WAIFarer 2015 Fall Winter Issue

Fall/Winter 2015
Vol. 25 Issue 2
WAIFarer
Official Newsletter of Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation
Page 2
Page 3
Page 7
Page 8
Notes from
WAIF’s executive
director
What to do when
your pet goes
missing
Special
“meow-out!”
You can still
Tag the Wall!
A Dream Come True!
construction, it was music to our ears to finally hear
cats meowing and dogs barking in the new facility that
was built with them in mind.
Ellery Cramer gets ready to cut the ribbon with WAIF Board President Bob Rupp and
Ellery’s husband Kirby Cramer looking on in anticipation.
A light drizzle couldn’t dampen the spirits of what
historically took place for WAIF on Sunday, September
6, 2015. After several years of hard work by determined
individuals and with the unwavering support of
generous donors to our capital campaign – WAIF’s new
shelter finally opened!
Having just received our temporary occupancy
permit less than a week prior to our scheduled Grand
Opening, volunteers and staff scrambled furiously
to get things in place and animals moved in so they
could settle into their new surroundings. After many
months of touring the shelter site prior and during
The shelter was dedicated to longtime animal lover,
Ellery Cramer. As the matriach of the Cramer family,
her family wanted to recognize her passion for animals
in a surprising and moving way. In fact, Ellery had no
idea what was in store for her! We were truly honored
to be part of this emotional tribute as the name of
the shelter was unveiled to reveal “Ellery Cramer
Family Animal Shelter.” The Cramer family and major
supporters of the capital campaign then witnessed
Ellery cutting the red ribbon to the entrance of WAIF’s
new home!
All the hard work finally came to fruition and though
we have a long and exciting road ahead of us, it was
nice to take a momentary deep breath and exclaim,
“We did it!” And when we say “we,” we mean you
and the community. A large majority of the the
funds raised for the construction of the new shelter
came from private individuals and families who
not only knew the daunting challenges WAIF staff
and volunteers faced in our old facility, but more
importantly wanted to provide a safe and comfortable
environment for our shelter animals. For several years,
continued on page 6
PO Box 1108 • Coupeville, WA 98239 • (360) 678-8900 • www.waifanimals.org
WHAT’S
INSIDE
Cover
Grand Opening
2
Notes from Charlie
3
What to Do When Your Pet Goes
Missing
5
Tribute Donations
Adoption Profile YODEL
6
Adoption Profile PAOLA &
PERLA
7
Adoption Profile GRIZZ
Adoption Profile SWEETY
8
Tag the Wall!
Our Mission: To create a
community in which animals
are treated with compassion
and respect and where no
companion animal goes
unwanted.
www.waifanimals.org
WAIF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and registered as a
charity in the state of Washington.
NOTES from Charlie
Here We Go!!!
OK! We have celebrated our 25th
anniversary. We have moved into the New
Shelter. Now what?
Now we work our way through the learning
curve. We’re working out new procedures on
how to clean and feed most efficiently. How
will receiving work with animal control and
with the public. We will discover what our
WAIF Executive Director Charles
limitations are in providing new services to
Vreeland and his dog Snickers
Whidbey Island. We are also working on a
TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program for feral and community cats.
In November, the Annex building will be cleared out for its next use as
an educational and training center. School field trips, perhaps summer
youth camps, agility training classes, all are possibilities.
Other questions, like should we try to pull animals from other shelters
to help them save more, will be considered. Does it make sense to pull
an animal from a shelter that is in a market of say 250,000 potential
adopters, and move them to an island environment with only 50,000
potential adopters? Since shelters want to keep their most adoptable
animals, are we willing to take on animals that may end up staying
longer than usual? These are just some of the possibilities.
Then, there are the fun things here at the new shelter. Staff and
volunteers are finding it hard to walk by the kitten room without
pausing to watch the happy craziness as youngsters play with the new
toys, climb and jump on the cat trees, and generally keep us laughing.
Even when they are napping, with some laying all over each other in
peaceful slumber, seems to calm us down.
There is much to do and learn. It is exciting, challenging, and will take
WAIF to the next level of service for Whidbey Island pets and pet owners.
