Culture
Athens County Humane Society presents 31st annual Garden Tour Fundraiser June 8
By: Emily Votaw
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WOUB’s Emily Votaw interviewed Athens County Humane Society Executive Director Mary Connolly and longtime Humane Society member and chair for the Garden Tour, Linda Sauer. You can listen to their conversation by clicking “play” in the Soundcloud embed above.
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – The Athens County Humane Society will host its 31st annual Garden Tour fundraiser on Sunday, June 8, giving visitors a self-guided look at various private and public gardens. The long-running event funds the organization’s year-round animal welfare work, which includes running low-cost spay and neuter clinics, offering fostering and adoption opportunities, and providing food assistance to low-income pet owners.
The tour begins at the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau (667 E State Street), where attendees receive a printed brochure that includes driving directions to each garden and QR codes for smartphone navigation. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gardens in any order between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Since each location is privately owned and may have limited parking, organizers recommend carpooling or returning to crowded sites later in the day.
The tour is held rain or shine. Tickets and raffle entries can be purchased in advance at athenshumane.org or on-site the day of the event.
In addition to the gardens, the fundraiser includes four themed raffle packages with prizes donated by local businesses. Packages include nature-themed gifts, dining gift certificates, wellness services, and car care—including auto detailing and Ohio University football tickets. Raffle tickets are $10 each, and all proceeds support Humane Society programs.
Executive Director Mary Connolly, who joined the organization in March, said the funds raised by the Garden Tour help the Humane Society maintain a range of essential services, including the employment of a full-time humane agent for the county who investigates cases of cruelty and neglect—an essential role no longer covered by the county dog shelter.
“Without our humane agent, those cases would simply go uninvestigated,” Connolly said. “It’s not just about enforcement—it’s also about education. Our agent helps people access resources when they want to do better for their pets.”
Connolly emphasized that the organization receives no government funding and relies entirely on community donations and volunteer support.
“People might not realize how much of our work happens behind the scenes,” she said. “But every dollar goes right back into the community.”
For more information on the 31st Garden Tour visit athenshumane.org or follow the Athens County Humane Society on Facebook.