Animal Corner - Wood County Humane Society

Transcription

Animal Corner - Wood County Humane Society
Wood County Humane Society
Animal Corner
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Shelter News
February 2015
CATS: OUR NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE
2-15, 19
Adoption Updates
16-18
Annual Meeting
20-21
Annual Report
22-28
In Other News
31-34
The WCHS Minnibelle
Conley Shelter
801 Van Camp Road
Bowling Green, OH 43402
(419) 352-7339
HOURS:
Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 12 to 7 p.m.
Thursday: 12 to 7 p.m.
Friday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Shelter Manager
Erin McKibben
Humane Agent
By DEB JOHNSON
VP of Shelter Operations, WCHS
many believe will change
in the next few years.
Ask anyone who
works in an animal shelter in
the US what his/
her number one
challenge is, and
you will likely get
the same answer:
CATS!
Each year, an
estimated 3.4
million cats enter shelters nationwide with
only about 37% of them
being adopted into new
homes. That’s a staggering
statistic, but one that
The Million Cat Challenge is an initiative created by the UC-Davis Koret
Shelter Medicine Pro-
gram and Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at
the University of Florida
with the goal of
saving one million
more cats in shelters over the next
five years. These
groups will provide educational
resources for
shelters to accomplish this goal by
implementing any
or all of five key
initiatives:
1.) Provide ALTERNATIVES TO INTAKE
into the shelter, keeping
Continued on page 6
WCHS AWARDED GRANTS
Read more about the Dogly Do Good Grant on pages 4 and 5
Debra Loprete
Assistant Manager
Megan Baker
Event Planner
Tara Moore
Outreach Coordinator
Megann Smith
Dog Trainer
Scott Beard
Animal Care Staff
Scott Beard, Olga
Clay, Jessica Comp
ton, Emily Watts,
Cassie Williams
In December, we were notified by The Petfinder Foundation that we had been selected as Dogly’s top rescue
organization for the week.
Later that same month, we
learned that WCHS had
been selected by the Petfinder Foundation for one of its
Orvis Operational grants.
In recognition of this honor,
we received a Dogly Do
Good grant of $1,000.
Check out Dogly and share
some “loves” with us by
clicking the link below:
The Petfinder Foundation is
a nonprofit charity whose
mission is to ensure that no
pet is euthanized for lack of
a home. Founded in 2003,
the foundation helps
homeless pets by saving
lives through adoptions,
helping shelters prepare
for and recover from disaster, and working to
make shelters across the
country more sustainable.
Check us out online at:
www.woodcountyhumanesociety.org
P age 2
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
Tail Wags
Very Special “Thank
you”s to:
*Duane King for continual washer and dryer
maintenance and support
*The McCurdy Family
for keeping our bird
feeders full and picking
up our cardboard litter
boxes
*All of our amazing vets
and their staff—
including, Animal Hospital at Westridge,
Jones Veterinary Hospital, Midway Animal
Hospital, Owens Ark
Veterinary Clinic, Perrysburg Animal Care,
South Suburban Animal Hospital, Town
and Country Animal
Health Care—for caring
for our animals (both in
shelter and after adoption)
*The Wood County
Dog Shelter
*Dawn Urie and Hannah Rickles for bathing
our dogs monthly
FROM THE PRESIDENT: LOOKING BACK,
LOOKING FORWARD
Happy New Year!
One hundred eleven
years ago, the Wood
County Humane Society
was founded. I've been
reflecting on the significance of that repeated
number, “1.”
One is a number of
wholeness, of unity, and
of strength. The WCHS
is definitely a team that
works "as one." We may
have diverse tasks within
and diverse contributions
to the organization, but we
all have a single intention.
Each year, our amazing
volunteers, board, and
6190 Levis Commons Blvd.
(419) 931-8400
Website
Facebook
community members come
together as one, in an effort
to make Wood County a
safe, responsible, and caring
place for animals.
As President for the past four
years, I've had a birds-eye
view of the WCHS. I've observed our strengths, triumphs, and areas for growth.
It is my pleasure to reach out
to you now, at the beginning
of this year, sharing information about how you can
both give and receive.
If you are reading this letter,
it is likely that you are, as I
am, a passionate animal lover
and advocate. This year, I
Micah is shy at first, but becomes
quite a cuddle buddy with some
patience. She also loves toys and
will pounce at the slightest jingle.
Micah’s adoption fee is sponsored by Nagoya.
Join the WCHS or Re-New Your Membership Today
*Rob Ryan for donating
labor for all of our repairs around the shelter
*Meijer for donating
$200 for adoption/
animal care supplies
Life Membership ($1,500 and above)
Animal Angel ($500—$1,499)
Pet Patron ($250—$499)
Pet Pal ($100—$249)
Pet Sponsor ($45—$99)
Friend ($30—$44)
Kids Club ($1—$29)
Name ___________________________________________
Address _________________________________________
Continued on page 19
City _____________________ State ______ Zip ________
E-mail Address ____________________________________
ask that you consider the
satisfaction you would
receive by donating your
time. There is simply no
substitute for helping
hands!
Our organization is currently in need of volunteers, especially those willing to serve on a committee, such as: administration, operations, fundraising, or community outreach. Of course, we also
need simple tasks accomplished, such as cleaning
out cages and dog walking.
Continued on page 19
If you are looking for an exercise
buddy to go on a long walk or
run, then Joseph is your guy!
Joseph also has a talent of jumping really high! Joseph’s adoption
fee is sponsored by Nagoya.
I am giving this membership to the person/family
named below:
Memorial to: ________________________________
In honor of: _________________________________
Other: _____________________________________
Amount enclosed: ____________________________
Send your tax-deductible donation to:
Wood County Humane Society
801 Van Camp Road
Bowling Green, OH 43402
Join Online NOW
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3
ANIMAL SPOTLIGHTS
2015 Board of
Directors
Officers
President
ALLISON is a gorgeous tortie (i.e., tortoiseshell)
who deserves a family to call her own. With
her unique coloring and sweet disposition,
Allison just begs to be picked up and loved.
While she does not mind all the attention, she
does enjoy her solitude from time to time. As
long you're willing to respect her space and let
her hide occasionally, Allison would love to
call your house home. Allison is about 1 ½
years old. Check out Allison’s complete profile
on Petfinder.
Lori Young
VP of Administration
Kathy Dean
VP of Shelter Operations
Deb Johnson
Co-Secretaries
Sue Frost
Heath A. Diehl
Treasurer
Lisa Kern
Committee Chairs
Budget & Finance
RUTH has such a sweet temperament and is
very eager to please. She also is a quick study
and already knows how to sit, shake, drop it,
and stay. She loves to play with toys—especially
tennis balls. Ruth came to us under rather
unfortunate circumstances with her eight puppies, all of whom have since been adopted.
Ruth is now ready to find her forever home
(preferably one with no other animals or animal visitors). Ruth is approximately 2 years old
and is a Shar Pei mix. Check out Ruth’s complete profile on Petfinder.
