Gulf Coast Humane Society

Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society

A safe haven for southwest Florida’s pets in need.

Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society

Giving Opportunities

Our shelter does not receive any federal, state, or county funding and no funding from the Humane Society of the United States or ASPCA. We rely solely on donations, grants, bequests, and fundraising events to further our mission as stated above.

Donate

Your support makes the greatest difference.

Your gift supports our mission to be a safe haven for pets in need by providing medical care, promoting adoptions, and nurturing the bond between pets and people in Southwest Florida. Make a donation today.

Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society
Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society via Legacy Planning

Legacy Giving

Be part of their story, and create a lasting impact.

A legacy gift is a meaningful way to honor the petswho have touched your life and to ensure your compassion continues for generations to come. By including Gulf Coast Humane Society in your estate plans, you help provide love, care, and second chances to pets well into the future.

There are many ways to leave a legacy, including:

  • Bequests in your will or trust
  • Retirement plan beneficiary designations
  • Life insurance gifts
  • Charitable gift annuities or trusts

Your personal legal and financial advisors can assist you with decisions about legacy gifts.

Every legacy gift, no matter the size, helps build a future where pets and people thrive together.

If you decide to give a legacy gift, please include the following information in your bequest or beneficiary documents:

Our legal name: Gulf Coast Humane Society
Our EIN (tax ID number): 59-0806978
Please let us know about your intentions for giving a legacy gift so that we can appropriately recognize and thank you.

For more information and to advise of a legacy gift, please contact info@gulfcoasthumanesociety.org or 239-332-0364.

This information is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. It is important for donors to consult with their own legal and financial advisors before making any planned giving decisions. Gulf Coast Humane Society does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information provided and shall not be liable for any errors or omissions. Any action taken by a donor based on the information provided is at their own risk. Gulf Coast Humane Society recommends independent verification of all information before making any decisions related to planned giving.

Okan's Fund

What Okan’s Fund Does

Too often, families face heartbreaking choices when a beloved pet is sick or injured, and the only barrier to treatment is cost. Veterinary care can be overwhelming, and many pet owners struggle with the thought of surrendering or even losing their pet simply because they cannot afford care.

Okan’s Fund helps bridge that gap. Through the Gulf Coast Humane Society Veterinary Clinic, this fund provides critical financial assistance to pet owners who otherwise could not afford treatment. Whether it’s helping with essential diagnostics, critical procedures, or necessary medications, Okan’s Fund makes it possible for pets to receive the care available through our veterinary clinic. By easing the financial burden for families, the fund creates the chance for more time together, more love, and more tail wags.

Pets are family. They bring comfort, laughter, and companionship through life’s hardest days. By donating to Okan’s Fund, you are giving hope to families who desperately want to keep their pets healthy and by their side. You are making it possible for someone to have just one more walk, one more cuddle, one more chance to say “we’re in this together.”

Your gift to Okan’s Fund ensures that financial hardship never has to be the reason a pet is lost. Together, we can carry Okan’s legacy forward helping pets receive the care they need and helping families hold onto the bond they cherish most.

Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society by supporting Okan's Fund
Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society by becoming a sponsor of the Cat Room and Dog Kennel

Cat Room and Dog Kennel Sponsorships

Your generous contribution directly impacts the lives of our shelter pets in need while providing your business, family, or an individual with meaningful recognition.

To sponsor a cat room or dog kennel, contact info@gulfcoasthumanesociety.org or to get started or for more information about our Purrs and Paws Cat Room and Dog Kennel Sponsorship Program.

As a valued kennel sponsor, you’ll receive:

  1. Personalized Recognition: A custom 5×7 plaque displayed prominently on your sponsored kennel or cat room, featuring your name or business name.
  2. Online Visibility: Your name or business will be featured on our website’s dedicated “Cat Room and Kennel Sponsors” page, including a link to your website (if applicable).
  3. Newsletter Spotlight: A special mention in one of our monthly newsletters, highlighting your commitment to our pets in need.

