spring 2015 - McKamey Animal Center

SPRING/SUMMER 2015
Editor:
Mimi Jones Hedwig
Production by:
Digitone Graphics
www.digitonegraphics.com
423.855.3979
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~Anatole France
It’s all about the pets, the people, and our
passion for their safety and welfare.
Upcoming Events
By Jamie McAloon, Executive Director
Visit our website
www.mckameyanimalcenter.org
for updates on these and
additional events.
The past few months of bitter cold were a challenge for the people in our city who struggled
to buy food and keep the heat on. But, it was even more brutal for those who had no home
or lived in homeless camps under bridges or in tents. Did you know that even the most
disadvantaged people who own pets often love their animals so deeply they will sacrifice a
warm shelter to stay with that pet even in the most bitter cold temperatures? We met quite
a few this past winter.
Mud Run
April 11,
sponsored by Red Towers
Entertainment.
A 5K obstacle Mud Run will be
held at Old McDonald Farm,
16705 Coulterville Rd.,
Sale Creek
An estimated 23 million pets in the United States are in homes where their caretakers live at
or below the poverty level. Over 80 percent of those animals are without access to veterinary
care. It’s not because the owners don’t want
their pet to see a veterinarian or because they
don’t love their pets. It’s because there is a huge
divide between what these pet owners want and
what they are able to afford. It doesn’t make
them bad caretakers-- just disadvantaged
caretakers.
Adoption Event
April 18,
Northwest Georgia Bank
Humanitarian Awards
April 23
(see article on page 7)
Yappy Mile
Red Bank Jubilee,
May 2
Belk’s Northgate
“Dogs Do the Catwalk,”
May 3
The McKamey Angel Fund Program addresses
these situations by bringing veterinary care and
services to needy people and pets they love.
We’re going into some of the city’s most underserved neighborhoods with vaccines, volunteer
veterinarians, and spay and neuter programs.
By bringing services to underserved neighborMcKamey Triage Supervisor Jazzmyn Carter
hoods, we are working to cut down on the
(left) and volunteer veterinarian Dr. Angelika
number of homeless dogs and cats coming into
Lingl examine a puppy
our shelter and to bring a better quality of life
for the animals themselves, thus ensuring they can remain with the ones who love them.
We sheltered dozens of animals from homeless owners,
medical emergency patients and hospice patients, and
4500 North Access Road
provided temporary care to pets during the coldest days
Chattanooga, TN 37415
of the winter.
423-305-6500
We’re focusing on the pet owners below the poverty
Adoption Hours:
level who are without pet care resources. Our teams of
staff and volunteers go door to door and often provide
Tues.,Wed., Fri., Sat., Sun.
transportation for the dogs and cats to their
11 am- 5:30 pm
spay-and-neuter and veterinary appointments.
Thurs 11 am-7 pm
(continued on next page)
Closed Monday
IMALS
P THE AN
NGEL! HEL
BE AN A
We aren’t in it for the short haul—we’re maintaining a strong
presence in these neighborhoods.
McKamey was there when the request came in for temporary
shelter for 15-year-old cat whose owner was living in a homeless
shelter and struggling to care for his cat by keeping it in his car.
But when the temperature plunged below 20 degrees,
McKamey got the call to shelter the cat for several days until the
owner could retrieve him. All he needed was a few days of help.
The Angel Fund is asking the same of you—we need your help
to ensure that we are there for those who turn to us in their hour
of greatest need. Please support the vital programs of the Angel
Fund.
The holidays were a happy whirl at the Center. On December
19th the Holiday All-Nighter brought hordes of adoptive
families to the Center, and 86 animals went home that night
between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m.! Also, our “Home Fur the Holidays”
program, which placed 25 animals in temporary foster
homes between December 21st and January 5th,
resulted in 21 permanent adoptions.
- Jamie
McKamey News
We played Cupid with a Valentine adoption event
that made loving matches between 48 pets and new
families.