Lisa Kern
Building and Grounds
Connie Black-Postl
Fundraising
Emily Keegan
Membership/Contributions
Sue Frost
Outreach/Education
Pending
Public Relations
Heath A. Diehl
SNIP
Wherever HADLEY is, she is sure to find a
good hiding spot. She is pretty adept at keeping
to herself, but she also doesn’t mind receiving
affection from time to time. She does enjoy her
friends and her hidey holes at the WCHS, but
she can’t wait to have a home of her own with
calm cuddles and patient people. Hadley is
about 2 ½ years old. Check out Hadley’s complete profile on Petfinder.
Leyna Jennings
Volunteer
Pending
Members
Lynn Corrigan
Deb Higgins
Eric Myers
Want to help our animals but can’t adopt?
View all of our adoptable animals at
We are usually in need of the following items: liquid bleach, hot
dogs, hard cat food, sandwich bags, sponges or scrubbies to wash
dishes, blood lanets (to test our diabetic cats’ glucose), antibiotic
ointment, A&D ointment, and catnip.
P age 4
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
FROM THE SHELTER: HOW OUR DOGLY DO GOOD
GRANT HELPED DOGS IN NEED
We were so grateful to
receive the Dogly Do
Good grant. This grant
helped us "Do Good"
for our animals, and the
families that adopted
them. As our readers
know, we rely quite
heavily on public donations, so we are always
looking for ways to help
us care for our animals.
This grant helped us
provide necessary care
to ready our animals for
THANK
YOU,
their forever homes
(spaying/neutering, microchips, vaccinations,
heartworm tests and
prevention), and transformed two unkempt
little dogs into beauties.
ly needed it. We actually received the grant
before this dog came in,
so this grant was also a
HUGE blessing for
him. (See Israel’s story
below.)
Specifically, the money
from the Dogly Do
Good Grant allowed us
to provide immediate
heartworm treatment
for a dog that desperate-
The Dogly Do Good
grant money also
helped us spay five
dogs, as well as provide
dental care for one dog,
grooming for two dogs,
,
FOR
vaccinations, microchips, heartworm tests,
and heartworm prevention for six dogs.
And we thought long
term for this grant, using part of the funds to
purchase a tablet that
will allow our Outreach
Coordinator and
staff/volunteers to complete adoptions at adoption events, on site!
HELPING WCHS DO GOOD
ABOVE: Israel was a heartworm positive dog whose treatment was made
partially possible thanks to the Dogly grant. An American Bulldog mix, Israel was transferred from a high kill facility, and they were unaware he had
heartworms. Despite receiving treatment, Israel began to deteriorate and he
passed away on MLK Day. He was a sweet boy. Thank you, Dogly, for
helping us give Israel love in his final hours and for the opportunity to give
other dogs like him a chance at a better tomorrow!
RIGHT: WCHS Outreach Coordinator, Megann Smith, shows off the new
tablet purchased with funds from the Dogly Do Good grant. Smith will use
the tablet to more efficiently complete adoptions of our animals at adoption
events.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 5
DOGLY DO GOOD (CONT.)
TIM AND NICKEE:
(Not Pictured)
I do want to be completely honest and tell you by
Friday I was really worried and READY to take her
(Precious) back the minute you opened. She would
NOT warm up to my husband. She would chase
him and go after his feet and nip at him. She growled
like she wanted to rip his head off! If he got up out
of his chair, she would go nuts. He would leave and
come home, same thing! The only time she was ok
with him being around is when I wasn't. Well after a
few more days she is now jumping up into his lap,
letting him pick her up, etc. If I'm sitting, she's almost always in my lap. If I'm cooking or doing things
around the house she's usually following me around!
She is doing great going potty outside and she
LOVES to hang with my son. We work with her
leash training every day and she is a work in progress. But I am confident she will catch on quickly!
She really just needed a chance and I am sooo glad I
didn't make that split second decision to return her!!!
ABOVE:
Two small dogs, Gracie (white and black), and
Pearl (black), came to us in extreme need of
grooming! They were both matted, overgrown,
and oily. We were able to get these dogs groomed,
and their transformation, not only in their looks,
but their personalities was amazing: they really
came out of their shells! Pearl also received dental
care because of the extreme tartar build up on all
of her teeth and she feels even better now!
NATE AND STEPHANIE:
(left)
THE TESNOWS: (above)
Maia , formerly Jenna, enjoying her first holiday with her
pug sister, Moo. We are so thankful to have her with our
family. We love her a ridiculous amount. Happy holidays!
We have been lucky enough to have Dorothy/Leela in our home for almost three months,
and she has been the love of our lives since the
day we brought her home. She loves cuddling anywhere around the house and loves meeting new
people. She knows how to sit, shake hands, and
high five. She is such an angel and we are so happy that we have her! She is so loving and anybody
that spends time with her can't help but love her
back. She's a part of our family.
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 6
Cats
Continued from page 1
cats in the home or community
when admission to a shelter is
not the best choice
adoption fees while still maintaining
the same adoption process to ensure good homes for our animals.
Our organization has committed to
2.) Implement a MANAGED ADMISSION system, scheduling intake appointments for cats to
match the shelter’s ability to assure humane care and an appropriate outcome for every cat
We are seeking grant money to
purchase medical equipment
that would help us provide
more efficient and cost-effective
care for our animals. We will be
brainstorming with staff ways
that we can improve or streamline our adoption process.
3.) Balance the number of cats
being cared for in the shelter at
any one time with the shelter’s
CAPACITY FOR CARE in order to
assure the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare are being met for
each cat
One of our primary goals for
2015 is to renovate our cat
rooms to provide an even more
comfortable environment for
them than we do currently. Anyone who knows a cat knows they
can be finicky creatures, which
can make life in even the best
shelter a highly stressful experience for them. Stress can have a
very direct and significant effect
on a cat’s health and behavior,
often leading to an increase in
the length of time spent in the
shelter while treating costly illnesses. Measures as simple as
providing windows, hiding spots,
high perches, and multiple feeding stations can greatly decrease
the stress a cat experiences during his/her stay. Keeping our
cats happy and healthy will not
only save money by avoiding
illness, but also it will enable us
to adopt them out more quickly
and thereby help even more cats
in need.
4.) Expand the pool of adopters
by REMOVING BARRIERS TO
ADOPTION such as cost, process,
and availability of cats
5.) Implement programs to sterilize, vaccinate, and RETURN TO
FIELD any healthy, un-owned
cats as a humane alternative to
euthanasia
The staff at WCHS has been
hard at work in many of these
areas long before the Million Cat
Challenge was announced; however, cat overpopulation continues to be our biggest struggle.
We have secured grant funding
both currently and in the past to
cover the medical costs of spaying and neutering both owned
and stray cats through our partners at Humane Ohio. We have
long operated under a scheduled
intake system; however, the limitation of this system is that it often results in long waiting times to
surrender during peak months.
During the last year we have frequently offered cats at discounted
our community. We are proud of
the care and services we have always
provided to the homeless animals of
Wood County, but are determined
to re-examine everything we do
in order to accomplish even
more.
How can you help ?
being a part of the Million Cat Challenge, and we hope to increase our
cat adoptions significantly over the
coming years to meet the needs of
ADOPT your next pet from a
shelter and encourage your
friends
Continued on next page
A ni m a l C o r n e r
Cats
Continued from previous page
and family to do the same. According to a 2012 survey, only 26% of
the estimated 85 million owned cats
in the US were adopted from shelters, with 32% coming from acquaintances and 35% being found
as strays. Our cats are friendly and
healthy and ready to find their forever home. And even without discounting the adoption fee, they’re a
real bargain!