Second Chance Fund

For shelter animals who need specialized medical care.

Donating to this fund is a compassionate way to make a positive impact on a dog or cat’s life when they need additional medical procedures beyond routine care. At GCHS, we take every precaution and provide the best care for every shelter animal. The Second Chance Fund, a donor-advised fund, provides for emergency and hospitalized care.

The Second Chance Fund In Action:

Duff, Davey, Dylan, and Darby came to us with the deadly and highly contagious Canine Parvovirus (CPV). The virus attacks white blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract of dogs. In puppies, the virus can also damage the heart muscle. Vaccinations help prevent this virus. In untreated cases, mortality rates are 91%.

Our veterinarians were able to successfully treat two of the brothers. However, the other two brothers, Dylan and Davy, had advanced CPV and needed to be hospitalized. They were transferred to Blue Pearl Pet Hospital. After nearly two weeks of intensive care, Dylan and Davy’s condition improved and eventually were transferred back to GCHS fully recovered from the deadly virus.

Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society by supporting the Second Chance Fund
Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society by supporting the Silver Paws VIP Program

Silver Paws VIP Program

Help Us Double Capacity to Serve Pets

Gulf Coast Humane Society’s Silver Paws VIP Program is all about giving senior pets that are adopted from the Gulf Coast Humane Society shelter, the second chance they deserve—by connecting them with individuals and communities who can offer companionship, comfort, and care.

Senior pets are often overlooked in shelters because of concerns about the cost of future medical care. That’s where this program steps in. Adopters in the Silver Paws VIP Program receive waived adoption fees and lifetime veterinary care through Gulf Coast Humane Society Veterinary clinic—at no cost. This includes:

  • Annual exams and vaccinations
  • Nail trims
  • Diagnostics, bloodwork, and treatments
  • Dentals, medications, and more
  • End-of-life care, when the time comes

These thoughtful, well-mannered pets often thrive in senior households, matching the pace and companionship needs of older adults beautifully. Many of our current VIP adopters live in senior communities and assisted living facilities—and their pets have become beloved members of the community.

In addition to adoption, we also work with independent living and assisted living communities to place pets in foster care settings. These short- or long-term foster arrangements provide enrichment for residents and relief for shelter pets who may struggle in a kennel environment. In some cases, the fostered pet becomes such an important part of the community that one of the residents chooses to adopt! GCHS supplies all food, medical care, and support for foster pets, making this a rewarding and low-barrier way for individuals or facilities to participate. Consider helping us continue to grow our Silver Paws VIP program by donating to help provide vet care for the life of the pets in the program.

Spay it Forward

Focused on Combating Pet Overpopulation

Spay it Forward is a campaign focused on combating pet overpopulation in Lee County and surrounding counties through donations. Clients of our Spay and Neuter Clinic and other generous donors, can make contributions that will allow us to subsidize a pet’s spay or neuter surgery when their owner does not have the resources to cover some part or all their animals surgery cost.

Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society by supporting the Spay it Forward Program
Give to the Gulf Coast Humane Society by helping to fulfill our Supplies Wish List

Supplies Wish List

Thank you for considering an in-kind donation!

Supply donations are vital as they provide tangible goods such as food, bedding, socialization items (toys), cleaning products, and more ensuring the well-being of the animals in the shelter and the upkeep of the campus.

We offer various ways to help fulfill out Supplies Wish List including donation drop-off and via our Amazon Wish List, which lets you order from Amazon and it will ship directly to us!

Donations can be dropped off or delivered (from Amazon, Chewy.com or Walmart and any other delivery services) to: Gulf Coast Humane Society, 2010 Arcadia Street, Fort Myers, FL 33916

We do not accept the following used items: opened pet food bags, or medications.

Thanking our Exceptional Sponsors

Our sponsors make a difference in our mission to be a safe haven for pets in need by providing medical care, promoting adoptions, and nurturing the bond between pets and people in Southwest Florida.

Dog & Cat