Our homeless outreach program, described on the
front page, continues to provide veterinary services to
needy pet owners. Also, McKamey’s Animal Control
Officers have been conducting goodwill missions in
our city’s underserved neighborhoods. With the help
of volunteers, officers distribute pet goody bags, food,
dog houses and straw bales for warmth. They talk with
people to hear their concerns and inform them about
the many services McKamey offers to low-income pet
owners.
Some of our Furry Valentines
2
THE NEWSLETTER OF MCKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER • SPRING/SUMMER 2015
McKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER:
FIGHTING ANIMAL CRUELTY
Animal Hoarding Operations Broken Up
McKamey Animal Center has requested 11 counts of
aggravated animal cruelty against Geoffrey Peterson and
Sheila Peterson. Seven emaciated dogs and the remains
of a deceased dog were removed from their Hixson
residence on December 23, 2014. The dogs were
discovered in several areas of the house, including the
cellar, in what appeared to be dungeon-like rooms with
no light, no ventilation, and boarded up windows.
Additional dogs
were impounded
at Holistic Health
Care, a business
managed by
Peterson.
On December 19,
2014, Geoffrey
Peterson was
arrested by the
Sequatchie
County Sheriff's
Office after they,
in conjunction
with the
Tennessee chapter
of the Humane
Society of the United States, raided Peterson’s house at
240 Austin Road in Dunlap, and removed more than 50
dogs, several cats, a parrot, and a goat that were found
in deplorable conditions. Peterson turned himself in to
the Sequatchie County Sheriff's office on March 1, 2015,
after failing to appear at his court date relating to the
December 19 charges.
McKamey Animal Center and the Humane Education
Society both assisted the HSUS by housing dozens of
these animals. McKamey has also provided veterinary
care to many of the dogs taken from the Dunlap house,
Peterson's businesses, a veterinary hospital, and the
Hixson residence. McKamey has requested that
warrants be served on the Petersons in connection with
the Hamilton County animals, but to date no warrants
have been issued. The decision to seek arrest warrants
against the Petersons rests with District Attorney
General Neal Pinkston of the Hamilton County District
Attorney’s Office.
Starving Horses Rescued
Acting on a complaint of abuse and neglect, McKamey
Animal Field Officers investigated starving horses
housed at 3019
Dodson Street,
inside the city
limits, in
December 2014.
There were at
least ten horses
on the property.
McKamey
removed three
horses in the
worst condition
to administer
emergency
veterinary care.
One of the
animals had to
be euthanized
the following day due to its emaciated state. The two
surviving horses are recovering in foster care and will be
placed for adoption when fully recovered.
Kenneth Jones and Michael Henderson, who claim to
own Urban Rescue Riders - a group that professes to
teach at-risk youth how to ride and groom horses -stated there was nothing wrong with the horses.
Officials described the environment as a small parking
lot covered with manure and urine. The three horses in
the worst condition were relinquished by their owners,
and all other horses were relocated to a farm out of
state. Chattanooga Police assisted in the removal of the
animals. The case is pending, awaiting follow-up
investigation.
THE NEWSLETTER OF MCKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER • SPRING/SUMMER 2015
3
IN HONOR AND IN MEMORY...
In Honor of Allie and Heinz Simon
“Merry Christmas” - John & Lee Parham
In Honor of Bob McKamey for his 80th
birthday
- Bruce & Faith Baird
In Honor of Brian & Kay McLean
- Paul Gable & family
In Honor of Campbell
- Kelsey & Will Vidal
In Honor of Carol Goodman: “In honor and
recognition of her commitment and leadership.
Her love for the animals has always been her
primary motivation to be a McKamey volunteer
and supporter. A treasure.”
