivalent of nearly 7 full-time staff members

20 volunteer mentors added

13 corporate and group volunteer visits

HUMANE EDUCATION & YOUTH PROGRAMS

As shelter professionals, we have a responsibility to cultivate, educate, and support the next generation of animal welfare advocates. The robust Humane Education program of HHS offers youth of all ages, experience, and ability the opportunity to embrace their love of animals while learning how to respect, protect, and understand the animals that share our world. In 2026, 2,656 children were reached by HHS through seasonal camps and various Humane Education opportunities.

The HHS Summer and Day Camps are a cornerstone of the Humane Education program, teaching young people how to use their unique talents to express their emotions, to advocate and care for animals, and to treat pets and people with respect. During the school year, the Animal Advocates Academy and Pawsitive Impact programs provide fun and informative programming that allows children to engage with their animal-loving peers, get hands-on shelter experience, and teaches them how to make a difference.

In 2025, we continued to improve our shelter tour, school visit, and children’s birthday party programming, offering in-depth, engaging, and personalized experiences for groups of young animal lovers. Our engagements are tailored experiences, designed to educate and inspire youth while fostering empathy, responsibility, and compassion for animals. We also hosted 32 animal-focused birthday parties for both kids and dogs, and we welcomed many budding literature enthusiasts to read stories to the shelter pets through the “Books, Barks, Meows” program.

Continuing the journey into the teen years, our Teenternship Program gave 15-17 year olds the chance to actively support the daily care of animals at our shelter while working closely with our experienced staff.

Teenterns assist with a variety of important tasks, including opening and closing procedures, cleaning kennels, doing laundry and dishes, feeding and watering the animals, and helping prepare the shelter for the next day’s activities. It’s a great opportunity to gain real-world experience, build responsibility, and make a direct impact.

The HHS Junior Board continued to make their impact by hosting several successful events, including the annual “ARF” Gallery, featuring animal-centric artwork from the community. In 2025, the Junior Board raised a total of $2,107 from their fundraising initiatives.

In addition to the Pawsitive Impact, Teenternships, and Junior Board programs, 2026 will see an expansion of the teenfocused programming, offering new and age-appropriate experiences, made possible in part by a generous grant from the Latham Foundation for Humane Education.

2025 AT-A-GLANCE: HUMANE EDUCATION

THERAPAWS PET THERAPY

Our TheraPaws Pet Therapy Program strengthens the human-animal bond and brings the healing power of pets to those needing mental, physical, emotional, or educational support. The all-volunteer TheraPaws teams supported the Humane Education Camps and made regular visits to senior citizens, veterans, first responders, hospitals, schools, and those needing the comfort and love of an animal.

2025 AT-A-GLANCE: THERAPAWS PET THERAPY

361 Hours of Service

63 Community Partners

4 New Community Partners In 2025

50 Pet Therapy Teams

6 New Teams Joined in 2025

IMPACT

ZACH LEATHERS EMERGENCY MEDICAL FUND

In 2021, David and Winnie Leathers established a fund at Hinsdale Humane Society to honor the legacy of their beloved son Zach. Since then, the Zach Leathers Emergency Medical Fund has saved the lives of 25 special needs animals by providing the access to more complex medical interventions. This fund continues to make a difference for animals who need special treatment and care to give them a pathway to live full and happy lives.

“MATCH-ME-UP” CAT CAMPAIGN

The annual “Match-Me-Up” campaign focuses on finding homes for our harder-to-adopt cats. Often, this includes seniors, cats with health complications, long-term residents, and those who require special homes. In 2025, through waived adoption fees and specialized marketing, the campaign helped 23 cats find their forever families.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

In a time of growing need, HHS is proud to be an access point of resources for those in need. Throughout 2025, we maintained our monthly partnerships with HCS Family Services and the Hines Veterans Administration, providing pet food and care items with compassion and dignity providing food and other pet-related items to their pantries. We also continued to offer the monthly HHS pet food pantry, even adding dates during the government shutdown to provide further support.

In late 2025, we launched our reimagined low-cost community vaccine clinics. After two fully-booked and successful vaccines clinics in 2025, we established monthly clinics for 2026. To further ensure the success of this essential service, we received generous grant support from both the DuPage Foundation and Athletes for Animals.

At the core of our mission is to preserve the human-animal bond. As families and their pets continue to face growing obstacles to care, resources, and dignity, HHS helps our communities to surmount those barriers and keep families and their pets together. For 2026, we will continue to tailor our services to the needs of our communities, and we look forward to serving them.

2025 AT-A-GLANCE: COMMUNITY RESOURCE INITIATIVES

American Red Cross

• 3 blood drives hosted

• 110 total donors

Monthly food assistance initiatives

• HCS Family Services

• 767 animals served

Hines Veterans Administration

• 625 animals served

Community vaccine clinics

• 2 clinics

• 38 animals served

HHS Food Pantry

• 429 animals served

Added an extra pantry during the government shutdown to respond to community needs

• 1,821 total animals served

EVENTS

PET WALK: HOMEWARD BOUND 5K RUN/WALK

2025 saw the return of Pet Walk: Homeward Bound 5K Run/Walk, a mainstay of the community for over 30 years! Over 450 pet lovers and furry friends enjoyed the new route that wound through scenic Fullersburg Woods, ending back at HHS with a festive block party in full swing. We’re excited to host an even bigger and better Pet Walk in 2026, adding more family focused activities, vendors, and opportunities for the community to come together and support of animals in need.

We hope to see you on Sunday, May 31st!