VOLUNTEER your time. Whether
it’s walking dogs, playing with cats,
taking photos of our animals, fostering puppies or kittens, or serving on
a Board committee, everyone has
skills he/she can contribute. Volunteering as a family can be a great
experience for families that don’t
have pets of their own, and teaches
kids valuable life lessons.
DONATE: whether you donate
money, products, or your time, every little bit helps. Necessary medical
equipment and shelter renovations
require resources we don’t currently
have. If you have a little extra this
month, then please consider making a monetary donation. If you or
P age 7
someone you know has construction skills, then consider donating
your time. Ask your employer if
they will match funds through
NWOhio Community Shares, or
similar programs. The WCHS exists solely through donations from
caring individuals and earned revenue. We do not receive funding
from national humane groups, The
United Way, or taxes.
SPREAD THE WORD! This one
doesn’t cost a thing and can still
make all the difference in the world
for a homeless animal. Like us on
Facebook and share pictures of
adoptable animals. Subscribe to
our electronic newsletter and share
it with family and friends. Check
out our website for events and invite
your friends to attend with you.
WCHS is gearing up to meet the
many challenges that working in
animal welfare brings, and we hope
you will join us in helping even
more of the homeless animals in
our community find lifelong homes.
Stop in soon!
We are completely overwhelmed by the generosity of
Jean Miller. She donated
$5,000 to our Spay It Forward
campaign! We are accepting
donations during the first
phase of our spay/neuter grant
to help us fund other zip codes
during the time between grant
periods. Thank you so much,
Jean! Your gift will help so
many kitties!
Want to subscribe to
Animal Corner?
Send a message to our Board Secretaries, with your e-mail address! Look for
the next issue on the first Monday of
April.
LEFT: On Thursday, December
18, 2014, a luncheon was held at
the shelter to thank staff and volunteers for their hard work and
dedication throughout the past
year. The luncheon was organized by Board member Sue
Frost. Pictured (left to right) are
Scott Beard, Dog Trainer, Jessica
Compton, staff member, Hannah
Salmon, volunteer, and Megan
Baker, Assistant Shelter Manager.
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 8
O U R FIV R O O M I S B U R S T I N G A T T H E S E A M S
We currently are taking steps to
educate northwest Ohio communities about feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in order to
find homes for some of our
longest residents, many of whom
has tested positive for the virus.
Currently, we have space to
house only about five adult-sized
FIV cats at any given time, and,
according to Shelter Manager
Erin McKibben, that space is
always occupied to full capacity.
Erin notes that FIV cats typically
are the longest residents at the
shelter and generally generate
little interest from potential
adopters. She says that part of
the problem is that the public
often knows very little about
FIV. Erin hopes that by drawing
attention to the virus through
media coverage and the work of
a newly hired Education/
Outreach Coordinator, we can
more quickly place our FIV residents into loving forever homes.
According to the Fitzhugh B.
Crews FIV Cat Sanctuary, FIV is
an incurable virus that can cause
the immune system of infected
cats to be compromised. Testing
positive for FIV does not necessarily mean that the cat has FIV,
only that he/she has been exposed to the virus. In some
ways, FIV is comparable to the
human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) in humans and it is often
confused with feline leukemia
virus (FeLV). While FIV is included in the same retrovirus
family as FeLV, and the two ret-
roviruses cause many similar
secondary conditions, they are
not synonymous medical conditions.
FIV can be tolerated well by cats
and, in fact, an FIV-infected cat
may not show any symptoms for
years. According to the American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA),
once symptoms do develop, the
cat’s health my continue to decline or the cat may show signs
of sickness interspersed with
health for years. The organization points out that FIV cats who
receive supportive medical care
and are kept in a stress-free, indoor environment can live relatively comfortable lives for
months to years before the disease reaches its chronic stages.
Some common symptoms associated with FIV infection include: weight loss, poor appetite,
disheveled coat, abnormal appearance or inflammation of the
eye, sneezing, wounds that do
not heal, and behavioral changes.
Although FIV cannot be transmitted from cat to human, it can
be transmitted between cats. According to the ASPCA, FIV is
mainly passed from cat to cat
through deep bite wounds, the
kind that usually occur outdoors
during aggressive fights and territorial disputes. Another, less
common mode of transmission
is from an FIV-infected mother
cat to her kitten. FIV does not
seem to be commonly spread
through sharing food bowls and
litter boxes, social grooming,
sneezing and other casual modes
of contact. Given the high probability of transmitting the virus
between cats, the WCHS recommends that FIV cats be the
only cats in a home or go to
homes with other FIV cats.
FIV cats currently residing at the
WCHS are free with an approved application. They have
been spayed or neutered, been
vaccinated appropriate to their
age, received an initial deworming and flea prevention,
and have a free physical examination to local participating veterinary offices. All of the animals at the WCHS also are microchipped prior to adoption.
Learn more about FIV by visiting:
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 9
M E E T O U R FIV R E S I D E N T S
FIDELITY
HERMIONE
HETTY
*Female
*approx. 3 years old
*shorthair and tiger mix
*Female
*approx. 5 1/2 years old
*shorthair and tortie mix
*Female
*approx. 6 years old
*domestic long hair
Fidelity is a bit more reserved
than her bunkmates, but she can
be quite the cuddlebug if given
the chance.
Hermione likes the limelight and
is very friendly and affectionate
when visitors come a-callin’ to
the FIV room.
Hetty is shy and spends a lot of her
time hanging out in her cat condo.
She would do best in a quiet home
without other animals.
Check out her Petfinder profile.
Check out her Petfinder profile.
Check out her Petfinder profile.
Board Members Needed
We currently are seeking applications to
our Board of Directors. The WCHS Board
is a voluntary working Board, comprised of
between 11 and 15 members, of local leaders dedicated to providing direction and
guidance to the organization. Board members are elected annually for a term of two
years.
PENNYWISE
Sho
*Male
*approx. 5 years old
*tuxedo and tabby mix
*Male
*approx. 15 weeks old
*shorthair and tabby mix
Pennywise is shy at first, and
would do best in a quiet home.
But he is very affectionate once
he warms up to people.
In most ways, Sho is your typical
kitten—playful, curious, and with
a devil-may-care attitude.
Check out his Petfinder profile.
Check out his Petfinder profile.
The WCHS Board of Directors meets
once monthly for two hours. Individual
Board members also are expected to serve
as Chair or Co-Chair one of the Board’s
nine permanent committees. Time commitments vary depending on the time of year,
the specific committees in which a Board
member is involved, and the make-up of
the Board at any given time. However, volunteers typically devote between 8 and 16
hours per month to Board-related activities.
Those interested should contact Sue Frost
and Heath A. Diehl, Board Co-Secretaries.
P age 1 0
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
Happy Ho-ho-holidays: Pet Photos With Santa
A ni m a l C o r n e r
Pet Photos With Santa (cont.)