- Barbara and Bill Bowel
In Honor of Chrissy Radcliffe
- Gregory Howard
In Honor of Delaney Kieu
“We love you and love that you have such a huge
heart for animals. Happy Birthday Laney!” Burke & Sharon Nelson; “In honor of Delaney’s
10th birthday” - Katrina and Chyna Clark
In Honor of Dr. JM Craven
- Mrs. Jay Craven
In Honor of Evelyn Davis
- The Cupp family
In Honor of Gary Cummings
- Service Max
In Honor of Jake & Gracie
- Walt & Desiree Hodges
In Honor of Jean Hatch
- Harriet New, Virginia McPherson
In Honor of Kay Baker for her birthday
- “Mom and Dad” Joyce Baker
In Honor of Kristen & Dwayne Swanson
- Douglas Jones
In Honor of Lee Towery on her birthday
- Marie Chinery
In Honor of Lily Guest: “A Joy”
- Lynn Carroll
In Honor of Liz & Scrappy Moore: “Befriended
and cared for more animals than we could ever
count!” - Sandra Weeks
In Honor of Mimi Jones Hedwig: “Merry
Christmas to you and all your dog friends!” Marcus Hedwig
In Honor of Sumanote Bunnag for Christmas
- Ampaporn Mattox
4
In Memory of Audrey Ottley
- Abbie & Shirley Keyes; Dewayne B.
McCamish; Howard & Sherry Snead; Laurel
Niemeyer; Signal Mountain Pickleball Club
In Memory of Betty Pratt: “Lover of dogs”
- Ernest & Cynthia Fritz
In Memory of Blake Doran
- Laura Ann Ferguson
In Memory of Darlene Smith Cranfield
- Shirley Moseley
In Memory of Eleanor “Queenie” Wyatt
McCallie
- Dana Shavin
In Memory of Frances Hardy
“With love to you and in memory of your mom’s
love of the animals, especially Minerva” – Dana
Shavin, Daryl Thetford & Theo; Maggie &
Will Greene
In Memory of Henry, beloved beagle
- Adele Jones
In Memory of Hanna Owen
-Adam & Emily Owen
In Memory of Bob Kendall
-Kelley Tate
In Memory of Jack Benson
- Elaine & Todd Patterson; Spears, Moore,
Rebman & Williams; Dan Johnson
In Memory of James Couch
- John & Lee Parham; ABF Class of Florence
Baptist Church
In Memory of Luther Massengill
- Janice Wardlow; Gwynne Demoss
In Memory of Maggie
- Takisha Haynie
In Memory of Maggie Berg
- Mary Berg
In Memory of Margot Hernandez
- The Pierce Family
In Memory of Mary Dubé
- Patricia West; Georgianna Yurjevic; Frederick
Campbell; Sue Sutkus; Margaret Huber; Arthur
Batson; Jean Forgues
In Memory of Mattie & Teddy
- Margo & Poncho Sanhueza
In Memory of Muffin Bachus
- Stephanie, Alex & Coco Lehman
In Memory of Pete Faulkner
- Linda Faulkner
In Memory of Petey, Sam, TuffStuff, Marty &
Garfunkel
- Julia Dupre
In Memory of Rex Young
- Charles & Linda Lindsay; Chanda Pepping
In Memory of Richard Miles
- Cindy Wood
In Memory of Robert Crawford:
“We will surely miss him” - Bill & Betty Johnson
In Memory of Ronda Womble
- Jim & Lisa Stanley, The Corporate Governance
Team at BCBSTn; Artistic Color Graphics;
Jenny, Nathan, Caden & Finley Taylor; “In
loving memory” - Erin Creal; Autumn Clark;
Christine Bernard; James Orr; Friends and
Coworkers at Unum Print and D.; Microtonix
Inc.
In Memory of Sybil Card
- John Richardson
In Memory of William P. Ewton & Baily
Ewton
- Sam & Dottie Jones
In Memory of William Bilbrey
- Patty Grougan
Officer Tiffany
Newcomb,
Director of MAC
Field Services
with a victim of
the Dunlap
animal hording
case (story on
page 3)
THE NEWSLETTER OF MCKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER • SPRING/SUMMER 2015
M cK a m e y P e o p l e
THE CAT LADY
Katie Christie, McKamey’s Feline Supervisor
McKamey’s cat quarters are serene and softly lit, and usually the only sound
comes from a CD of bird songs. But don’t let the peaceful atmosphere deceive
you: this is a busy place. Katie Christie and her team of three other cat
caretakers have their hands
full, especially during the
spring and summer, peak
cat-breeding times. Then
the shelter houses as many
as 300 cats and kittens.