THE 7TH ANNUAL HEIDI GEBAUER MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING

The annual Heidi Gebauer Memorial Golf Outing is hosted each year by the Gebauer family to honor Heidi Gebauer’s deep love for animals, with the proceeds benefiting HHS in her memory. Since it’s inception, Heidi’s golf outing has raised over $250,000 for HHS animals, and we’re honored to hold the impact of her legacy in the work we do every day. Through the support of the Gebauer family and this event, Heidi’s spirit of kindness and compassion for animals endures.

ZACH LEATHERS EMERGENCY MEDICAL FUND BAKE SALE

Each year, HHS hosts a bake sale in partnership with Winnie Leathers to raise funds for the Zach Leathers Emergency Medical Fund, a vital resource that allows us to provide lifesaving care for animals with critical medical needs.

In 2025, we expanded the event by adding an inaugural Firehouse Chili Cook-Off. 6 area fire departments battled for the title, offering a fun and novel way to unite the community in support of animal welfare. In 2026, we plan to expand the reach of this event even more, all to generate essential funds for the most vulnerable animals.

PAWS AND PRELUDES

Our inaugural Candlelight Concert for Compassion, Paws & Preludes, transformed HHS into a warm and ethereal concert hall, bringing our community together for a beautiful evening of music, fellowship, and shared love of animals. Performers included musicians of the West Suburban Symphony, students from Roosevelt University and Hinsdale South High School, and even the HHS staff, and the entire team helped make the event a success.

GIFTS IN ACTION

Charitable giving is the foundation of HHS, and we believe that no gift is too small. Because of the generosity of thousands of animal lovers, we can continue to serve our animals, our community, and our mission.

$5 supports our lifesaving work

$10 provides vaccinations for a shelter pet

$25 covers one week of food and supplies for a shelter pet

$50 covers one month of food and supplies for a shelter pet

$100 supports spay/neuter surgery for a shelter pet

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR SUPPORTERS ALLOW US TO DO THE FOLLOWING AND MORE:

• Uphold the highest standard of care for HHS animals, as our Animal Care and Medical teams vet, rehabilitate, and rehome over a thousand stray, feral, and abandoned animals annually

• Create lasting bonds between pets and their owners through a streamlined adoption process, postadoption support, and a lifelong commitment to our animals

• Provide relief to families and their pets through three monthly pet food pantries and our regularlyscheduled low-cost public vaccine clinics

• Respond in an urgent manner to HHS’s adoptable animals with emergency medical needs through the Zach Leathers Emergency Medical Fund

• Increase our capacity for care, especially for nursing mothers and animals requiring special attention, through the Heidi Gebauer Memorial Foster Program

• Fortify and grow the volunteer network through new opportunities, streamlined technology to lower the barrier of entry for prospective volunteers, and dynamic communication with participants

• Teach both children and adults to respect, protect, and understand the animals who share our world through the ever-expanding Humane Education programs

• Offer engaging, educational, and innovative events to nurture a feeling of community in the name of animal welfare

• Enhance the well-being of hundreds of children, seniors, veterans, firstresponders, hospital residents, and healthcare workers through the TheraPaws Pet Therapy Program

PARTNERSHIPS + GIVING = IMPACT

Partnerships

Our community partners are critical to supporting our mission and the lifesaving work performed at HHS. We cultivate personal, innovative, and mission-driven relationships with our partners, and their contributions can be felt throughout HHS. The opportunities to lend support are many, with our partners often holding community fundraisers and supply drives, offering sponsorships, and providing in-kind services.

A few highlighted partnerships of 2025 include:

Gebauer Tile & Stone

For each of the last six years, Pete, Pat, and Peter Gebauer have hosted a memorial golf outing honoring Heidi Gebauer’s life of compassion by continuing to care for, respect, and provide love to animals in need. Heidi visited HHS often, and she encouraged her family to adopt, become vegetarians, and be conscious and considerate of their impact on the natural world. We are forever grateful to the Gebauer family and friends who, each and every year, continue their generous support in Heidi’s name.

The DuPage Foundation

Over the past year, we, along with our shelter partners, have become inundated with requests from families to rehome their beloved pets. With veterinary care prices rising over 40% since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with immense cost-of-living increases and stagnant wages, people are struggling, their pets are struggling, and shelters are struggling.

We believe that the most efficient, compassionate, and humane option for families with pets but who are of limited resources, is always to keep those pets with their families, rather than to welcome them into the shelter system. Generous support from the DuPage Foundation has allowed us to provide vital low-cost vaccine clinics to families and pets in need. Our thanks to the DuPage Foundation for making a difference with animal lovers and non-profits like HHS.

Autobarn Subaru of Countryside

Our friends at Autobarn Subaru of Countryside have been stalwart supporters of our mission for years. Through their “Subaru Loves Pets” promotions, they provide us with financial assistance to help with adoption, rescue, transport, and healthcare for animals in need. Our yearly adoption event with Autobarn Subaru of Countryside for 2025 was such a success that we nearly ran out of adoptable dogs!

Hinsdale Nurseries

From installing a sprinkler system to weekly yardwork and landscape clean-up, we are fortunate to have the support of Hinsdale Nurseries. Their generosity and care for our mission allows us to maintain clean, safe, and beautiful grounds for our animals, adopters, volunteers, staff, donors, and guests.

Oakbrook Center

Oakbrook Center continues to be a fantastic partner for us. Each year, we collaborate on quarterly adoption events and donation drives, as well as a movie night that unites the community in support of animal welfare. This year, we are excited to offer even more engaging and educational experiences for attendees, including training and agility demonstrations at events.