P age 1 1
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 1 2
Pet Photos With Santa (cont.)
And Congratulations to Smokey, the winner
of our Photos with Santa photo contest!
A special “Thank You” to everyone who came out to support
our Pet Photos with Santa event this year. You helped us surpass our goal for this event!!! We especially want to thank the
Woodland Mall for graciously allowing us to use its atrium.
Thank you also to our tireless volunteers who provided the decorations, the labor, and the dedication to make this event happen. And, of course, thank you to Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. We
hope your holidays were merry and bright and we look forward
to seeing you and your pets next year!
—Emily Keegan, Fundraising Chair, and
Tara Moore, Event Planner
Tell Us What You Think
MONTHLY READER POLL: February is National Responsible Pet Owner month and we want to know what tips you have for other readers for
being a responsible pet owner. E-mail us by 27 March 2015 to have your
tips included in the April 2015 issue of Animal Corner.
READER SUGGESTIONS: Have suggestions for articles or columns that
you’d like to see in upcoming issues of Animal Corner? E-mail us! We’d
love to hear from you.
CORRECTIONS: Notice something incorrect in this issue of Animal Corner? Please e-mail us to let us know so that we can run a correction/retraction in our next issue.
Photograph taken from Adam Rifkin
A ni m a l C o r n e r
Q&A
P age 1 3
WI T H
DOG TRAINER SCOTT BEARD
ANIMAL CORNER: What is your
history with WCHS? How long
have you been with the organization
and in what capacities?
SCOTT BEARD: I initially came into
the shelter in October of 2013 to
volunteer and I spoke to Erin about
my dog experience. She asked me if
I would like to interview for a job
and I accepted. I started out like
everyone else with cleaning, animal
care and adoptions. I expressed
interest in Dog Training but at the
time, the shelter had a trainer on
hand. I even do light maintenance
when needed around the shelter. I
was made full-time Dog Trainer a
few months back when the other
trainer resigned. I am currently doing regular shelter duties in the
mornings and dog training in the
afternoons. I've been working with
adopters who adopt dogs that have
behavioral issues by either having
them bring the dog back to the shelter or I make home visits. I prefer
home visits because it gives me the
chance to see how the dog is behaving in their home environment.
These visits help keep the dog in
the home rather than having it returned to the shelter.
AC: What first interested you about
the job of dog trainer at WCHS?
SB: I love working with dogs in any
capacity and it is so rewarding
watching a dog learn and grow from
an undisciplined canine to a well
behaved, socialized animal. And
they are always excited to see you.
Just brightens my day. And since
most of the dogs are either surrendered or strays from other shelters,
they need the most love, attention
and work. It's not their fault that
they are here and it provides great
satisfaction when they find their
forever homes. Having my background in dog training and seeing
how the majority of dogs coming
into the shelter have no training it
only makes sense that a well mannered dog would be adopted quicker than one that wasn't.
AC: What is your background in
dog training and how does that experience help you in your work?
SB: My training began back in 2004
with my mentor(s) Diane Laratta
who owned Hollowell Academy of
Dog Training in Lima, OH, and
Dorthy Minor who owned her own
obedience school in Palo Alto, CA,
before coming to Lima. These two
women have years and years of
knowledge regarding training, behaviorism and assessment of dogs.
All the dogs I've trained have come
from shelters so that has given me
the ability and understanding of why
the dog(s) are acting the way they do
and what I can do to change that
behavior.
AC: What does a dog trainer do?
SB: As a trainer I help the staff give
an assessment to each dog that
comes in to what their temperament
towards people, cats and other dogs
may be. whether they have fear issues, resource guarding (food, toys,
personal space), whether or not
they've had any kind of interaction
with other dogs, how well they play
together, energy level. And I pass
this on to potential adopters so they
know what they are getting when
they adopt a particular dog. Most of
the dogs come in knowing only a
few if any commands. I begin by
first working with them by being
able to walk on a leash. No one
wants a dog that pulls them everywhere. I follow that up with SIT,
DOWN, STAY, COME, WAIT,
OFF, LEAVE IT, etc. Most of the
dogs don't get to learn all of these as
their stay in the shelter is brief. It
can take up to several months of
training to get a dog to learn all of
those commands. So I do my best
with the time I have to work with
them. I also work with all the volunteers that want to walk dogs. It's not
as simple as just putting them on a
leash and taking them out. We
don't want them to pull or jump on
the person walking them, so there is
some training that goes along with
dog walking.
AC: Do you have any pets?
SB: I do not currently have any animals of my own, due to how busy I
am. It wouldn't be fair to leave an
animal at home for hours on end. I
consider all of the animals at the
shelter my babies.
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 1 4
From the Humane Agent:
Protect Your Pets During the Winter Weather
By DEBRA LOPRETE
Humane Agent, WCHS
Here in Ohio, winter can be a be a combination of bitter
cold, snow, and freezing wetness. I have complied some tips
to help keep your pets safe and warm:
hours, then please contact me again.
Want to learn more about keeping your pets safe during
the winter weather? Then, visit these websites for additional tips and suggestions:
Keep pets indoors and warm. The best solution is taking your
dogs outside for frequent walks and exercise and then bringing them inside.
During walks, short-haired dogs may be more comfortable
wearing a sweater.
Windchill can threaten a pet's life; exposed skin on noses,
ears, and paw pads can quickly freeze and may cause permanent damage.
If your dog is outdoors most of the time, then it should have a
shelter that is dry and draft-free. The
doorway should be covered with some
How to Make
type of plastic, burlap, etc. Line the
floor of the shelter with cedar shavings
or straw. Unfrozen water must be provided at all times if the dog is left outside. Use plastic bowls for food and water, as your dog's tongue could stick to
metal ones.
Help neighborhood outdoor cats in
your area by leaving out food and water.
Providing an outdoor shelter can protect
them from the elements.
Give your horses shelter and warmth.
Be sure your horses have access to a
three-sided run-in so they have a place
to avoid the wind and snow.
Most importantly, report any animals
you may see being left outside in bitter
cold. If possible, document with pictures, date, time, exact location and type
of animal, then please call the WCHS at
419-352-7339, report the incident on
our Facebook page, and/or through email. If I have not responded within 24
a Shelter for Outdoor Cats
Page 15
A ni m a l C o r n e r
From the Outreach Coordinator:
Decoding The “Secret Language” of Cats
By MEGANN SMITH
Outreach Coordinator, WCHS
January 22nd is National Answer Your
Cat’s Questions Day. What an idea!
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could sit
down and have a heart to heart with
our feline friends? We could explain
to them that 3am is not the best time
to pounce and play. We could even
ask why they won’t eat that one flavor
of canned food. Honestly, owning a
On a Related Note
Did you like what our Outreach
Coordinator shared with you in
this issue? Do you want to read
other, similar articles? Check out
this reading list we put together
just for you:
Reader’s Digest: “13+ Things You
Didn’t Know About Cats”
National Geographic: “What Do
Cats Think About Us? You May
Be Surprised”
Petfinder: “Cat Talk: A Guide to
Cat Body Language”
New York Times: “What Your
Cat Is Thinking”
Real Simple: “Understanding
Your Cat’s Behavior”
The Washington Post: “Dogs we
understand; cats are mysterious,
even though they are the most
popular pet”
cat would be a lot simpler if these conversations could be had.