Katie started at McKamey
as a volunteer cat cuddler,
then moved to adoptions
and finally joined the staff.
She and her team assess
every cat’s health and
temperament so that
adoptive families know that
they’re getting a healthy pet
and a good match for their
personalities and lifestyle.
The feline team also
oversees a Trap/Neuter/Release program for feral cats, to reduce unwanted
births.
Katie would like to debunk some myths about cats, such as that they are aloof
and independent. “Cats’ personalities are as individual as people’s are,” Katie
says. “Any cat can be affectionate; it’s up to their human to ‘learn to speak cat.’
And they need to give the relationship time. It can take up to two weeks for a
cat to trust his or her new home. Start small, confining the cat to a laundry
room or bathroom, then gradually open up larger areas of the home. If there’s
another cat in the house, and especially if the new cat is a kitten, a crate for the
new cat can be a good way to let the two animals get acquainted.”
Katie’s greatest challenges are the spring and summer baby booms. At those
times there’s a huge need for foster kitten-caregivers: volunteers who will take
infant kittens into their homes and raise them until they are old enough to be
adopted. (If you’re interested, please contact Katie at 423-305-6500).
EVERY
DOG HAS
ITS DAY
Christine Pick,
Lead Dog Caretaker
Christine Pick, lead member of the
animal care and behavior team headed
by Leah O’Neal, started formally
working with animals in high school,
when she assisted in a vet’s office in
Memphis. She went on to an internship
and seasonal position at that city’s zoo,
and then worked with big cats at
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Preserve in
Arkansas. In college Christine earned a
degree in wildlife biology.
At McKamey she and her team assess
incoming dogs to be sure that they are
safe for the public. The evaluation
consists of body handling, to test
whether the dog will accept gentle
pulling on the ears, handling his or her
feet, patting all over; a toy test, to see
whether the dog will allow people to
take a toy away; dog-on-dog
introductions; and a food-aggressiveness
test.
“If the dog shows minor aggression, say,
around food, we can place him or her in
foster care to get some training that will
correct the behavior,” Christine says.
(continued on next page)
Her happiest times are watching her furry friends go home with their new
families. “You have the best hopes for them, and know that you did all you
could to make their stay here enjoyable and to find the right match for them.”
- MJH
THE NEWSLETTER OF MCKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER • SPRING/SUMMER 2015
5
She and the team perform as many as ten assessments a day.
Asked about her greatest recent success story, Christine smiled
and spoke about Keltie, a black Staffy-mix female who came to
the shelter “looking like a skeleton.” With care and love, Keltie
put on weight and became strong and healthy, and is one of the
most affectionate dogs you could ever meet.
“For her to have come from such a neglectful background and to
still love and trust people is a testament to dogs’ amazing
resilience,” Christine says.
Footnote: Keltie (pictured left with Christine) recently went to her forever
family. -MJH
Love for a Season
Keri Lamb, Foster Partner
Keri Lamb loves dogs. Proof? During the past year, the Chattanooga
State English professor and dance teacher has fostered seven dogs for
McKamey, one after another.
Dogs and cats go into foster care because they need a little extra TLC
before they are ready for adoption. Maybe they’re undergoing treatment
for heartworm, or they came to the shelter weak and emaciated and need their strength built up. Maybe they’re
scared and need to be brought out of their shell, or have never lived in a home so need to learn manners.
The average time that Keri keeps a dog is two months. And six out of her seven fosters have been adopted. The
seventh, Abiel, had just come to stay in early February, when PawPost spoke with Keri. “She’s doing great,” Keri said
of the energetic young Staffy mix who has been at the shelter longer than any other animal at present.
Keri’s affection for the dogs shines through in her stories of some of her challenges and breakthroughs. “Argyle, a
collie mix, was literally paralyzed by fear,” she says. “She wouldn’t walk on the leash, she wouldn’t go up or down
stairs. I live in a third floor apartment and my boyfriend and I had to carry her in and out several times a day. But
gradually she became confident, loving -- a normal dog. The first time she walked upstairs by herself I cried!”
