The GMHS team hopes this matching gift will inspire everyone, who has ever experienced the unconditional love, joy and devotion of a pet, to make an investment in the future of our community’s homeless ones — an investment that not only will save their lives but also bring joy to them and to the families who adopt them!

The annual auction will be running through January 18th; the Matching Gift Challenge will continue through January 31, 2025, and the much needed proceeds from these two fundraisers will go towards Shelter operating expenses.

To give you an example of how expensive it is to save lives — it costs over $7,000 a day to keep the Shelter up and running, including $200,000 a year for medicine and medical supplies, and over $40,000 a year just to keep the lights and heat on!

This year’s auction items will appeal to just about everyone.  There’s an action-packed Outer Banks offshore fishing charter aboard the famous ‘Doghouse,’ donated by GMHS Board Members;  stays at an exquisite country estate’s guest houses; artwork; a coin from a sunken Spanish Galleon; and a week-long beach getaway to Fripp island.  There are restaurant meals; an Ooni Pizza oven; a cocktail making class; a spa day for car; and you can even have a photo of your pet turned into a custom made jigsaw puzzle; or have best-selling novelist David Baldacci name a character for you in his next thriller!

In conjunction with the on-line auction, ‘Virtual’ tickets are on sale that offer a gala-to-go bag filled with delicious treats for people and pets available for pickup at the Shelter on January 18th.  Visit https://www.betterunite.com/gmhs-gmhsmissionpaws-ible to view the auction, purchase a ticket, place a bid, and make donations. Looking is free, but you must register a credit card in order to bid.