Unfortunately that is not an option.
When you adopt or rescue an animal
you have to learn how they communicate. Since your feline is not going to
magically speak up on January 22nd,
here are some common concerns
among cat owners and ways to better
yourself as a cat parent.
How do I introduce a new cat to my
home?
Anyone coming into a new situation
feels the same rush of emotions and
this is no different for cats. When you
introduce a cat to your home, it’s important that they feel safe. The easiest
way to do this is by introducing the
home slowly. Start by keeping them in
one room. This will likely become
their room or safe space. Give them
space to explore, yet don’t overwhelm
them with too many new experiences.
Slowly integrate them into the rest of
the house with special treats or toys.
If you have other cats in the house, it’s
best to introduce them slowly as well.
Start by giving each cat their own
space. This includes food, water
bowls, and litter boxes. This gives the
cats independence and confidence.
Encourage friendly play among the
two, and remember to be patient.
Why has my cat stopped using the
litter box?
A benefit of having a cat over a dog is
that as an owner you don’t have to
make numerous trips outside for bathroom breaks. When the cat stops
using the litter box, anger and frustration are the first emotions felt by the
owner. If your cat has been urinating
or defecating outside the litter box,
don’t get upset. There are many resolvable reasons as to why he or she
may be doing this.
Medical. If a cat has a UTI or other
medical condition that is causing pain
or discomfort, he will avoid the area
that reminds him of such discomfort.
Be sure to consult your vet, if your cat
persistently refuses to use the box.
Situational. A cat is a fickle creature.
They may not like the type of litter
you are using. The box could be too
small. If you have multiple cats, they
may want their own box or another cat
had frightened them at one point
when they were in the box.
When your cat stops using the litter
box, take a minute to investigate and
the answer may be easier than following the cat around with a sponge and
carpet cleaner.
Why does my cat seem to be wide
awake at 2 in the morning?
There is no clear answer for this. Cats
are nocturnal creatures, so when you
adopt a cat you are agreeing to take on
their schedule.
Cats are unique pets. They each come
in with their own personality and demands. Although there are general
guidelines to follow when a problem
arises, it may not be the solution for
your cat. Remember to take the time
to work with your cat to find the solution that works best for them! For
more information on how to benefit
your feline friend, visit our website
and check out some of our literature!
P age 1 6
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: ADOPTION UPDATES
We loved Chloe for a wonderful (almost) 12 years before she
passed to her rest from a year-long battle with cancer. We
adopted her three weeks before we got married in 1999. She
was our baby, and Dr. Dave was magic with her.
Just wanted to let you know that Maia, formerly Jenna, is doing great. We love having
her and I hope she loves having us.
We adopted Kit (left), Ani (middle), and Licorice (right)
from WCHS in 2008. This picture was taken shortly after
our kids came home and it is the only picture that we were
ever able to get of all three of them together. Ani died this
past summer right before the six-year anniversary of her
adoption. (The picture to the right is one of the last we took
of her.) Licorice took her death pretty hard, but he and Kit
are becoming better buddies as a result.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 1 7
This a cat we adopted from WCHS in 2003.
Oh, and Truman (our son). Bunny (not the
name she came with) is about 12 years old.
When the weather is warmer, she spends most
of her time on the screen porch chattering at
birds and squirrels.
Julie Cat Aka
Grumpy cat is doing
fabulous. She's the
purrfect addition to
our little family. Anyone who meets her
comments on how
she follows me
around and is head
over heels in love
with me. Even the vet
has made the comment. This little kitty
had so much love to
give and has blossomed into an absolute love bug once
she was in a home
again. Although Miss
Julie was 10 when I
adopted her, she is
just as wonderful as a
young cat. I would
like to encourage anyone to give a senior
pet the chance to live
out a wonderful rest
of their life and they
will show you so
much love.
Alphabet (nickname Beta) we adopted
from WCHS 2.5 years ago. She is doing
well and as you can tell, loves being under the Christmas tree! Happy Holidays
and thanks to all the volunteers and
workers at the shelter who work diligently
to help find homes for our furry friends!
Graphic taken from City of
Ponca City, OK website
Want to see your furbaby/furbabies featured in Animal Corner’s “Where Are They Now”?
If you have adopted from the WCHS, then we would love to know how your adopted animals are doing. Send
(to Heath A. Diehl) a photograph of your furbaby (or furbabies) along with a brief note about where he/she is
now and how he/she is doing and we’ll feature him/her in our next newsletter. Deadline for the April issue of
Animal Corner is 27 March 2015 by noon.
P age 1 8
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
Our family had two rescues from the shelter, Honey, a
blue-tick coonhound and Leah, a whippet mix; both
have been family members for 12 years. We lost our
sweet Leah this past summer and it was evident that
Honey missed her sister and best friend. Just before
Thanksgiving day we adopted Lowell, an 11-year-old
lab shepherd mix. He is the sweetest guy and he and
Honey are becoming good friends. Lowell was a little
shy at first, but it tugs the heart strings when we walk in
and his tail is wagging and he even hops! He knows he
is home and our family is so grateful he has chosen us!
Mae is adjusting well and has become part of the
family! Mae loves to play with her catnip mice with
the kids. She's discovered the train tunnel in my husband's model train layout and loves to sleep there.
Even our 12 year old dog Sidney is warming up to
her. Mae has made herself right at home. Thank
you for helping us find our kitty!
I'm one of those people who never thought they
would adopt a cat... And then I got a job at the
WCHS. Here's Alvis (right, now Louie) with his buddy Wyatt. He is doing great and living it up as the big
man of the house just like he was at the humane society. Hope to see all of you soon.
We adopted Hazel (Olympe) in October. She became
a part of the family instantly! Here she is at Pet Smart
getting her family Christmas photo. Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year to all of the amazing staff at the
Wood County Humane Society!
A ni m a l C o r n e r
FROM
THE
P age 1 9
PRESIDENT
Continued from page 2
Becoming a volunteer is easy. It need not be a huge time
commitment: you schedule your own hours, and we only ask
for 5 hours a month. Such a simple opening of your big heart
will make a big impact for animals that need help in Wood
County. The animals benefit greatly from the relationship
WCHS and the community can have together, and from each
outpouring of compassion and support. When you give of
yourself, you receive as much as you give. Can you help us?
I want to recognize all the help that has already come. Congratulations to our volunteers who have won awards and
thank you to WCHS volunteers who gave over 100 hours of
service last year. (For a complete list of award winners and
volunteers who logged 100+ hours of service for 2014, see
page 20 of this issue.)
Thank you to all our members for their generous financial
contributions in 2014. Every dollar has helped. We used your
donations efficiently and frugally. Much has been accomplished, as you will read about in this issue of Animal Corner.
This past year, we made renovations at the shelter to make it
more efficient. We installed new doors and windows to help
reduce the strain on our old furnace and decrease utility expenses. In addition, we paved the parking lot to offset the annual costs for patching the holes and fixing surface erosion
problems. This current year, as we invest in the necessary
updates to our facilities, the Building and Grounds Committee has informed the Board that the shelter furnace will need
to be replaced in the near future. This will be a large financial
undertaking. We need your help. I am kindly asking you to
consider offering just five or ten dollars extra to your membership dues, so we may meet this and other financial challenges and goals for 2015. As hundreds of animals come and
go through our doors, we need the funds to be able to continue offering our services. Thank you for considering.
