When Svanee and Russ Castner first learned about Humane World for Animals’ work to increase access to pet care resources in underserved communities, they immediately connected with the mission. They were already deeply committed to philanthropy and wanted to expand their impact.
“Whenever we have had animals, it’s just like they’re part of our family,” says Svanee Castner. She wanted to help other people keep their families together. “It's much better for the [pets] and for the people if the animal can stay with them.”
Courtesy of Eve Tai/Humane World for Animals
The couple spoke with Eve Tai, our senior philanthropy officer, to learn how they could help. This was back in 2016, when access to care was a relatively new concept in animal welfare, and just five years after we launched our Pets for Life program.
“Svanee and Russ were among our earliest supporters of the Pets for Life program,” says Tai. Svanee was already helping local animal welfare organizations through Svanee’s Foundation. And Russ was familiar with our mission—his mother was a supporter decades ago.
They started donating to efforts aiding pet owners and shelters in their home state of Washington, which aligned with their long-time passion for helping their community. In 2007, Russ contributed to the creation of the Russell L. Castner Endowed Research Fund, supporting the research of graduate students studying public health at his alma mater, the University of Washington.
As long-time animal lovers, they also resonated with the goal of keeping pets in loving homes.
Giving up a pet can be a traumatizing experience for everyone, Russ says. The animal now must adjust to living in a stressful shelter environment and the person has lost a beloved companion. Pet relinquishment also impacts the local shelters that take in and care for these animals. “The shelters are so slammed that it's just a worst-case scenario,” says Russ.
By funding efforts to address the root causes of pet relinquishments, the Castners are helping to keep loving families together and alleviating some of the burden placed on overworked shelters.
Ezra Millstein/The HSUS
Keep people and pets together
Many wonderful pet owners face barriers in accessing veterinary and pet care services. Your generous gift keeps families together and supports all our lifesaving work for animals.
Svanee and Russ have seen the impact of their support firsthand. In 2022, they visited the Northwest Spay & Neuter Center in Tacoma, operated by Auburn Valley Humane Society, a Pets for Life partner which provides low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and wellness services for people and pets in underserved areas. The couple heard from one grateful pet owner who was able to keep her two chihuahuas after the center provided medical care for the animals.
They also met a dog, Gunner, who was able to recover from a major trauma thanks to their generosity. Two years ago, Svanee started the Svanee’s Last Chance Fund at Seattle Humane—another one of our Pets for Life partners. The fund helps cover the cost of urgent medical care for animals like Gunner, who came into Seattle Humane after being found with two broken front legs, likely from getting hit by a car.
Money from Svanee’s Last Chance Fund helped Gunner receive long-term veterinary care. When Svanee and Russ attended the organization’s Tuxes and Tails gala event last year, they watched him strut down the runway with his two casts. Now, months later, Gunner’s legs are completely healed.
Helping pets in their local area has always been their passion, but Svanee and Russ recently expanded their support to include other animal welfare issues, such as ending the global dog meat trade.
“We are so grateful to them for evolving and growing with Humane World for Animals,” says Tai. When she asked Svanee what inspired the couple to expand their reach, Svanee said she realized there are animals in need everywhere.
“The breadth of…Humane World for Animals is just amazing,” Russ says. “They're everywhere, doing everything.” He particularly connects with Humane World’s multi-pronged approach—helping animals both in the immediate, through animal rescue and access to care work, and long term, through advocacy efforts and public awareness campaigns.
Svanee has been inspired by our work helping pet owners impacted by the war in Ukraine and weather-related disasters. It’s “so nice to know that there is such an organization that can help under all these emergencies,” she says. “They need money to do that. That's what we're doing.”
Through their philanthropy, Russ and Svanee hope not only to help animals and people directly but also to inspire others to create change too.
Related stories
FatCamera/iStock.com
If you or someone you know is having trouble affording a pet, here are resources that can help with veterinary expenses, pet food and more.
Vernan Kee
Nominated by Partnership With Native Americans, Chantal Wadsworth has dedicated her life to animal welfare in a community where access to resources is extremely limited.
Anna Harrison
Elizabeth has been volunteering for animals since the 1950s and is still going strong.