Thank you again for making it happen! Here’s to the next twenty-five,
and beyond!
Photos by Mary Jo Adams
WAIF Board of Directors
Bob Rupp, President
Dawn Ritter, Vice-President
John Thompson, Secretary
Cindy Wilbert, Treasurer
Merritt Atwood
Mona Galope
Deborah Jones
John Rohrer
2
WAIF Lead Staff
Charles Vreeland, Executive Director
Claire Creighton, Director of Major Gifts
Shari Bibich, Shelter Manager
Cinnamon O’Brien, Development & Communications Manager
Mary Anna Cummings, Oak Harbor Thrift Store Manager
Ampy Wilson, Freeland Thrift Store Manager
Bobby Bryant, BaRC Re-tail Manager
Tisa Seely, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator
Doug Bartleson, Database Administrator
What to Do When
Your Pet Goes
Missing
Nothing can be more upsetting than finding your pet
not at home or where you expect to find them. It’s a
sinking and frantic feeling when a pet goes missing
but where do you start? Sometimes people feel that
their pets will come back on their own but in the
interest of time, why not get the word out as soon as
possible? Using that method along with some basic
tools may help ease your mind when seeking a quick
reunion with your pet.
ID Tags and Microchipping
When you first adopt your pet, one of the first things
WAIF recommends is getting an ID tag for your pet.
This should include your pet’s name, your contact
information such as a phone number, and if you have
one, a microchip number. A microchip is a great
secondary means of protection but in order to be
effective it needs to be registered with the microchip
manufacturer. Since the microchip is inserted by a
veterinarian, they can guide you on how to register
the microchip properly. If the collar or ID tag falls
off your pet, microchipping is a great back-up plan
should your pet go missing. Some people forget that
the most important step in microchipping is the
registration. If you don’t register the chip, there’s no
information that will direct your pet back to you.
Licensing Your Pet
Licensing your pet is another helpful way to support
efforts to quickly bring home your pets. Not only
is it the law but it also quickly identifies (through a
license number) that your pet is up to date on rabies
vaccinations. Good Samaritans will be much more
likely to handle and temporarily care for your pet
if they know that it is healthy and up to date with
rabies vaccinations.
Licenses need to be renewed annually and the
fees typically range from $10 to $35 (for altered
or unaltered pets). Licenses are good only for the
calendar year in which they are purchased. For
example, if you purchase a license in January 2015,
the license expires December 2015. If you purchase
a license in November 2015, it will expire December
2015. Be sure to make it a resolution in the new year
to get your pet licensed!
For those on Whidbey Island and living outside the
city limits of Langley, Oak Harbor, and Coupeville,
WAIF introduced last year an online option to
receive licenses via postal mail. Visit www.pawzii.
com/waif to learn how simple it is to get your pet up
to date. For those living in the city limits of Langley,
Oak Harbor, and Coupeville, please visit www.
waifanimals.org/license to learn more and what fees
apply for your neck of the woods. In the City of Oak
Harbor, licenses are not only required for dogs but
for cats too.
Steps to Take in Locating Your Lost Pet
One of the most vital steps you can take in reuniting
with your pet is getting the word out within 24
hours. The following suggestions may not guarantee
success but your chances of a fast reunion will
greatly increase implementing any or all these
recommendations.
• Contact Animal Control. For those on the north
end of Whidbey (Oak Harbor & Coupeville),
call the non-emergency ICOM Dispatch line at
(360) 679-9567. For those residing in Greenbank,
Freeland, Langley, and Clinton, call (360) 3214400.
• Contact WAIF. Many people will take a lost dog
or cat to their local animal shelter and WAIF is
3
no exception. During our daily
business hours of 9am-4pm, call
(360) 678-8900 ext. 1100 so that
WAIF animal care staff can take
an official lost & found report
in order to assist in identifying
animals that come in or who
may already be in our care.
Strays are held for a minimum
of six days in Oak Harbor and
five days in Island County
before becoming available for
adoption. If your pet has been
found, don’t forget to let us
know so we can update our
records.