Tail Wags
Continued from page 2
*The Hollywood Casino, for donating straw for us to
help outdoor animals this winter
*The Healing Barn for caring for our horses
*Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi for once
again having a pet food drive on Christmas Eve to
benefit us and other local shelters. Because of them
and other generous donors we are able to help people in need in Wood County feed their animals if
they've fallen on hard times.
*Rick Pierce for being an amazing Santa Claus for
our Pet Photos with Santa event
Correction
In the November 2014 issue of Animal Corner, we correctly reported that Mark Elliott served as a judge for the
2014 Mutt Strut Beauty PAWgeant, but we neglected to
mention our other judge for the event: Lissa Guyton of
13 ABC. We apologize, Lissa! And thank you for your
support of WCHS!
I hope you enjoy reading this issue. We are so excited about
the revamping of Animal Corner as a completely electronic
publication. Thank you for your support! This transition will
save us thousands of dollars annually, and you can be sure
that we will direct those crucial funds to the continued care of
our animals.
I wish you joy and abundance in 2015!
Sincerely,
Lori Young, WCHS President
Did you see one of our dogs featured on
Buzzfeed?
Thank you to volunteer Kristen Grom for excellent
photography and social media skills! Check out the
original article by following this link.
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 2 0
WCHS C ONVENES A NNUAL M EETING
bers and businesses were recognized for their special contributions to the organization over the
past calendar year (see below).
Also recognized were volunteers
who logged over 100 hours of
service to our organization over
the past year (see below).
The Wood County Humane
Society (WCHS) convened its
annual meeting on January 19,
2015, at 6 p.m.
The meeting was held in the
Simpson Garden Park meeting
room and was open to the public.
WCHS Board President, Lori
Young, convened the meeting by
WCHS President Lori Young chats with keynote
presenting a brief “year in respeaker John Dinon following his presentation.
view” report for 2014.
New members voted
onto the Board included: Lynn Corrigan; Deb Higgins;
Leyna Jennings; Deb
Johnson; and Eric
Myers. Current
Board members reelected to their seats
included: Connie
Black-Postl and Lisa
Kern.
Special Recognition to Our Top
The high point of the program
was a keynote address delivered
by John Dinon, Ohio Director
of Outreach and Engagement for
the Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS).
Dogs
Minnibelle Conley Community Recognition Award
Jan Harr
Dinon’s keynote presentation included a
brief overview
of HSUS and
its programs,
with emphasis
on the farm
animal programs. The
main topic was
management of
community
cats.
Special Friend to Animals
Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi
Joe Schroeder
Stephanie Squire Ringler
Ellen Fuller Volunteer of the Year
Barbara Arnold
Wanda Loomis Humanitarians of the Year
Erik J. Thompson
Kyle Silvers
During the program
of events, a number
of community mem- Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Service
Kathy Dean
T HANK Y OU
TO OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO LOGGED OVER
Barbara Arnold, Megan Baker, Scott Beard, Marissa Bijarro, Connie Black-Postl, Phyllis Chaney, Jessica Compton, the Cufr family, Kathy Dean, Tracy
DeRan, Heath Diehl, Sue Frost, Kristen Grom, Jan
Harr, Lynn Helm, Sarah Hemingway, Leyna Jennings, Emily Keegan, Lisa Kern, Lori Keller, Kathy
Ledford, Sandy Lepper, Christina Link, Debra Lo-
100
HOURS IN
2014
prete, April McCurdy, Tom and Donna McCurdy,
Mary Morgan, Tina Robinette, the Rose family,
Glenda Schwartz, Kyle Silvers, Matt Skivers, Maria
Smithers, Chuck and Christy Spontelli, Geoff Stevenson, Liesel Traister, and Cassie Williams
A ni m a l C o r n e r
A NNUAL M EETING
P age 2 1
(CONT.)
(TOP LEFT): WCHS President Lori Young (left) presents a Special Friend to Animals Award to Stephanie
Squire Ringler (right). (TOP RIGHT—LEFT TO RIGHT):
Jessica Compton, Cassie Williams, April McCurdy,
and Chelsie Guck (MIDDLE LEFT): Board Members
Leyna Jennings (left) and Connie Black-Postl (right)
and Barb Squire (middle) (MIDDLE RIGHT): Rossford
Police Officer Erik Thompson is presented with the
Wanda Loomis Humanitarian of the Year Award by
Humane Agent Debra Loprete for going above and
beyond to save an animal that could not save itself in
July 2014. (BOTTOM): WCHS Assistant Shelter Manager Megan Baker poses with a special visitor to the
Annual Meeting: Leela (Dorothy).
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 2 2
FROM THE VP OF SHELTER OPERATIONS:
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
By KATHY DEAN
VP of Shelter Operations (Outgoing), WCHS
VP of Administration (Current), WCHS
1. This past year our shelter staff
have done a good job caring for
and managing the animals at our
shelter and in foster. Our volunteers have supported us with their
time, hard work, and dedication.
2. We have accomplished building
improvements such as new windows and doors installed, added
new outside covers on kennels, a
gate was installed to offer additional
space for bonding outside with animals and prospective adopters. The
parking lot was resurfaced and we
began painting inside of the shelter.
For the free roaming cat room, we
have purchased a cat wheel, which
is similar to a hamster wheel and
allows more enrichment for the
cats. Many old file cabinets have
been removed from our bonding
room to allow more space for potential adopters to have room to
interact with animals. Other areas
in the shelter have been reorganized to better utilize the limited
space, such as the laundry and storage rooms.
3. The adoption/foster database has
been improved for better tracking
and report creation. The archive
paper files are being loaded into the
database.
4. The Humane Agent database
has been implemented and the archive records are being loaded into
the new database. This will allow
for ease in report creation and
tracking trends, etc.
5. The membership/contributions
database has been revised for easier
access to create reports and labels.
Ongoing improvements are being
made. And we have started using an
electronic notebook for tracking
our medical records for the animals.
6. A part-time Outreach Coordinator has been hired to assist with
adoptions and educational presentations. We want to strengthen our
educational efforts in the county,
bringing more awareness and more
adoptions.
7. The In-Take area of the shelter
has been remodeled. A local Boy
Scout troop worked on this project
for several weeks. We can now
bring in more animals and we have
a movable table in the center of the
room.
8. Staff have taken animals several
times to a Saturday morning TV
program to promote our shelter.
9. A new committee has been created to work on the stray cat problem
in our county. The committee is
chaired by Kay Chapman. We have
attended several town councils to
talk with them about the community cat populations in their area. We
have gotten a grant to help pay for
neutering the cats. We are helping
people in our communities that are
caring for stray cats by getting them
resources to manage these cats. We
will be working on more grants this
year and continue our work.
