Press Release: Lynchburg Humane Society Awarded $40,000 Orphan Kitten Club Grant

Posted on October 27, 2026October 27, 2026 by Claire LeFew

Innovation grant to fund additional staff and support for our Foster Department to help more fragile kittens.

Lynchburg, VA, October 27, 2026–The Lynchburg Humane Society, a nonprofit animal welfare organization that owns and operates the Edythe Elizabeth Stauffer Center for Pets in Lynchburg and the Spay and Neuter Clinic in Evington, today announced that it has been awarded a $40,000 innovation grant from Orphan Kitten Club (OKC), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to innovate pediatric care and advance protections for neonatal kittens in shelters.

These funds will provide much-needed staff support to our foster kitten and foster family programs, foster starter kits, and data & communication tools for the LHS Kitten Nursery. The life-saving grant will increase the number of neonate fosters for LHS and help maintain our 94% save rate.

“Every kitten that comes through our doors deserves a chance at life, but the youngest and most fragile kittens require an extraordinary amount of time, attention, and specialized care. Caring for these tiny kittens around the clock is a tremendous commitment, and our foster families are essential to making that possible. This $40,000 grant from Orphan Kitten Club will allow us to expand our foster team, provide more resources to our foster families, and reach even more kittens who desperately need our help. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and the lives it will help us save,” said Amber Cabell, Director of Operations, Lynchburg Humane Society.

Neonatal kittens–ages zero to eight weeks–are the most euthanized feline population in animal shelters in the United States, accounting for at least half of feline deaths. The specialized skills, supplies, veterinary expertise, and overnight care they require makes them uniquely difficult to care for on-site in an animal shelter. For this reason, shelters and rescues heavily rely on volunteer foster parents to assist in the care of this vulnerable population.

Led by a panel of experts in animal welfare, veterinary medicine, and kitten wellbeing, the Orphan Kitten Club Mightycat program strategically selects partners based on their potential to create meaningful new impact for neonatal kittens. Following a bi-annual application period, the advisory panel thoughtfully allocates donor funds to partner programs that have proposed an executable and measurable plan to lower euthanasia rates, increase lifesaving capacity, enhance quality of care and/or contribute to groundbreaking research.

“Our Mightycat partners are shelters and foster-based rescues that are truly aligned with our mission to increase lifesaving programs for kittens under eight weeks old,” said Jackie Noble, Executive Director, Orphan Kitten Club. “We’re proud to partner with the Lynchburg Humane Society to move the needle for neonatal kittens.”

For more information, visit lynchburghumane.org

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About Lynchburg Humane Society

The Lynchburg Humane Society is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that owns and operates the Edythe Elizabeth Stauffer Center for Pets in Lynchburg and the Spay and Neuter Clinic in Evington. The Lynchburg Humane Society is a no-kill facility that helps over 12,000 dogs and cats annually and over 12,000 people. Its mission is to lead the way in providing a compassionate, safe community for animals and people through progressive life-saving programs, services, resources, and education.

About Orphan Kitten Club

Orphan Kitten Club (OKC) is the nation’s leading charitable organization solely dedicated to advancing kitten welfare. A 100 percent donor-funded 501(c)3 organization, Orphan Kitten Club is led by a team of experts in animal welfare, veterinary medicine, and kitten wellbeing who thoughtfully identify Mightycat shelter partners and allocate donor funds to kitten programs, emergency veterinary care, and ethical research programs that create meaningful change and move the needle for neonatal kittens.

Neonatal kittens—those under eight weeks old—are the most vulnerable animals entering shelters, experiencing the highest mortality rates of any population. OKC works to make kitten lifesaving the standard in every community through a strategic four pillar approach: administering the first and only national grant program focused solely on neonatal kitten care and lifesaving; mentoring shelter leaders in implementing data-driven best practices; advancing veterinary medicine through ethical pediatric research; and running a specialized kitten nursery that provides around-the-clock expert care for neonates and kittens with complex medical needs.

Founded in 2016 by Hannah “Kitten Lady” Shaw, Orphan Kitten Club has awarded more than $4 million in transformative kitten-focused grants to save the lives of more than 250 thousand kittens in over 150 communities.

To become a club member–a monthly supporter of Orphan Kitten Club–visit donate.orphankittenclub.org/join.

