RCHS Flyer - Rutland County Humane Society

FOURPAWS
FLYER
Rutland County Humane Society
Fall 2011
765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT
802-483-6700
www.rchsvt.org
Camp Furry Friends
RCHS took an exciting step toward fulfilling its mission of
“offering community programs that benefit both animals
and people” this summer. The little brown building next to
the RCHS shelter, normally home only to extra supplies
and a couple of field mice, was alive with activity the last
week of July as twelve 9-11 year olds took part in Camp
Furry Friends, a humane education summer camp.
RCHS Staff member, Julie Merwin instructs
campers on an art project
Campers and Maddie assemble to say goodbye to
camp Furry Friends
The idea of offering a humane education camp has been on
the back burner at RCHS for several years. Since the
shelter renovations in 2010, we were able to move forward
with the idea as the building that formerly housed the
business office became available to us. The camp’s curriculum was developed over the winter and spring through
the combined efforts of RCHS staff and a handful of dedicated volunteers: Jenny Parker, Marc Meile, Rhoda Butler, and Marielle Blais.
During the one-week camp, RCHS staff and volunteers
helped the kids learn about responsible pet care, developing empathy, clicker training, careers helping animals,
and the importance of spay/neuter. Campers enjoyed art
projects, visits with resident shelter animals, snacks, and
lots of kisses from Maddie, an RCHS alumna and recognized therapy dog.
RCHS will be offering expanded summer camp opportunities in 2012 so please keep your eyes open! If you are an
educator, or have experience working with middle-schoolaged children, and are interested in volunteering, please
contact Jessica@rchsvt.org.
“We looked! And we saw him! The Cat in the Hat! And he said to us, “Why do you sit there like that?” I know
it is wet and the sun is not sunny. But we can have lots of good fun that is funny!”
Keep your eyes open as the Cat in the Hat and the RCHS staff have fun and do good during the
week of September 14-18. We have challenged ourselves: 5 days to adopt out 50 of the more
than 120 adult cats that have entered our shelter this summer.
Stay tuned!
PAGE 2
F O UR PA WS F LYE R
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Tim Bergendahl, 67 years young and a retired computer scientist, joined RCHS as a volunteer in April 2011. He is recently
semi-retired to Rutland from the greater Boston area and currently owns and operates a nanotechnology consulting firm.
He was inspired to start volunteering in late 2010 when he
adopted a stray tuxedo cat named Samantha. Samantha, already known to Tim as Harlequin, had been a frequent visitor to
the Rutland neighborhood where he lives before she vanished in
August 2010. Upon learning Harlequin/Samantha might be at
the RCHS shelter, Tim paid a visit to identify the long-haired
tuxedo cat. While he wound up taking her home, he couldn’t
forget the other animals he had seen at the Stevens Road shelter. Several months later he attended a volunteer orientation.
Tim’s skills as a carpenter have benefitted the shelter animals as much as his personal attention to
them. In particular, he recalls a time when he was asked to help repair a gate for one of the dogs’ outside exercise yards. He explained, “Within about 45 minutes, the gate door was securely back in
place and ready for canine visitors. An hour or so later, as I was driving out of the shelter's parking
lot, I saw two dogs in the exercise area I had just repaired and made available for them. That had a
great impact on me, demonstrating that I could do things for the pets that might have long-term
benefits.”
About a Dog named Hunter
One of the things that has always fascinated me is the ability of dogs to trust and love after the most
terrible experiences. This is a story that demonstrates how true this is. A donation was received in
memory of a dog who had recently passed away. Along with the check was a note from his owner, Joan
Brown, that read:
“We are giving this in memory of our Walker-hound, Hunter, who died last Friday. Our son and his
friend found him seven years ago in a leg hold trap behind our house. The poor dog had been running
wild all winter long and was so emaciated.
Hunter, being wild, was ill mannered, scared and a bit aggressive because of it. But in the last years of
his life he slept on a bed, went to our work part time and day-care the other days and lived amongst 4
cats. He actually would smile when he greeted us and was loved dearly. He loved us unconditionally.
Although he wasn’t an RCHS dog he still very much needed a home and family.”
Here at RCHS we see many dogs like Hunter. Their stories have sad beginnings and happy endings.
While Hunter was given the home he deserved, he also obviously gave back to his family.