• Leave something with your
scent. This may work especially
with dogs. If you have an idea
of where they went missing,
consider placing a recently
worn item with some water
near by. If your dog is cratetrained, you may want to
consider leaving their crate out
with familiar bedding if there’s
a safe place to do so.
• Social media is your friend!
Spread the word through
social media. Facebook is a
4
where your pet went missing.
great tool where you can post
Many businesses have kiosk
a recent picture of your lost
boards and you’ll want to check
pet while providing a detailed
with them before posting.
description. You may even want
Bring a flyer to WAIF locations
to create a page specifically for
(along with calling in a lost
your lost pet. Ask your friends
report) and consider dropping
to share your post or page and
a flyer to local veterinary
spread the word. You can also
practices.
share the link on our Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/
• Use classifieds. Place an ad in
waif.animals. However, this
the “Lost and Found” section
does not negate the need to
of Craig’s List or consider
call WAIF to place a lost report.
placing a free classified in the
Facebook is a great tool but not
Whidbey Weekly for two weeks.
an official means of reporting
A picture can be included at a
your lost pet to WAIF.
small cost.
• Alert your neighbors and
• Keep an eye out. Visit WAIF’s
friends via email, phone, and
online APB (All Paws Bulletin)
in-person.
report at www.waifanimals.
• Posters and flyers. Make sure
org/waif-apb-report to view
you take recent photos of
who’s come into WAIF facilities
your pets should they become
as a lost or stray pet. You
missing. Include the most
can also visit www.groups.
yahoo.com/neo/groups/
recent photo(s) in your flyer
whidbeylostdogs/info to report
with a basic description and
a lost dog or if you’ve found
contact information. Keep it
a dog. If you’ve lost a dog in
simple with a large font for
the City of Oak Harbor, be sure
better readibility. If possible,
and visit their stray page on
you’ll want to put these up
right away and in proximity of
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
City-of-Oak-Harbor-Stray-PetPage. For a statewide source,
visit: lostfoundpetswastate.
com.
WAIF not only enjoys making
connections between shelter
animals and adopters, but also
keeping those connections by
reuniting owners and their pets.
WAIF makes every effort to quickly
faciliate reunions and the steps
above that you can take can greatly
increase the opportunity of a
happy reunion as well. Together
we can keep pets safe and home...
where they belong!
TRIBUTE DONATIONS
WAIF wishes to acknowledge gifts of honorary and memorial
contributions received between March 1, 2015 – August 31, 2015
IN HONOR OF
A – Anonymous - IHO Reo, Hobbes, Patricia Brooks
cat, Michelle Snyder B - Beverly Babson - IHO Hot
Dog, Lisa & Barry Bjork - IHO Don Wilkins, Verla &
William Boyd - IHO Chuck Stephens, Chrystyne Braaten
- IHO Cookie Ann & Tigger John, Patricia Bradshaw IHO Scooter C - John Charles - IHO Merritt Atwood,
Mary & Clarence Conkey - IHO Elspeta Wilson, Mary
Anna Cummings - IHO Win Stites D - Diane Danielson
- IHO Penny F - Stephen Fallquist - IHO Mae, Warren
