Our Story
Most everyone has seen them: those heart-wrenching commercials depicting mistreated animals, trapped in cages with melancholic music playing in the background. Most of us want to do just what our Founder, Trish Arnold, wanted to do—quickly change the channel.
Any other time she could have easily done just that, just as she had many times previously. On this particular day in 2009 she realized she couldn’t turn a blind eye to suffering animals anymore. At that moment, something made her pause just long enough to ask the question: “What can I do?”
That simple question gave birth to an event that has made a considerable impact for homeless dogs and cats. But instead of the sad images of the commercials she had seen, she created a fun, whimsical event name for this “fun-raiser”, The Bow Wow Luau & the Cat’s Meow®. What began as a one-time event has grown into an annual Night of Hope that has raised and donated over $70,000! (Erin Pike, Voice Correspondent at Star News)
This annual animal fundraiser has saved the lives of countless homeless cats and dogs in our community and beyond. Donations have been given to our local animal shelter, many rescue groups and a portion helped open a spay/neuter clinic.
In 2015, Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, Inc. was founded to honor Trish’s beloved dog, Heidi, who was by her side for over 17 years. Since then, her adopted dog, Cooper, the CCO (Chief Canine Officer), of Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, have expanded our programs significantly, including many community-wide events, such as pet food/pet donation drives, hurricane relief donation drives, pet adoptions, and our Pet Food Bank.
We filled three full-sized tractor trailers with pet donations that were distributed to hurricane pet victims in Puerto Rico, Eastern North Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas.
Our Mission
The mission of the Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, Inc. lifesaving animal advocacy programs is to save homeless dogs and cats in our community and keep pets out of the shelters and keep them in their homes with their families, where they belong.
Who Was Heidi?
Heidi Arnold was an adorable Cocker-Spaniel Pomeranian mix who was by her Mom’s side almost every day for over 17 years, giving unconditional love, companionship and absolute joy. Heidi was always a happy dog who sported a never-ending tail wag!
Kayaking was also a favorite pastime Heidi and her Mom, Trish, enjoyed. They kayaked often in the Intracoastal Waterway, where Heidi was master navigator and earned her nickname of “Captain of the Kayak”.
Everyone loved Heidi and, in turn, she loved everyone—people and animals alike. Recently adopted dogs and cats who were having trouble adjusting to their new homes, opened up to Heidi. She instinctively knew how to draw these animals out of their shells and how to help acclimate them to their new families.
Best friends and co-founders, Heidi and Trish launched The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow®, to help homeless and abused dogs and cats. Since its founding, their foundation has raised over $70,000 to help animals in desperate need of love and care.
To honor Heidi, the co-founder and CEO of The Bow Wow Luau & The Cat’s Meow®, Trish founded Heidi’s Hope for Homeless Animals, Inc., a North Carolina non-profit 501(c)3 corporation to continue Heidi’s goal of helping homeless and abused dogs and cats.
Heidi will forever be greatly missed, but her life will forever be a legacy of love for thousands of dogs and cats in desperate need… Heidi would want it that way!