F O UR PA WS F LYE R
American Shelter Dogs
PAGE 3
Gretchen Goodman
Devi came into the shelter as a stray. We looked at her. We looked
at her again, and again, and again. We kept looking at her while
she was with us. None of us could really come up with any clear
idea of what breeds came together in Devi. At times we thought
Terrier, Border Collie, Dachshund, and several other breeds. In the
end, she was adopted because of her size and personality, not because of her breed. Devi’s case was a perfect example of how hard
it is to determine the breed of a shelter dog.
Studies have shown that, despite shelter staffers’ experience and
knowledge of dogs, when DNA tests are done, we rarely get it right.
Veterinarians who volunteer at the shelter are often asked for their
best guess of a dog’s breed(s). We find that if you ask 5 veterinarians what breed they think the dog is, you get 5 different answers. We have heard of people who have
tested the DNA of their mixed breed dog and been completely surprised by the answer. It is important
to note that many of today’s breeds long ago descended from mixing other breeds, and that the test used
may be influenced by that history.
Why does this matter? Because many dogs are passed over by potential adopters when they see a breed
designation that doesn’t appeal to them. They may walk by a kennel without a look. In fact the dog in
question may not have any of the cage card’s breed designation in his genetic background. What a disservice this can be to some great dogs.
Because of these studies, a few shelters are no longer using breed designations. Instead the term
“American Shelter Dog” is being used with a description of color, size, and temperament. Devi would
have been listed as a medium-sized brown American Shelter Dog who is a bit introverted but affectionate, quiet, and easygoing.
The designation of American Shelter Dog compares with shelter cats’ “breed” designations of Domestic
Short, Medium, or Long Hair. These terms are used when in fact we may have Maine Coon, Siamese,
Persian, and who knows what breeds mixed together in any given cat.
Petfinder – the most used pet adoption search database – requires breed specification in the listing, so
popularizing the term American Shelter Dog will take time. Personally, I like it so much that my dog, an
RCHS alumna thought to be a Border Collie Mix, is now an official American Shelter Dog when people
ask about her breed.
Wiggles and Wags
Wind Riders 4-H Club
Three Tomatoes Trattoria
Rosie's Girls
Rutland Town School
Mill River Union High School
Yard Sale Donors and Shoppers
Holly & Mitch Ferguson
RCHS Volunteers at many events this Spring and
Summer
Steven Wilson
Darbi’s Home Services
Rachel Horn
Dunkin Donuts/Donuts of Rutland
Ali Jones
Wiles Family
West Rutland Girl Scout Troop 30019
Ilma Rosskopf
Abbie Foley, John Foley & Ethan Gaiotti
Colby Atwood
Chalynne Colomb
Rutland High School Art Club
PAGE 4
F O UR PA WS F LYE R
Teddy
Trot
Lunker
Jed
Gizmo
Camilla
Otis
Sal & Mergie
Rocco
Sandy
Dixie
Scottie and Julius
Callie
Domy
Socks
RCHS ALUMNI
F O UR PA WS F LYE R
PAGE 5
EVENTS
Killington Dog Days Benefitting RCHS A Great Success!
Dogs, Frisbees, music, games, vendors, demonstrations, and more
dogs made Killington Dog Days benefitting RCHS a fun and successful weekend for all! Everyone enjoyed watching the Skyhoundz and
UFO Frisbee competitions, as well as participating in the RCHS
games (50 paw dash is always a favorite), watching agility and dancing demonstrations, visiting with vendors and non-profits, and having a great time with their favorite canines. Our thanks to sponsors
PETCO and Mix 98.1, along with our vendors, for making the event
possible. A special thanks to the Killington Office of Tourism and
Economic Development and our RCHS Volunteers for all of their
hard work in making the weekend a reality.
Clockwise, starting
above: 50 paw dash,
Look-alike Contest
and Barrel Racing at
Killington Dog Days
Duck Derby!
The ducks in our annual Duck Derby made a race to the finish with our largest paddling ever making their way downstream! Low water levels in Killington forced us to find a
new location. And that we did, on Route 4, in a wide stretch
of the river with lots of rocks and fast water. But all of our
ducks made it to the finish. Our first four ducks (duck
numbers 181, 813, 126, and 728) won cash prizes as did our
last duck (a very tired 183). Our thanks to all of our
“adoptive parents” as well as our volunteers who helped
them along their journey and captured everyone as they
crossed the finish line!
The cats at RCHS have two rooms
in which they live while awaiting
adoption. Many of them like to
find a spot to get away from the
others from time to time.
The check-out line was long, but our yard
sale customers agreed it was worth the
wait. RCHS raised almost $3,000. Thank
you to all who donated merchandise and
our shoppers.