& Susan Fessenden - IHO Lucas Fessenden, Darlene
French - IHO Mosa G - Kim Graves - IHO Girl Scout
Troop 40045 H - Peter & Barbara Halle - IHO Karen
Ekberg, Sharon Hannah - IHO Spunk, Loran & Susan
Haworth - IHO Chance, Beamar Huetter - IHO Kitty,
Andrew & Marianne Hunter - IHO Rocky & Addie J Rebecca Jabouri - IHO Izzy, Harry Jester - IHO Rain M
- Heather McCrea - IHO Win Stites, Donna Merryfield
- IHO Rex Rhoades O - Cynthia Ovrebo - IHO Greater
Twin Cities Doberman Pinscher Club P - Kenneth
Piercy - IHO Roberta Piercy, Morghan Piper - IHO
Adelais Kent, Patricia & Thomas Potter - IHO Thomas
Sullivan R - Matilda & Bob Rupp - IHO Bob & Cindy
Rupp S - Carol Scott - IHO WAIF Volunteers, Brian
Silkworth & Bill Colter - IHO Whidbey Colterworth,
Dorothy & William Simons - IHO WAIF Staff, Ann
Sullivan - IHO Shiba & Toby, Tom & Cathleen Sullivan IHO Black Bart T - Joyce Tighe - IHO Susie Thompson’s
Birthday V - Kathy Vandermeer - IHO Gage Y - Peter
& Lucy Yanz - IHO Grace Yanz
IN MEMORY OF
A - Mary Ann Anderson - IMO Patricia Hamer,
Charlynn Anema-Raimundi - IMO Jane Squires Hart
B - Nancy Baggott & Robert Johnson - IMO Shiloh,
Emie, Razza & Zap, Christl Barnett - IMO Alex &
Sabrina, Elaine Benning - IMO Jag, Ardeth Bolin - IMO
Winnie Shelton, Delores Bosse - IMO Rosie, Donna
Braunschweig - IMO Sharon (Coen) Veitenbeiner,
Margaret Burton - IMO Gary Westergard, Dennis
Bussell - IMO Ziggy C - Sally & Tom Cahill - IMO Ron
Buzard, Cameron Highlanders of the Northwest - IMO
Tammy Stillwell, Stella Canfield - IMO Midory Pratt,
Susan Carnan - IMO Kyler, Sandra Carrothers - IMO Curt
Bland, Patricia Christianson - IMO Patricia Hamers,
M’Lissa Christopherson - IMO Jonell Robinson, Richard
& Linda Clasen - IMO Molly Wooley Bear, Sheryl
Clough - IMO Snicker, Mary & Clarence Conkey - IMO
Natasha, Susan Countner - IMO Ron Buzard, Donald
Coyner - IMO Donald Wilkins, Mary Anna Cummings
- IMO Donna Stites D - Damaris Dean - IMO Winnie
Shelton, Judy & Robert Dewing - IMO Michelle our
Belle, Aubrey Diehl - IMO Ginger, James & Marilyn
Dobbins - IMO Curt Bland, Linda Dobbs & Marvin
Seelye - IMO Josh Merwine E - Patricia Eadie - IMO
Don Wilkins, Gail Eldred - IMO Bella, Oscar & Cindy,
Willida Elm - IMO Curtis Bland, Merilynn Erhart - IMO
Pat Hamers, NiMade Erickson - IMO Febri F - Daniel
Fooks - IMO Lucy & Pickles G - Candace Galik - IMO
Linus, Carol Gatewood - IMO Evan, Glenys Grimsdick
- IMO Jane Squires Hart, Dan & Wanda Grone - IMO
Austin, Dante & Lila H - Mary Anne Hanley - IMO
Winnie Hunziker Shelton, Allan & Diane Haven - IMO
our loved ones, Trixie Sue, Fonzie & Clemintine, Onee
Hedeen - IMO Katie, Terry Hee - IMO Daniel Love, Grant
& Jody Heiken - IMO Irvin, Jayne Helwig - IMO Patricia
Hamers, Jean Herzog & Donna O’Neill - IMO Joey,
Phyllis Hofkamp - IMO Jane Hart, Catherine J Holland
- IMO Cindie Marie Holland & Jennifer Arlene Holland,
Suzanne Huggins - IMO Reese, Renee Hulitar - IMO
Bijou Princess Pearly Girl, Julie Humling - IMO Zona
& Missy, Millicent Hunsperger - IMO Katie & Palama,
Roger Hunt - IMO Ron Buzard, Andrew & Marianne
Hunter - IMO Charlie J - Karen Jeffers - IMO Dixie, Erik
Jensen - IMO Winnie Shelton, Loretta Jones - IMO Pat
