a lot has happened in 3 years!

Volume 11 Issue 1
NEWS FROM COALITION: HUMANE
A lot has happened
in 3 years!
2010
Clinic Stats
Animals spayed or neutered
last year ...
6495!
1729 Male Cats, 1350 Male
Dogs, 1250 Female
Dogs, 2166
Female
Cats
As of January 31st, pets adopted from the Humane Society for Tacoma and
Pierce County are being spayed or neutered at the Coalition: HUMAnE Spay
& Neuter Clinic. Since 2005, adopted dogs and cats have been altered at the
Humane Society’s own surgical facility. However, with the Humane Society
looking to enhance its cat adoption program, the decision to transfer surgeries to another Tacoma-based clinic made sense so that veterinary resources
could be allocated to the adoption area at the shelter. The transfer enables
the Humane Society to focus its resources on medical care for adoptable
and sick or injured animals, which will speed the process from admission to
release, allowing more animals to be helped on an ongoing basis. Coalition:
HUMAnE is very excited to be partnering with the Humane Society. Working together with this strategic partner is a way to maximize the benefit to
the community and allow both organizations to move ever-closer to their
missions. The Humane Society and Coalition: HUMAnE share the goal of
eliminating needless euthanasia and creating a community where
every pet has a loving, permanent home.
Coalition: HUMAnE performed its 15,000th surgery
Wednesday, January 19, 2011. The 15,000th patient and their
owner received a free surgery and a gift basket. This is a
remarkable achievement considering the clinic opened less than
three years ago. In that time, Coalition: HUMAnE has built a superb
reputation for providing professional and compassionate
care, and it is becoming one of the top affordable spay
and neuter clinics in the entire Puget Sound region - for
both individual pet owners and rescue organizations.
With the addition of 4,000+ Humane Society pets per year,
Coalition: HUMAnE will sterilize 11,600 animals in the year 2011 alone!
Given that our current location’s capacity is 12,000 animals per year, we
have begun the search for a building that will better accommodate
this incredible growth. More details about our expansion plans will be
announced at Whiskers Wine & Dine, on March 12, 2011 and we hope
to see you there!
A
W O R D
F R O M
T H E
E X E C U T I V E
D I R E C T O R
Mission, Vision and Values
In June 2010 Coalition: HUMAnE’s
board and staff began the shared
process of its first Strategic Planning
project. Strategic planning, according to Wikipedia, is an organization’s
Executive Director
process of defining its strategy, or
Lorrie Kalmbach-Ehlers
direction, and making decisions on
allocating its resources to pursue this
strategy, including its capital and people. One of our key
goals was to develop Vision and Values statements to pair
with our clearly defined (and slightly refined) Mission
Statement. As we finalize our three year vision plan in the
upcoming months, the values outlined below will serve as
compass points in our pursuit of a community with zero
homeless pets.
Mission:
Coalition: HUMAnE promotes and provides
affordable, high-quality spay and neuter services for cats
and dogs in an effort to stop the killing of animals due to
overpopulation.
Vision:
In three years, Coalition: HUMAnE is recognized
as the leading regional resource for affordable, high-quality spay and neuter services. Community engagement and
support are high. Our capacity is expanded significantly
and we are providing efficient transportation solutions to
help individuals and animal organizations to eliminate cat
and dog killing due to overpopulation.
Values:
Coalition: HUMAnE aspires to practice these
values, as central towards realizing our mission. Each
value is practiced and realized on every level including
the individual, community and institution.
Community:
We recognize that the community is
an integral part of Coalition: HUMAnE and that we are
an integral part of the community. Through community
partnerships, we strive to ensure that there are no barriers
to spay and neuter.
253.627.SPAY
2106 Tacoma Avenue South
Tacoma, WA 98402-1510
www.coalitionhumane.org
Education:
We actively promote spay and neuter as
the solution to pet overpopulation. We advocate for and
educate about responsible pet ownership.
Compassion & Respect:
We treat animals and
people with compassion and respect.
Quality:
We inspire confidence by maintaining the
highest standard of quality in the services we provide.
We achieve this through specialization and expertise in
our field.
Adaptability:
We continually work to innovate in
order to provide quality service and animal care. We seek
progressive solutions and
new opportunities to
achieve our mission.