Rosie’s Girls Summer Program of
Rutland built these adorable cat
boxes for our community cat rooms
and 5 raised dog feeders.
As this newsletter went to press
we have over 150 cats in our
custody. Please, if you have room
in your heart and home, consider
adopting an adult cat from RCHS.
Doing the Numbers
April
Incoming: 97
Outgoing: 75
Placement: 81%
May
Incoming: 119
Outgoing: 87
Placement: 87%
June
Incoming: 153
Outgoing: 146
Placement: 82%
July
Incoming: 144
Outgoing: 116
Placement: 79%
PAGE 6
F O UR PA WS F LYE R
Lesli's Leash Lines
Lesli Hyland
It was January 1998 when a young female dog came seeking shelter at RCHS. She was a caricature of a dog — long ears, wide eyes, and a huge belly. We dubbed her "Goat." (Honestly, she
looked like a well-fed Nubian goat!). Goat was heavy with puppies, so I took her home to foster
her, and 10 days later she gave birth to 9 crazy-colored pups on January 15, 1998. Goat was
scared and confused, not understanding what these tiny, mewling beings wanted from
her. Eventually, the mommy hormones kicked in and she raised the pups as well as a young dog
could. She was barely out of puppyhood herself.
One of her pups stayed with me permanently and grew to be
my friend, my agility partner, and the love of my life. Pogo is
13 years old now. Goat was adopted by my folks in Massachusetts. Mom softened her name, calling her Gillie (get
it? Gillie Goat?), but my Dad called her Goatie. Gillie Goat
was walked twice a day for 13 years. Rain, shine, or snow,
my Mother walked her in the morning and my Dad in the evening. They walked down to the coffee shop, around the town
common, and later in Gillie's life, simply around the
block. Gillie was a pro at Flexi leash manners, learning to go
around obstacles to one side or the other on command. She
was able to run off-leash at Dean Junior College's athletic
field. She learned tricks, had fantastic house manners, and
was a good companion for my parents.
Gillie died this past week after a long, gradual decline in health. We estimate that she was close
to 15 years old. There is nothing about Gillie's life that is exceptionally noteworthy. She never
saved anyone from a burning building or won any ribbons or became a therapy dog. She was
simply a good dog, and we loved her, and the world is a lesser place without her. Gillie Goat's
legacy is her presence in our memories. Fourteen years of memories would've been completely
different without her in our family.
My thoughts go out to my parents and my brother.
Perhaps there is another dog out there somewhere waiting to make more memories . . .
Beth Saradarian accepts a check from the Wind Riders 4H
Club who raised money to help the animals at RCHS.
Carris Reels Charitable Giving Committee visits kittens
while presenting a check for $1,000 to Beth Saradarian,
Director of Outreach for RCHS.
F O UR PA WS F LYE R
PAGE 7
MONEY HAS BEEN DONATED IN MEMORY OF
THE FOLLOWING ANIMALS:
Cosmo Collins
Katie Cooley
Bear Crawley
Kiwi Desforges
Sam Drinwater
Katie Andras
Mandy Firliet
Peter Arel
Chubbs Fowler
Mr. Iffy Austin
Pheobe Barrett-Larson Betsy Neptune Gillen
Blackman
Wild Fire Hanselman
Prince Blackwood
Lou Harvey
Brusier
Fluffy Heibler
Cinnamon Brown
Cody Hotaling
Hunter Brown
Max Howard
Samantha Brown
Nico Jones
Bobcat Christian
Minnie Ketchen
Phil Collette
Nina Kimball
Andi Marconi
Barney Marden
Smokey Martin
Nez McCoy-Jacien
McGuyver & Gambler
Fluffy & Ziggy Melen
Toby Owens
Sammy Peters
Ozzy Resetar-Humphries
Ginger Roberts
Timmy Roberts
Andy Saradarian
Etta Savageau
Luna Schuft
Brusier Smith
Smokey & Travi
Darling Smyrski
Koda Solari
Harley & Moose Spaulding
Bob Stahle
Bohdi Stewart
Rusty & Tuffy Tracey
Lady Indigo Turner
Troubador
Whisper Underwood
Pebbles West
Harvey Fenway &
Mardi West
Nala Witt
Pokey Wright
Boomie Valley-Dwyer
MONEY HAS BEEN DONATED IN MEMORY OF
THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:
Jean Brien
Reginald Goddard
Jeanne Petty
Suzanne Brough
Sonya M. King
John G. Potter
Raymond B. Corliss
Joyce LaPlante
Margaret J. Spaulding
Joyce Ainslie
Shirley Corliss
Gary LaRose
Richard Stack
Betty Alger
Brian C. DeLance Sr.