Volunteers Needed
We currently need shelter cleaners and office helpers. Cleaners typically
volunteer in the morning prior to the shelter opening and their responsibilities include: feeding, interacting with, and cleaning up after the animals;
doing laundry; sweeping and mopping the shelter; performing organizational tasks; doing dishes; and cleaning cages, shelves, and walls.
Office helpers typically work during regular hours of shelter operation. Office help volunteers should be outgoing people who are comfortable answering telephones, working on computers, greeting the public, and showing them around the shelter. Office helpers may also be involved in some
aspects of animal care.
Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older, or accompanied by a parent/
guardian. Volunteers typically commit to at least 5 hours per month for a
minimum of 3 months. For more information about these and other volunteering opportunities, contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
Thank you for your support!
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 2 3
Wood County Humane Society
2014 Annual Report
2014 SNIP Report
Spring is known as “kitten season”
because warmer weather means more
strays roaming freely and more cats in
heat. Those two factors combined
lead to a dramatic increase in the
number of kittens born during the
spring and summer months; many of
these kittens are not wanted and end
up homeless or euthanized. We at
the WCHS are trying to help remedy
some of the challenges presented by
“kitten season” by partnering with Humane Ohio, a non-profit clinic in Toledo, to offer low-cost spay/neuter
prices to Wood County residents. We
will provide the transportation to/from
Humane Ohio. Please help reduce
the pet population by making use of
this low-cost service. Call the shelter
today to schedule an appointment.
Number of Cats Spayed/Neutered
Public Cats
Shelter Cats
214
155
Cats fixed through grant
86
2014 Cruelty Report
Debra Loprete, Humane Agent
2014 Shelter Report
Erin McKibben, Shelter Manager
INCOMING ANIMALS
OUTGOING ANIMALS
Strays (Cats Only):
Sick/Injured
Healthy
Kitten w/mother
Kitten w/o mother
BG City Stray
Surrender
Cruelty Case
Abandonment
From WC Dog Shelter
Born at Shelter
Transfers
Returns
Total Incoming
Adoption:
Shelter
WC Dog Shelter
Transfer
Claim
Euthanasia
Death
Total Outgoing
428
9
7
17
24
31
516
Animals at Shelter
Animals Off-Site
Total Population
92
40
132
41
63
22
65
58
112
36
30
8
0
46
44
525
Closed Cases Categories:
Education: 64
Unfounded: 68
Owner Surrender: 5
Other Agency Referral: 24
Unable to Locate: 16
Reason for Concern: 230
Abandonment: 2
Pending Investigation: 21
Jan.: 27 closed cases; 44 re-checks
Feb.: 17 closed cases; 34 re-checks
March: 12 closed cases; 23 re-checks
April: 23 closed cases; 41 re-checks
May: 23 closed cases; 33 re-checks
June: 34 closed cases; 31 re-checks
July: 15 closed cases; 36 re-checks
Aug.: 27 closed cases; 27 re-checks Investigation Partnerships:
Sept.: 16 closed cases; 28 re-checks
Rossford Police Dept.
Oct.: 14 closed cases; 37 re-checks
Perrysburg Animal Control
Nov.: 10 closed cases; 27 re-checks
Bowling Green Animal Control
Dec.: 12 closed cases; 33 re-checks
North Baltimore Police Dept.
Lakewood Twp Police Dept.
Total: 230 closed cases; 394 reWood County Sheriff’s Office
checks
Risingsun Police Dept.
In total, we partnered with 6 different
agencies over the 2014 calendar year.
Northwood Police Dept.
Training Opportunities
*Field Interviewing Techniques
Seminar (Capital Area Humane Society)
*Animal Cruelty and Fighting Investigations (The Humane Society of
the U.S.)
*The Wood County Sheriff’s Office
Citizen’s Police Academy #17
*Basic Police Investigative Photography (Capital Area Humane Society)
*Basic Humane Agent Training (24
hours) (Ohio Peace Officers Training Association)
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 2 4
Wood County Humane Society
2014 Annual Report
2014 Financial Report
EXPENSES
Shelter
Building and Grounds
Membership
Public Relations
Community Education
Volunteer
Capital Expenses
SNIP
Fundraising
Total Expenses
$269,822.86
$56,990.26
$7,057.04
$7,624.45
$393.62
$1,440.57
$6,844.38
$12,317.14
$15,360.86
$377,851.13
INCOME
Fundraising
Membership
Shelter Income
Spay/Neuter
Memorials
External Fundraising
Grants, Bequests, Other
Total Income
$67,566.92
$72,545.38
$69,460.24
$16,452.61
$17,547.50
$32,439.83
$53,054.34
$329,066.32
Wanted:
Volunteer Coordinator
We are seeking community members who are interested in chairing the Volunteer Committee. Specific responsibilities would entail monitoring the online volunteer database, helping with volunteer orientation
and volunteer assignments, and communicating with
Shelter Manager and members of the Board of Directors. If you are interested in the position, then please e
-mail Kathy Dean.
2014 Foster Individuals & Families
Megan Baker
Brent Bloomfield
April, Tom and Donna
McCurdy
Jessica McClure
Scott Beard
Leyna Jennings
Tracy Deran
Christy Spontelli
Marissa Bijarro
Carrie Cufr
Fred and Shelly Rose
Kathy Ledford
Luc Gibb
Phyllis Chaney
Tina Robinette
Cassie Williams
Jessica Compton
Jessica Tolliver
Jamie Wlosowicz
Interested in fostering in
2015? Check out our website for more information.
Food Assistance at WCHS
We all love our pets and know what type of support they
can offer us, especially when life gets difficult. That is why
the WCHS is pleased to offer pet food and cat litter assistance to Wood County residents and their pets in need.
Our food and cat litter bank is large enough to help a few
families each week, but unfortunately not large enough to
help the same homes on an ongoing basis. We will do
what we can to help you and your companions as you recover from the challenges you encounter.
We also offer food assistance for caretakers of freeroaming cat colonies to encourage spaying and neutering,
and continued care of these felines. If you need help with
an owned pet, then please fill out the Pet Food Assistance
Application. If you need help feeding a free-roaming cat
or colony, then please fill out the Free-Roaming Cat Food
Assistance Application. Food assistance is only offered
during adoption hours. If you are new to the program,
then please print and fill out an application and bring your
driver’s license to the shelter during adoption hours so
that a staff member can review your application. Food
assistance is by donation. We typically ask for at least $1.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 2 5
2014 C OMMITTE E R E P ORT S
Building & Grounds
Connie Black-Postl, Chair
Interested in joining the Building &
Grounds Committee and helping
shape its agenda for 2015? Contact
Committee Chair Connie BlackPostl for more information.
Fundraising
Emily Keegan, Chair
In 2014, the Fundraising Committee
welcomed several new passionate
and hard-working members. Together we had a fun and busy year
planning our annual events, strategizing new ones and embracing new
partnerships with local businesses.
We also added Tara Moore to the
team as our Event Planner. A
BGSU grad with a love of animals,
Tara brings great enthusiasm to our
committee. Welcome, Tara!
