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2025 Year In Review

2025 Year in Review

2025 was a year of growth, innovation, and lifesaving impact at FOHA. Together with our dedicated staff, volunteers, fosters, donors, and community partners, we helped hundreds of dogs and cats find loving homes while strengthening the programs that support them along the way. From expanded foster care and improved training and enrichment to new technology, community events, and facility upgrades, every step forward was driven by one goal: giving each animal the best possible chance at a happy, healthy future. The highlights below celebrate what we accomplished together and the lives changed because our community continues to say yes to animals in need.

Animals –

  • We processed 208 dog adoptions (down 14% from last year) and 195 cat/kitten adoptions (up 8.3% from last year), for a total of 403 animals adopted. This represents a 3% decrease from 2024 (421 total adoptions).
  • 3 dogs were adopted after successfully completing heartworm treatment, and 4 additional dogs are currently in foster-to-adopt homes while receiving treatment.
  • 18 senior dogs (8 years and older) found their forever homes, representing a 38% increase over 2024.
  • 16 FIV-positive cats were adopted into loving homes.
  • 16 Diamond Dogs (long-stay dogs) were adopted, remaining nearly flat compared to 2024.
  • Average length of stay for adopted dogs decreased by 14 days compared to 2024.
  • Length of stay for cats and kittens increased, primarily due to supporting a higher number of pregnant cats. Kittens must remain with their mothers until approximately three months of age and after spay/neuter surgery.

Animal Care Successes and Challenges –

  • The FOHA Behavior and Enrichment Mobile App launched in 2025, providing real-time dog and cat information to staff and volunteers.
    • Volunteers can view which dogs are available for walking and training each day.
    • Walks and training sessions are logged directly in the app.
    • Behavior notes for dogs and cats can be updated in real time.
    • Volunteers and staff can upload photos that feed directly to the FOHA website for adopters to view.
      o Inquiries can be sent directly to shelter, medical, behavior, and facilities teams.
  • Our Dog Walker Volunteer Training and Safety Program was fully revamped in 2025 to more directly address behaviors that delay adoption.
    • Targeted training sessions now focus on reactivity, jumpy and mouthy behavior, shyness, and strong leash manners.
    • We partnered with Reach 360 to provide online learning modules for trained volunteers.
    • In 2025, 35% of new dog walking volunteers completed our 2-part Yellow training, and 94 volunteers completed advanced dog training.
  • Daily enrichment continues to be provided to both dogs and cats to support mental stimulation and overall wellbeing.
  • We facilitated 269 cat foster events and 177 dog foster events, including long-term foster, short-term foster, and foster-to-adopt placements.
  • 97% of cats and 78% of dogs who entered foster care in 2025 have already been adopted.
  • Medical euthanasia decreased in 2025 compared to 2024.
    • Cats: Peanut, Poppy, Ezran, Liberty Kittens 3, 4, and 5, Lucy, Safi
    • Dogs: Junie, Ringo, Earl, Colt, Kingsley, Rufus
  • We participated in 34 dog and cat adoption events in 2025, an increase of 9 events from 2024. Each event provided an opportunity to promote FOHA and connect with potential adopters.
  • We launched the Foster Forward Program to support harder-to-adopt dogs and cats through foster placement.
    • Eligible fosters may receive a financial stipend for up to two months.
    • Fosters receive specialized training and agree to program guidelines to support successful outcomes.

Animal Medical –

  • ~190 spay/neuter surgeries, averaging 3–4 surgeries every week, helping prevent countless future litters and reducing long-term shelter strain.
  • ~50 dental procedures, many involving senior or medically complex animals whose comfort and quality of life depended on treatment.
  • ~10–12 orthopedic and surgical specialty cases, including TPLO surgery and limb amputations — high-cost but life-changing interventions.
  • ~12–15 advanced diagnostic and cardiology cases, allowing informed, humane decisions for fragile and senior animals.
  • ~10–12 heartworm cases, each requiring months of coordinated treatment and follow-up care.
  • ~15–20 specialty referrals (neurology, ophthalmology, and specialty hospitals) when cases exceeded what could be managed in-house.

Technology –

  • Our website underwent a much-needed refresh with the support of Yoko Co., improving usability and presentation.
  • We migrated our donor CRM from Kindful to Neon CRM, allowing for improved donor communication, reporting, and insights.

Finance –

  • We transitioned our banking relationship from Truist Bank to Northwest Federal Credit Union.
  • We partnered with a new audit firm, PBMares, to complete our FY25 financial audit.
    • The audit was thorough and detailed and completed by the end of 2025.
    • Our IRS Form 990 was completed and filed by early January 2026.

Volunteers –

  • 16 corporate groups volunteered at FOHA in 2025.
  • 179 new dog walkers and 230 new cat snugglers were trained.
  • 502 individual volunteers contributed over 18,000 volunteer hours in 2025, averaging approximately 40 hours per volunteer.
  • The estimated value of volunteer time exceeded $603,000.
  • Board Development
    • New Board Members: Valerie Daniels and Chris Clark-Talley

Development/Fundraising –

  • The Treasure Hound continued to be a vital revenue source, supporting the care of our animals. This was a strong year thanks to dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, and patrons.
  • We were awarded three grants again in 2025 from Pedigree, Grey Muzzle, and the Ursula Landreth Animal Rescue Fund.
  • We conducted three successful fundraising appeals, two giving days, and four additional campaigns, including Tails, Trails & Ales, Kitten Shower, the 2026 Happy Tails Calendar, and a Valentine’s campaign.
  • Our reimagined signature event, Paws and Prosecco, was a highly successful cocktail-style evening celebrating our animals and supporters.
  • FOHA’s Tails to Trails team once again participated in “Run the Greenway” on May the 4th, embracing a Star Wars theme while raising critical funds.
  • We welcomed a new Development Manager, Ashley Cuppett, following Heather Lucas’ relocation out of state.
  • We partnered again with Dulles Subaru for the Subaru Loves Pets Program.
  • We launched ClickBid, a new auction, ticketing, and sponsorship platform for annual fundraising events.

Facilities –

  • Replaced three HVAC systems in the upper kennel.
  • Replaced the HVAC system in the Behavior Center.
  • Repaired a water main line break in the lower kennel building.
  • Constructed a pole barn to protect essential outdoor equipment.
  • Completed architectural renderings for proposed new buildings, which are now being used for fundraising efforts.

Staffing –

  • Promoted Diara Washington to Programs Manager.
  • Promoted Lindsay Holm to Program Specialist.
  • Promoted Jason Gillette to Animal Caregiver Supervisor.

What to Look for in 2026 –

  • Integration of AI into operations to streamline processes, reduce administrative burden, and allow staff to focus more directly on animal care, volunteers, and community support.
  • Work on preparing staff and our Board of Directors to kick off a capital campaign in 18 months to fund the construction of a new Cat Adoption and Wellness Center.
  • Continued growth in adoptions through enhanced marketing and promotional efforts.
  • Ongoing expansion of volunteer training through the Level Training Program, with targeted support for individual dog needs.

As I reflect on all that was accomplished in 2025, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible community that makes this work possible. Every adoption, foster placement, training milestone, and facility improvement happened because of the compassion and dedication of our volunteers, staff, donors, fosters, and partners who stand beside FOHA and our animals every day. Thank you for believing in second chances and for helping me continue to save lives and build brighter futures for dogs and cats in need.

Thank you! Alison Maurhoff, FOHA Executive Director