Loraine Duncan
Leona McKearin
Raymond J. Tanner Sr.
Edwin Anderson
Ernestine French
Ruth E. Benham
Jonny Jay Parent
Lois J. LaFrance
MONEY HAS BEEN DONATED IN
HONOR OF THE FOLLOWING
PEOPLE:
Karen Bratland & Dee Krzynski
Ernest Clerihew
Kathleen Entinger
Nicholas Menduni
Larry Lattanzi
Susi Taylor
Dawn McCormack
Teddy & Chip
Dr. Scott McLaughlin
Dr. John & Dayle Wheeler
Dr. Kris Smith
Steven Wilson
Kim Rezk
Zak Missie Suzie & Pufferina
Carol Smith
Fall Safety Tips for Pets
Although Vermont passed a law requiring a bittering agent be added to antifreeze it didn’t take effect until 2011. There is
still some of the older chemical around so be careful of spills because animals are attracted to the sweet taste.
With Halloween coming up remember that candy and the wrappings can make your pet sick. Also be careful of your pet
running out the door as it opens for Trick or Treaters.
Rodenticides (Rat poison) attract mice and rats but may also attract your pets – use wisely and protect your pet.
Human Medications top the list of accidental poisonings of animals. Over the counter drugs like ibuprofen can be extremely toxic to animals so use and store safely. Also to be avoided are sugar free candy and chewing gum containing
xylitol.
Large quantities of garlic and onions can also cause problems. Keep your dog from eating wild mushrooms, most will be
harmless but the 1% that aren’t can be lethal. Grapes and raisins are also to be avoided.
Your veterinarian can provide information on keeping your pet safe and treating a pet that has eaten something he or
she shouldn’t have. Don’t wait, at the first suspicion of a problem call your veterinarian.
Calendar of Events: Please check out the News & Events page on our website (rchsvt.org/newsevents) for more events as they come up throughout the winter & early spring.
3rd Annual Dock Diving at the Lake House Pub & Grille, Sunday, September 25 at noon – Join us for a splashing good
time at the Lake House Pub & Grille on Lake Bomoseen for a dock-diving competition to benefit RCHS. Registration begins at 11 a.m., practice jumps start at noon, and competition starts around 1 p.m. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place longest jumps as well as biggest splash and most comical! Fun for everyone! Check our website at www.rchsvt.org for more
details.
Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, October 2 at 2 pm – In honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint
of animals, please join RCHS and Reverend Lee Crawford of Trinity Episcopal Church for the Blessing of the Animals. It
will be held at the shelter on Stevens Road in Pittsford and all are welcome! Bring your pet or a picture of your pet for a
special blessing. All dogs must be on leashes and cats and other pets in safe carriers. Visit www.rchsvt.org for more
information.
11th Annual Golf Tournament, Friday, October 7 – A great day of golf can have lasting benefits for the animals in our
care. Enjoy a day on the course, compete for prizes, and enjoy an after golf banquet. To register or become a sponsor
please contact the RCHS Business Office at 802-483-9171 or visit www.rchsvt.org Join us this year and see how much
fun a good deed can be!
Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament, Saturday, November 19 – RCHS is hosting a Texas Hold’em to raise funds for the
animals in our care Saturday, November 19 at Bowlerama in Rutland. Visit www.vtpokerleague.com for more details.
RCHS Board of Directors:
Phyllis McCoy-Jacien, President
Linda Dukeshire, Vice President
Mei Mei Brown, Vice President
Amanda Gearwar, Treasurer
Christi Koch, Secretary
Bill Burke
Susan Englese
Rob Macpherson, DVM
Darcy Nelson
Dave Yendell
Staff :
Gretchen Goodman, Executive Director
Jessica Danyow, Director of Operations
Beth Saradarian, Director of Outreach
and Special Events
Erin Predom, Administrative Assistant
Susan Smith, Adoption Center
Coordinator
Cheyeane Crossman, Health Technician
Phone: 802-483-9171 Fax: 802-483-6342
RCHS@RCHSVT.org
765 Stevens Road
Pittsford, VT 05763
Animal Care Technicians:
Julie Merwin
Bethany Bushman
Lisa Henry
Adoption/Intake Counselor:
Robin Smith Poirier
Non-profit Org.
U.S.POSTAGE
PAID
Pittsford, VT
Permit #6