Asked about her technique, Keri says, “I just shower them with love, try to teach them good behavior using
high-value treats. Most of the time I crate them when I leave the house, so I know they are safe and my apartment
is too.
“I wish I could adopt them all,” she adds. “Usually around day two or three, I’ll just be overcome with the urge to
tell them, ‘I love you!’” (continued on next page)
6
THE NEWSLETTER OF MCKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER • SPRING/SUMMER 2015
Love for a Season (continued)
Which raised
THE BIG QUESTION:
How do you let them go,
loving them so much?
“The main thing that I feel,” Keri says, “is that when they
leave me they’re going to the place where they’re meant to
be. I’m part of the process of helping them take the next
step in their lives. It’s my job to get them ready and let
them go.
“After all,” she concludes, “if I decided to keep one of
them, I couldn’t keep fostering other dogs.” And that
would be a great loss to McKamey’s animals. - MJH
Do you want to be a McKamey Foster Partner? Contact
Amanda Harris at 423-305-6500 to find out how.
On Thursday, April 23, 2015, at 6 pm, McKamey Animal Center will hold the First Annual
Humanitarian Awards Dinner and Fundraiser at the Bessie Smith Hall in Chattanooga. The evening
will include a special reception, a wonderful meal, a silent and live auction, and a program that
will inspire and lift the spirits, while honoring individuals, organizations, and businesses that have
selflessly dedicated time and resources toward the betterment of homeless animals.
Humanitarian Award Winners
Humanitarian of the Year - Luther Masingill (posthumously); Foster Parent of the Year - Keri Lamb
and Wendy Chaney; Officer of the Year - Sergeant James Holloway, Chattanooga Police
Department; Television Media of the Year – Dreanne Newton, WDEF Channel 12; Print Media of
the Year – Janis Hashe and Louis Lee, The Pulse; Radio Personality of the Year – Cowboy Kyle, US
101; James Herriot Award for Veterinarian – Dr. Angelika Lingl; Animal Welfare Partner of the Year
- Wally’s Friends; Corporate Partner - Lexus of Chattanooga; Community Agency Award – Zach
Wiley, Office of Economic and Community Development; Cornerstone Award – City of
Chattanooga’s Mayor’s Office
Recognizing the work of The Animal Protection Services of Hamilton County: East Ridge Animal
Control; Humane Education Society; McKamey Animal Center
The 300 Club honors volunteers who have dedicated 300 hours or more of service to McKamey
Animal Center in 2014: Tracy Anderson, Marylu Carl, Steve Chaney, Patrick Crane, Susan Evans,
Linda Faulkner, Meg Garrison, Ginger Goss, Mimi Hedwig, Marianah Hurn, Dr. Angelika Lingl, Jimmy
Mayer, Lois Moss, Shelley Pickett, Lisa Roberts, Ryan Scofield, Paula Skrivan, Paulina Wampler,
Suzanne Wildman, John Williams, Rick Wilson
Tickets are $80 per person. Sponsorships are also available at different levels, starting at $1000.
Please contact Karen Wilson (kkwilson@mckameyanimalcenter.org) to make a reservation.
THE NEWSLETTER OF MCKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER • SPRING/SUMMER 2015
7
4500 North Access Rd.
Chattanooga, TN 37415
423.305.6500
www.mckameyanimalcenter.org
These are just two of the many wonderful
pets available for adoption at McKamey:
Jake is the only cat that came to us from the Hamilton County hoarding case at the
end of 2014 (see story on page 3). He is a 5-year-old heartthrob, and he absolutely
loves to play—especially in his water bowl. He came to us with a hurt eye which
was promptly attended to by our expert veterinary staff and paid for by generous
donations to our General Fund. He has spent the last few months in a loving foster
home and has recovered beautifully. He is now ready to find his “Furrever Home”
Carolina is a 2-year-old black American Staffy who was abandoned and
brought to McKamey by one of our Animal Service Officers. She was
diagnosed with heartworms. Carolina’s life was saved by our caring staff and
the incredible work of the Healing Hearts fund. McKamey’s Healing Hearts fund
has saved the lives of over 150 heartworm-positive dogs since its inception.