Lorrie
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Scooter’s
45 Gallon Trash Bags • Rice
Quart Size Zip Lock Bags • Packing Tape • Bleach
Dryer Sheets • Dish Soap • Hand Soap • Toilet Paper
13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Bags
HE Liquid Laundry Soap All surface sanitizing wipes
Paper Towels
White Copy Paper
Masking Tape Pillow Cases
Distilled Water
Pillow Cases • Fleece Blankets
SCOOTER
70% Alcohol Hand Sanitizer
1992 – 2008
Jan Schwenger, President
Holly Bukes, Past President
Tamara Georgick, Vice President
Allyn Hughes, Treasurer
Tammy Clower, Secretary
Jessica Horton, Director
Nigel Malden, Director
Patty Rusnak, Director
Elliot Weiner, Director
CLINIC STAFF:
Lorrie Kalmbach-Ehlers
Dr. Becky Birchmeier
Dr. Bethany Faulkner
Jayme Bennett-Woodman
Jennifer Waskiewicz
Amanda Spruell
Louise Adams
Amanda Elliott
Tracie Morgan
Serena Soares
Allie Weber
Monica Chambers
Molly Carnahan
Kori Dijos
Newsletter Designer,
Christy Hoffman
The Wise Alternative is a publication of Coalition: HUMAnE, an IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Detailed program & financial information can be found at www.guidestar.org
Your New Board
Leadership Team!
Coalition: HUMAnE held board elections at its January board
meeting. We are pleased to announce our officers for 2011!
President – Jan Schwenger
Owner of Express Employment Services in Tacoma, Jan is actively
involved in Rotary Club and currently the Chairperson of the World
Services Committee and Board of Directors. Jan adopted her first dog
from the Tacoma Humane Society in 1990 and currently shares her
home with rescue and foster dogs. She has fostered dogs for Chico
Boxer Rescue, Old Dog Haven, and the Tacoma Humane Society. She
is a Lead Dog walker and volunteer at the THS since 2006.
Past President - Holly Bukes
Holly joined the board of predecessor PSNP in March 2003 and
served as President of PSNP & Coalition: HUMAnE from 2006-2010.
She has been working in animal welfare for close to 20 years including
volunteer work with animal control facilities, a foster home based
animal welfare agency, and an advocacy group. She also serves on
the board of the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County.
She has a Masters degree in Business Administration.
Vice President – Tamara Georgick
Tamara is currently the Technology Director for the Washington
State Historical Society. Originally from Pennsylvania, she holds a
Master’s in Information Science from Drexel University. Tamara has
volunteered for a number of Humane Organizations and Veterinary
practices since 1983 when she got her first shelter dog. She has been
on the board of Coalition Humane since 2009.
Treasurer – Allyn Hughes
Allyn joined the Coalition: HUMAnE board in February 2009 and has
focused his efforts the marketing and finance areas of the organization. He is currently a member of the finance committee of the
Humane Society as well as the Sunrise Rotary group in Tacoma. A
former Russell associate, Allyn is a shareholder at Brooks, Hughes
& Jones, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor and investment
management firm located in Tacoma. He is a Certified Financial
Planner and Chartered Life Underwriter. Allyn has an MBA from
San Francisco State University. Secretary – Tammy Clower
Tammy is a Pierce County native and has always lived with numerous
family pets, including cats, dogs and horses. She attended Pacific
Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound Law School,
graduating with a law degree in 1990. Tammy has practiced in the
firm of The Law Offices of John Francis Kennedy since 1991 and has
chosen to put her legal background to work for animal welfare in
her spare time for Coalition: HUMAnE. Want the Latest News???
• Become a Fan on Facebook!
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www.coalitionhumane.org
s
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THANK YOU FOR
YOUR DONATIONS:
Mary Backous
Jenny Balman
Holly Bukes & David Wemmer
CARS
Mary Ann Creighton
Susan Detloff
Beverly Drake
William Elwell
Sandy Haire
Harbor Animal Hospital
Penny & Larry Hill
Peggy Hillman
Molly Johnson
Jane Jorgenson
Miranda Jorgenson
Pamela Krotz
Dorothy Leyden
Stephen and Patricia Marek
Birgit Miranda
Jill Nortness
Frances Pedersen
PETCO
Denise Petryk
Physicians Compliance Connection LLC
Wesley Pollock
Martha & Johnnie Porter
Brad Randall
Tony Rizzardi
Rolland Robison
Roosales
David Salge
Susan Schorba
Barbara Slater.