Hamers, Mike & Julie Joselyn - IMO Jeni AbercrombieCarswell K - Ronald Kerrigan - IMO Curt Bland, Eric
& Becky King - IMO Ross, Jodi & Monte Kittelson - IMO
Riley Stephenson, Karen Kohlwes - IMO Ron Buzard,
L - Judy Lancaster - IMO Bacca & Callie, Cristine
LeGassey - IMO Ron Buzard, Ed & Anne Lemke - IMO
Kyler & Pumpkin, Gene Lesneski - IMO Milton, Patricia
Looff - IMO Jane Hart, Paul & Cheryl Louder - IMO
Herbie & Beemer, Harry Lynam - IMO Snuggles M Terri Maupin - IMO Jane Squires Hart, Heather McCrea
- IMO Donna Stites, James & Betty McKenzie - IMO
Dagny, Rebecca Murlless - IMO Cousteau & Molly Nims,
Leigh Mussay - IMO Sammy Stadler, My Tribute Gift
Foundation Inc - IMO Jonell Robinson
N - Darryl Newell - IMO Curtis Bland, Sandra Noel IMO Yvonne Billera, Ruth & Don Nowak - IMO Katie
P - Christopher Panfil - IMO Patricia Hamers, Carol
& Dennis Parbs - IMO Cathie & Jan, Kristina & Norm
Paulsen - IMO Uncle Mike, Paula Pelton - IMO Sweet
Kai, George S Penwell - IMO Sunshine, Periwinkle
Press - IMO Gerry Smith & Jo Anne Lawrence, Anne
Peterson - IMO Shirley Lotzgesell, Clyde Pitcher, Jr.
continued on page 6
yOdel
Yodel is a little on the shy side
with new people. With people
he knows, he is a quiet kitty who
loves to be held and petted. He
has been known to occasionally
give a gentle love bite. He’s in
need of a special diet to maintain his urinary tract health but
the extra attention you give to
his care, he’ll no doubt return
the love over and over again.
Yodel is currently at our new
shelter in Coupeville waiting
to make your acquaintance!
Visit his online profile at: bit.ly/
waifyodel
Short on cash but
long on heart?
Leave a legacy!
If you have mentioned WAIF
in your estate plans, please
let us know. We would love
the opportunity to thank you
now!
For more information on
how to include WAIF in your
estate planning, please
contact Claire by phone at
(360) 678-8910 or by email at
clairec@waifanimals.org
5
continued from cover
it was a distant dream but you can
never underestimate the passion
of animal lovers to make things
happen! For Whidbey Island’s
animal community, the shelter is a
true testament to perseverance and
“dogged” determination to make
the dream of a new shelter a reality.
Though the new facility is located
across the highway from our old
shelter (less than 1000 feet away),
it feels like a different world. We
The Ellery Cramer Family Animal Shelter is now open and ready for WAIF
adoptions!
invite you to see for yourself at
60 Rhododendron Park Road in
Coupeville during our adoption
hours of Wed-Sun, 12pm-4pm. You
never know, you might find a new
forever friend to welcome home!
Daughters Kimberly Dyer and Betsy Richard with their mother Ellery Cramer
standing in front of the new shelter entrance.
continued from page 5
paOla
and
perlA
Paola and Perla are a tsunami of cuteness! This pair came in together
as strays after being found in the Mutiny Bay area. Believed to be
terrier mixes, Perla (black and white) is larger at 31 pounds compared
to Paola at 17 lb. Paola is rather shy with new people but warms up
nicely after getting acquainted and realizing she is among friends.
Perla is very friendly, outgoing, and playful. These gals need to be
adopted together into the same forever home without small children.
