Who Let the Dogs Out?

Mar 18, 2018

On Sunday, March 18, the Johnstown Tomahawks will hold their sixth annual Pucks and Paws event when they take on the Northeast Generals at 1st SUMMIT ARENA @ Cambria County War Memorial.

Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to the game for just $5 and will receive a special dog tag giveaway. Other festivities include an on-ice dog parade during the 1st intermission, puppies in the warehouse, special Pucks and Paws-themed jerseys worn by the Tomahawks, and a dog food drive benefiting the Humane Society of Cambria County.

A no-kill shelter since May 2017, the Humane Society firmly stands behind that policy along with their quality of life philosophy for their animals. It’s with this passion and commitment that they are able to take care of over 2,000 animals in Cambria County every year.

We recently sat down and talked with Jessica Vamos, the Executive Director of the HSCC.

She has been with the shelter since December 2017 and has found the job extremely fulfilling.

“The most rewarding aspect about working here is being able to give these animals a second chance at life and find them loving homes with forever families.” she said.

There are plenty of goals she hopes they can achieve in the near future. “Currently we’re working on implementing a foster program,” she said. “It will help the animals be more adoptable and give them more exposure. Another goal is looking into trap and release programs for cats as we approach cat season. We also have a goal of getting more exposure for the shelter and getting our animals adopted.”

Jessica has already seen how the partnership between the Humane Society and the Tomahawks works so well. “Both organizations are very much involved in the community,” she said. “So, it makes sense for us to work with each other and do a community event together.”

But most importantly, she is very thankful for the community and what it does for the shelter. “The community helps us to function every single day,” she said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to be open.”