Holiday cheer and a year of pet adventures await children at The Heritage Humane Society. Skip the last minute holiday shopping hustle and bustle, and the anxiety-provoking shipping date deadlines, and rest assured that a memorable gift for a child, grandkid or close little friend is right here in the local community. Discover year-round gifts, multi-day presents, the world of two-legged and four-legged furry friend gatherings and even kids’ nights out without parents with The Heritage Humane Society’s holiday and year-ahead gift ideas.
The ultimate membership for kids who love pets, Animal Aces Kids’ Club invites children ages 8 to 12 years old to enjoy 365 days of memory making in 2025. Running from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, the program offers young animal lovers a chance to engage in enriching, hands-on experiences with animals while supporting Greater Williamsburg’s largest homeless pet shelter.
Animal Aces gives young people a unique opportunity to advocate for animals in their own community. This may be their first volunteering experience and it often fosters a lifetime of giving back and helping others. Projects may include making enrichment items for the adoptable animals, assisting in the Kibble Kitchen, handing out treats to the animals, and learning about pet behavior and how to care for a variety of pets.
Membership benefits include monthly meetings at The Heritage Humane Society, a 2025 Animal Aces T-shirt, a welcome pack, monthly e-newsletters, and exclusive activities at the shelter. Members can also enjoy discounts on events like camps, movie nights, and birthday parties, along with naming opportunities for incoming adoptable pets and savings at the shelter’s reTAIL store. Animal Aces Kids’ Club registration is now open online and in-person at the shelter.
Silas Lawson, now 12 years old, joined the Animal Aces program in February, sparking a year filled with meaningful connections. In June, Silas celebrated his birthday with a party at the shelter, where he met Misty, a 10-year-old senior cat often overlooked by potential adopters.
Their bond grew stronger when Silas returned for the Summer Animal Camp and discovered Misty was still there waiting for her forever family and home. On the last day of camp, Silas’s family adopted Misty. Saving up his money to cover the adoption fee, Silas was surprised to learn that an anonymous donor had sponsored it. Inspired by the gesture, Silas used his saved funds to sponsor the adoption fees for two other senior cats, Richard and Speck, who have since found loving homes.
According to Silas’s mother, Misty settled in seamlessly. “She is the most friendly cat. She looks into your eyes and meows as if having a conversation. She follows everyone around and makes it clear when she wants attention. Misty and Silas are already best friends, and she has brought so much love into our home.”
The story of Silas and Misty was featured on the cover of volume two of the “Tails of Love” coffee table book, created in partnership with Debbie Leanne Portraits. At the book reveal party on Dec. 5, Silas and his mother shared their journey, moving the audience to tears.
Silas shared with the evening’s attendees, “I am honored to have been chosen for the cover of this year’s coffee table book. The cat on the cover with me is Misty. She is a senior and while many people visited her during her time at the Heritage Humane Society, she was still passed over for a home like many other senior animals. But I saw past her age, her appearance, and her history and I adopted her. She is now my best friend. She changed my life in many rewarding ways. I want to thank The Humane Society for bringing Misty and I together. I also want to thank The Humane Society for helping me to advocate for senior pets. You helped me get my story out to others and for that I am grateful. I hope to be an inspiration to other children and families to open their hearts and consider adopting a senior pet.”
The Heritage Humane Society offers various educational activities throughout the year to engage the community. Led by Kendell Thomas, the shelter’s dedicated, dynamic Humane Education & Activities Manager who is also known as the Manager of Fun, mark the calendar for these engaging experiences that are designed to connect people and pets that are coming up throughout 2025:
Begin 2025 knowing that The Heritage Humane Society is already planning fun-filled, engaging Spring Break Camp and multiple Summer Camps for budding animal enthusiasts. Spring Break Camp will be April 7-11. Summer Camp sessions are: June 23-27, July 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-Aug. 1, and Aug. 4-8. Keep an eye out on HeritageHumane.org for more information and registration information.
Nearly 200 dogs, cats and small pets are currently in the shelter’s care. Adoptable pets are available to meet during The Heritage Humane Society’s visiting and adopting hours from noon to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
To learn more, visit HeritageHumane.org, call 757-221-0150, or visit The Heritage Humane Society located at 430 Waller Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185.
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