When you think of a community hero, your mind might not immediately go to an animal shelter. But at St. Thomas Animal Services, their work for animals and their people is nothing short of extraordinary. From reuniting lost pets with frantic owners to caring for wildlife in need, this team is the heartbeat of animal welfare in our city.

With a new shelter on the horizon for St. Thomas, fundraising efforts are in full swing to support the construction and effective outfitting of the new facility. We wanted to step into the current facility to learn more about what the team at Animal Services does, their current limitations, and glimpse what the future holds for the furry residents of our community.

The City of St. Thomas has been a designated Bee City since 2023, but our Parks and Forestry department has been working on bringing bees and other pollinators back to the forefront in the city for more than a decade. With 43 parks and over 700 acres of parkland, our Parks and Forestry department's work is vital in creating and maintaining sustainable urban planning where people, pollinators, and nature can live together and live well!