Gladys Strand
Eleanor Vandenheuvel
Richard and Marcia Venne
Jerry & RJ West
Julie Woodward
Bruce Young
MEMORIUMS
Don & Penny Bergman ~ in honor of Peach Madonna Pyro
Jan & Milt Bukes ~ in honor of Nola
Sandra Purdy Colotta ~ in honor of Herb & Nancy Purdy
CA & William Cosgrove ~ in remembrance of
Percy 1986-2002
Terri Dufault ~ in remembrance of Catmandu & Timbuktu
Delores Dugger ~ in remembrance of Elsie, Jody & Bob
Marilyn Evenson ~ in remembrance of Rusty, Fluffy & Jake
Tracy Farmer ~ in remembrance of Abbe
Dan & Bethany Faulkner ~ in remembrance of Keesha
Mark & Cathy Freeman ~ in remembrance of
Sarah, Goldie & Brandy
Doreen Jackson-Carnathan ~ in honor of our 4 dogs & cats
Frank Jacobs ~ in remembrance of Sam
RJ Ehler & Lorrie Kalmbach-Ehlers ~ in honor of
Patricia Ehlers & Edward Kalmbach
Taslin - A single photo
and a few words can
express neither your
unique brilliance nor
how much I dearly
miss you. You touched
my spirit like no one
I’ve ever known. Until
we meet again, Stephanie
Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter CliNiC
Presents its 7th Annual Charity Auction
Whiskers
Wine & Dine
2011
Saturday, March 12 , 2011
5:00 to 9:00pm
th
Cash Bar - Dinner
Silent, Live and Dessert Auctions
Sharon McGavick Conference Center
Clover Park Technical College - Building 23
4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA
SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC
S
N
C
Reservation Form
For reservations:
Mail this form, or
Reserve online at our website.
All proceeds to benefit Coalition: HUMAnE.
Reservations $50.
For more information or questions:
Check our website www.coalitionhumane.org, or
Send us an email whiskerswinedine@yahoo.com, or
Call 253.265.2290 or 253.509.3155.
Coalition: HUMAnE promotes and provides affordable, high-quality spay and neuter services for cats and dogs in an effort to stop the killing of animals due to overpopulation. Coalition: HUMAnE is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
– Saving lives through prevention –
Coalition: HUMAnE thanks you for attending or donating to Whiskers Wine & Dine. Together we can end pet overpopulation!
Tell us about: Yourself
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Note: Meal will be vegetarian. Tables seat eight.
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deductible contribution.
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Complete & mail this form
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Note: Reservations must be received by March 9th, 2011.
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Please mail completed reservation form to:
Coalition: HUMAnE - WWD
2106 Tacoma Ave South
Tacoma, WA 98402.
Ver 7 - 7Jan11
The Happy
Client
Corner!
Pootie
By S.D. Galindo , M. Ed.
Four-year old Dobby looks like a big black age.Consequently,
Tom cat, but he’s neutered, silky soft and sweet smart little cats
as can be. After Dobby got serious cuddles like Mallowry
and a snack, he settled down in a box full oftenbecome
of holiday gift wrap. Then we started talking pregnant
about Mallowry’s story...
and this is
A couple years after adopting Dobby, John what happened
surprised his 17 year-old daughter Meaghan the first time she got out.
with Mallowry - a long haired silver tabby kit- The second time Mallowry went
ten. John describes the occasion:
into heat, she broke out the screen from
“After finding no kittens at the Pierce the bedroom window to escape. This time, an
County Humane Society, Mallowry was pur- appointment was made right away.
chased as an antidote for prolonged heart- While Mallowry was somewhat reserved
brokenness incurred by my daughter after during my visit since her surgery a few days
losing her 3 month old kitten. Of course, prior, 7 month old Pootie Anne (a tiny tuxMallowry exhibited re-incarnated behaviors edo cat) was very happy to have new and enand instantly, completely, claimed my daugh- tertaining company. Pootie Anne found my
ter as her long-lost mom. It was wild. ”
scarf fascinating, and moving shadows on the
“I had known about the Coalition HUMAnE walls were truly intriguing. “We don’t know
for years, but had always been able to af- where she hides her toys, but every now
ford our private vet. I had taken friends’ and and then she brings something out to play
neighbors’ cats to the spay/neuter clinic, so I with”, Meaghan says. was familiar with the location and had always Meaghan and I conversed about the fact
been impressed with both the staff and the that Pootie Anne was not yet spayed, which
glowing praise and gratitude that would in- is when Meaghan told me that she thought it
variably be expressed by the owners of the was common to wait until after the first heat,
cats I transported. When I myself fell on hard or about 1 year old. So we discussed that early
times, there was no question of where to go” spay and neuter was now considered the best
said John.
practice.