CONTACT: For more information or interview requests please contact Development and Communications Manager, Claire LeFew at [email protected]

For Orphan Kitten Club:

Jackie Noble, Executive Director [email protected]

Lynchburg Humane Society hires new Assistant Director of Development

Posted on September 29, 2026September 29, 2026 by Claire LeFew

(September 29, 2026)— Lynchburg Humane Society (LHS) is excited to announce that they have hired Sally H. James to a new position on their development team, Assistant Director of Development. Sally brings over 25 years of nonprofit experience to Lynchburg Humane Society, having both worked and volunteered with several area nonprofit organizations.

“Sally brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and passion to Lynchburg Humane Society, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team,” said Jill Mollohan, Executive Director. “Her experience and commitment to our community will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow our fundraising efforts and expand our impact to help animals and the people who love them.”

Prior to arriving at LHS, Sally held leadership positions in development, marketing, and admissions at both New Vistas School and James River Day School. Her extensive fundraising experience stems from meaningful relationships in both the private and corporate sectors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Hollins University.

In her new role, Sally will work closely with Michelle Thomas, Director of Development, supporting fundraising initiatives, events, and donor relations. Together, they will help strengthen LHS’s relationships with supporters and create opportunities for the community to engage with the organization and its mission.

Having held previous volunteer and Board of Directors roles at the Lynchburg Humane Society, Sally is excited to continue serving the Lynchburg Community by helping pets and people in her new position!

Press Release: Lynchburg Humane Society begins construction of a new regional veterinary clinic offering affordable care.

Posted on July 31, 2025May 11, 2026 by Claire LeFew

(July 31, 2025)— Lynchburg Humane Society is excited to share that they have started construction on their new regional veterinary clinic, offering affordable care. A ground-breaking ceremony is planned for the fall, in cooler weather. The construction company that was awarded the bid for this project is Coleman-Adams Construction, and the architect is Dominion 7 (who also designed the current Center for Pets). The current fundraising total for the project is $4.6 million, with a total goal of $7.5 million needed for the project.

This regional veterinary clinic will offer low-cost, quality care that will serve as a lifeline for pets and their owners in need. The clinic will be located next to the Center for Pets animal shelter at 1211 Old Graves Mill Road. The new clinic will also house the Spay/Neuter Clinic operations, which are currently located in Evington. The current Spay/Neuter clinic serves 20+ localities in Central Virginia.

The development of the new regional veterinary clinic represents a meaningful step forward in expanding accessible animal healthcare, with careful coordination between construction teams, architects, and supporters ensuring that each phase of the project aligns with long-term service goals. As the structure takes shape, attention naturally extends beyond the visible clinical and operational areas to the underlying build quality that will support years of continuous use, especially in spaces designed for equipment storage, medical supplies, and essential utilities that require a controlled and protected environment.

In projects of this nature, durability and moisture protection become critical considerations during the construction process, since maintaining a stable internal environment directly contributes to the safety and efficiency of care delivery, and solutions such as Better Basements and Waterproofing are often associated with reinforcing below-grade areas to help safeguard the facility’s foundation against water intrusion and long-term structural stress, ensuring that the clinic remains resilient, functional, and dependable as it serves a wide community of animals and pet owners.

“This is an exciting time for LHS, pets, and the people who love them! Our new low-cost regional veterinary clinic will benefit not only Lynchburg and our organization but also address the overpopulation of pets, alleviate overcrowding in animal shelters in our surrounding counties, and keep pets with their families where they belong,” said Jill Mollohan, Executive Director. “We still have fundraising to do to reach our goal, but we are confident that our community will come through for this vital project, which will significantly benefit both people and pets, and ultimately improve our city and surrounding areas, and allow us to save more animals in our no-kill shelter.”

For pet owners, especially those managing multiple animals or living in rural areas, knowing that quality medical support is available nearby brings peace of mind. These efforts strengthen the bond between people and their pets by ensuring animals receive timely care, early intervention, and long-term support that helps them live healthier, happier lives.

Beyond medical care, responsible pet ownership also includes safety and awareness when animals are outdoors or working alongside their owners. As pets venture beyond the home, whether during training, recreation, or field activities, technology has become an important tool in keeping them protected and accounted for. Solutions like Garmin Alpha naturally fit into this broader commitment to pet well-being, allowing owners to monitor location and movement with confidence. When combined with accessible veterinary services, these tools reflect a growing, holistic approach to animal care that prioritizes health, safety, and the enduring connection between pets and the people who depend on them.

The Lynchburg Humane Society needs the support of our community to make this crucial project a reality. Anyone interested in getting involved or finding out more information can visit www.LHSvetclinic.org to donate or stay up-to-date on their social media pages. Donations to the Capital Campaign may be pledged over four years. Stock donations and IRA distributions are welcome.

Find out more about the Clinic Project here!