Will it be yours? Visit them at our new shelter in Coupeville and make
a connection! Visit their online profiles to learn more: bit.ly/waifperla
and bit.ly/waifpaola
6
- IMO Jane Hart, Gary Preder - IMO Loraine Arthur,
Richard Proctor - IMO Melrose Olson R - Jan Reck IMO Cheerios & Michelle, Victoria Reid - IMO Ronald
A Buzard, Jo Rigney - IMO Toob, Althea Riley - IMO
Winnie Shelton, Rosie Roberts - IMO Winnie Shelton,
Kathleen Rockefeller - IMO Lucky & Sugar Ray, Doris
Roush - IMO Buddy the good boy S - Sandra Scandrett
- IMO Leroy & Buddy, Judye Scheidt - IMO Albert
Bisig, Martha Schlenk - IMO Curtis Bland, Vicki & DM
Shininger - IMO Gary Westergard, Ginny Sickles - IMO
Evan, William Simon & Laurel Booth - IMO Shari Booth,
Al & Sharon Sloan - IMO Ross, Patty Smith - IMO Tahoe,
Ashley, Kasey, Ewok & Sarah, Nanik Subeno - IMO Duke
Johnston, Tom & Cathleen Sullivan - IMO Bob Tucker
T - Gary Tharjer - IMO Mokey, August Tuit - IMO Curtis
Bland V - Tomi Vickers - IMO Milton & Phoebe W
- Lorraine Weatherby - IMO Tasha Weatherby, Nancy
Welch - IMO Pat Hamers, Joanne White - IMO Pepper,
Brenda Wilbur - IMO Tumwater, LaVonne & Douglas
Wood - IMO Sara Z - Angela Zink - IMO PJ, Riff, Zeek,
Max & Sam
Special Meow-Out!
We want to give a special “meow-out” to WAIF
supporters Linda Postenrieder and Donna
Hinshaw for their generous donation of several
cat items to furnish all the cat community
rooms and play rooms at the new shelter.
It didn’t take long for the cats to enjoy (and
attack) the scratching posts and trees, play
cubes, toys, and cat beds. In fact, they rented
a U-Haul to bring all these great items to the
new shelter. Thank you, Linda and Donna, for
making WAIF cats feel wanted and loved while
they wait for their forever homes.
Grizz
Grizz is a very sweet and big adolescent with a tremendous
amount of love to give. Due to his exuberant nature, he
prefers to be the one and only in an adult home with or
without teenage children. Even though he’s a quick-learner
and has responded well to training at the shelter, an
experienced dog family would be the perfect fit to continue
his dog obedience education in order to put his best paw
forward.
He’s eager to please and wants to make you proud! Visit
with him at our new shelter in Coupeville during our
adoption hours of Wednesday-Sunday 12pm-4pm. More
pictures of Grizz can be found here: bit.ly/waifgrizz
sweety
Sweety is an eight year old tabby who came to the shelter after her
owner moved to a retirement home. She is a quiet kitty who is also
described as curious and easygoing. At the shelter, she has shown a
bit of catitude from time to time and we’re not sure how much of this
is because of the unfamiliar surroundings and being around so many
other cats. Sweety has always lived indoors only and is in need of a
quiet indoor home. Visit with her at our new shelter in Coupeville and
view more pictures of her on her online profile: bit.ly/waifsweety
7
PO Box 1108
Coupeville, WA 98239
NONPROFIT
US POSTAGE
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
PAID
COUPEVILLE WA
PERMIT NO 30
WAIF ANIMAL
LOCATIONS
Adoption Hours
WAIF RETAIL
Hours of Operation
Wed-Sun 12pm-4pm
WAIF Ellery Cramer Family Animal Shelter
60 Rhododendron Park Rd • (360) 678-8900 x1100
WAIF Freeland Cat Adoption Center
1801 B Scott Rd • (360) 321-WAIF (9243) x1700
WAIF Oak Harbor Cat Adoption Center
50 NE Midway Blvd • (360) 678-8900 x1300
City of Oak Harbor Holding Facility
Call for hours • (360) 279-0829
(Lost and stray services only. No adoptions.)
Mon - Sat 10am-5pm*
Sun 12pm-4pm
Donation Hours
Mon-Sat 11am-4pm
WAIF Oak Harbor Thrift Store
50 NE Midway Blvd • (360) 678-8900 x1400
WAIF Freeland Thrift Store
1660 Roberta Ave • (360) 321-WAIF (9243) x1600
BaRC Re-tail in Coupeville
20018 SR 20 • (360) 678-8900 x1800
*(BaRC open only Mon-Sat 10am-5pm)
Support WAIF animals online at:
www.waifanimals.org/support
Interested in volunteering?
We’d love to hear from you!
P: (360) 678-8900 x1111
E: waifvc@whidbey.net