For years it was very common practice not to At first, veterinarians were concerned about
spay female cats until after they’d been through jeopardizing the well being of cats and dogs
one period of heat, often at about 6 months of by spaying or neutering early in life. However,
according to Alice Villalobos, DVM, “The data
[against early spay and neuter] are not persuasive for felines….” (Veterinary Practice News).
PetEducation.com notes “early neutering does
not affect the growth rate, and there are no
appreciable differences in skeletal, physical,
or behavioral development between those
animals neutered early than those neutered
at a more traditional age.”
“Chances of cancer go up exponentially for
female cats after they have had their first heat”
says Lorrie Kalmbach-Ehlers, Executive Director
at Coalition HUMAnE. Dogs going through as
few as two heat cycles run a 26% risk of cancer
as compared to 0.05% for those spayed before
their first heat and“Cats who have been spayed
Dobby
Mallowry
have a 40-60% lower risk of developing mammary cancer than those
who have not been spayed.” Further,
pregnancy can result in difficult labor,
mammary gland infections, or toxic uterine
disease (pyometra) which can require expensive surgery (PetEducation.com).
Hormonal pets can get out of control and
can easily end up in harms way while they focus on mating with single-minded intent. Cats
will go into heat every 2-3 weeks until they become pregnant, and again quickly after a litter
is weaned. Their entire mental state is focused
on mating, so female cats lead far more relaxed
lives once they are spayed.
So when ideally is early-age spay or neuter supposed to take place? The American
Veterinary Medical Association has endorsed
‘prepubertal’ neutering since 1993. Jeff Young,
DVM, concludes that the ideal age is “8-16
weeks”, which is 2-4 months of age.
Now that Meaghan knows that early-age
spay and neuter is very important, she will
make sure they follow-up with little Pootie
Anne. Meanwhile, John says Mallory’s favorite
happy place is on a human lap, “…blissed out
on her back. She is one of the most stoic, lowmaintenance, ultra-mellow cats we’ve ever been
owned by. When she’s serious about getting
the attention she deserves, she’ll reach up and
either dab at a person’s eyeglasses or actually
pull them off with delicate bites to the frames.” John says Mallowry’s favorite activities include
“lovefests with my daughter, channeling secrets
of the universe into cat love, and nursing sick
or stressed humans back to health with her
reassurance.”
“Thank You, Coalition:
HUMAnE for taking such good
care of our family member.”
We Couldn’t Do It
Without You!
Coalition: HUMAnE welcomed a new lead veterinarian this past summer.
Becky Birchmeier is a native of Michigan and grew up in the Detroit area. She
is a happy transplant to the Northwest where she enjoys exploring the region
from her home base in Auburn.To unwind after busy days at the clinic she enjoys
restaurant hopping in Seattle and weekend camping trips where she can hike
and enjoy the outdoors.
Last year, her travels took her and members of her family to Sicily where
they visited a small, beachside town that was the home of her great-grandparents who emigrated to the United States. The whole family had a great time
and are still raving about the wonderful food.
A typical day at the clinic starts at 7:30 for Becky and includes as many as
35 surgeries. Becky excelled at the training she received at Humane Alliance
in North Carolina, which specializes in techniques for high volume spay/neuter. As a child, Becky always knew she wanted to work with animals and was
hooked as soon as she knew she could be a doctor for pets. With six rescues
Dr. Becky Birchmeir, DVM
of her own, she certainly got her wish of working with animals all day.
Becky’s true confessions include being a sugar addict with a special soft spot for chocolate. A handy fact to
squirrel away for rewarding her after a hard day in surgery! And as long as we’re in reward mode, please turn up
the volume to 11. Becky’s favorite band is Queensryche and is a fan of hard core, 80’s rock. Rock on, Becky and
thank you for all of you do for the patients at Coalition: HUMAnE!
form!
reservation
Wine & Dine
Whiskers
Look inside for
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www.coalitionhumane.org, 253.627.SPAY
2106 Tacoma Avenue So., Tacoma, WA 98402-1510
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