The annual Wine and Dine event
was held in May in the Grand Ballroom on the campus of BGSU. The
event was truly lovely with tapasthemed grazing stations from BGSU
catering, beautiful flowers donated
by Glendale Flowers, and the addition of a photobooth from Swatch
Studio. Jerry Anderson graciously
served again as auctioneer. The
event could not have been possible
without the generous support of our
long time event sponsors: Dr. Pat
McCutchen-Vernier and Rick Vernier, Lamar, WBGUTV, Paw and
Remember, Welch Publishing, and
Heidelberg Distributing. Our silent
auction tables were stocked with
amazing donations from contributors all over the county and the
state.
It was an exceptional year for the
Garage Sale in May. Stephanie
Squire Ringler and Joe Schroeder
worked tirelessly with their amazing
team of volunteers to raise over
$14,000! They far exceeded their
goal, and the shelter was able to purchase a cat wheel to enrich the lives
of our feline residents. Thank you
Stephanie and Joe!
Mutt Strut in September had great
weather! Two- and four-legged walkers enjoyed the trail at WW Knight
Preserve in Perrysburg, picked up
great giveaways from our sponsors,
and watched the Weiner Dog Nationals races. The Pawgeant, emceed by Lissa Guyton of 13ABC
and Mark Elliott 93.5 WRQN, was
a great success.
Thank you so much for joining us in
2014. The committee is already
hard at work planning for 2015, and
we think you are going to love these
beloved events, and the new ones
we have in the works.
Interested in joining the Fundraising
Committee and helping shape its
agenda for 2015? Contact Committee Chair Emily Keegan for more
information.
Membership/
Contributions
Sue Frost, Chair
The membership/contributions
committee exists to plan and imple-
ment mailings to solicit new donors,
including individuals and corporations; to encourage past donors to
continue giving; to promote estate
planning; to maintain all membership and donor records; and to
acknowledge all monetary and inkind donations.
In 2014, the membership committee engaged in the following activities:
*Sent out 325 letters for renewals
*Sent out 12,000+ letters for donations
*Sent out 48 letters to Lifetime
Members introducing them to the
Guardian Angel Program
*Sent out 356 letters for renewals
*Sent out 2200 letters for the holidays
The membership committee also
coordinated a number of initiatives.
We started the Guardian Angel Program requesting funding help from
our Lifetime members to purchase
new stainless steel cat cages. We
created new postcards with Staff
members’ pictures on it. We coordinated a tree dedication for Sandy
Lepper who generously donates her
time to the Shelter. We sent out
1580 thank you letters to those who
sent donations to the Shelter for
membership and public relations.
We sent out 156 e-mail letters to
those who sent donations to the
Shelter for membership and public
relations. We helped coordinate the
purchase of two vehicles for the
Shelter. We coordinated some of
the volunteer and painting of the
Shelter, we coordinated the windows and doors installations, and we
coordinated the blacktop resurfac-
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 2 6
2014 C OM M ITTE E R E P ORT S
ing at the Shelter.
For 2015, we have several goals for
our committee. First, we want to
add one additional fundraising way
to get new memberships to the
WCHS. Second, we plan to continue seeking funds for stainless steel
cat cages. Third, we intend to seek
businesses for funds for the high
cost needs at the shelter.
Interested in joining the Membership/Contributions Committee and
helping shape its agenda for 2015?
Contact Committee Chair Sue Frost
for more information.
Outreach/Education
Megann Smith, Outreach Coordinator
Outreach was very active in 2014.
Adoption events were held at: Tractor Supply Company (x2); Pet Smart
(x3); Anderson’s (x5); Stroh Center
Home and Garden Show; Canine
Care Fair; and the annual Pet Pho-
tos with Santa event. Various adoptions were completed as the direct
result of these and other adoption
events. This includes the animals at
the event as well as animals in the
shelter due to a traffic increase from
visitors at the event.
Educational events included: Girl
Scout Troop tour; private tour;
WBGU Radio spots; Penta presentation; Wood County Kids Health
and Safety Fair; WBGU Kids Extravaganza; Earth Camp; A Humane
Halloween; and MetroBarks. Summer education programs were created by Olivia Hegedus along with
new tools for future educational programs. Penta’s healthy exploratory
lab teacher wants to have a presentation every semester for her classes.
Libraries and county schools were
reached out to with the offer of
providing presentations in any desired topic. Libraries are responding for summer 2015 presentations.
We also had a presence at several
(CONT.)
community and fundraising events,
including: Bowling Green Holiday
Parade; Perrysburg Holiday Parade;
and Pets in Poverty; OSU/Michigan
Challenge; Potters for Pets; People
Who Care Craft Fair (x2); and
BGSU office party. Over a hundred
dollars of donations were collected
from donation jars and boxes posted at various events. This does not
include the numerous cans of pet
food and toys and various items that
also were collected. New donation
boxes were also placed at Barry’s
Bagels and Fat Jacks in Perrysburg,
both of which have totaled over
$50.00 within the short few weeks
they have been there. The organization People Who Care is under investigation and until further notice
we will discontinue our relationship
with them.
Future projects are being worked on
including the May Open House and
Spring Poster Contest for grade
school children. General goals for
the upcoming year are to create a set
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 2 7
2014 C OMM ITTE E R E P ORT S
schedule with Pet Smart stores and
other local pet stores for adoption
events. By late spring/early summer,
I hope to begin having cats reside at
Pet Smart locations for onsite adoptions. As I gain momentum in this
role the educational events and
adoptions will increase as well as the
Wood County Humane Society’s
media presence.
Finally, by holding routine events
and regular programing, we hope to
recruit more volunteers. Already,
we have a troop of Girl Scouts that
is volunteering its time at the
WCHS and working on its Bronze
Awards.
been met with lots of enthusiasm,
support, and excellent coverage for
our events and other happenings.
We established a Tumblr archive
for our media coverage so that our
staff, our Board of Directors, our
members, and other interested parties can remain current on all of the
exciting projects that are happening
at the shelter and within our organization. (If you are not yet following
our Tumblr blog, then why not start
today?!?)
Perhaps the biggest development for
the Public Relations Committee is
the migration of our newsletter, Ani-
(CONT.)
mal Corner, from print to electronic
format. Winter 2014 marked the
publication of our final print newsletter and February 2015 ushers in
the first electronic issue of our newsletter. This new format will not only
save our organization thousands of
dollars each year, but it will also allow us to bring you more news
about our activities much faster. In
fact, we’re moving from a quarterly
to a bi-monthly publication schedule, so look for new issues of Animal Corner in your e-mail inbox on
the first Monday of February, April,
June, August, October, and December of this year!
Interested in joining the Outreach/
Education Committee and helping
shape its agenda for 2015? Contact
Outreach Coordinator Megann
Smith for more information.
Public Relations
Heath A. Diehl, Chair
Over the past calendar year, the
Public Relations Committee has
worked hard to strengthen the presence of our organization in the community in many ways. We have secured regular features of our adoptable animals in The Perrysburg Messenger Journal, in The Rossford
Record Journal, and on the WTOL
website thanks to generous and supportive community partners like
Deb Buker, Editor, Welch Publications, and Nick Bade, Digital Executive Producer, WTOL 11 and Fox
Toledo. We have included more
local media outlets in the distribution of our press releases and have
Coming May 15, 2015, to a Venue Near You!
Check out our exclusive
WCHS merchandise at
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 2 8
2014 C OM M ITTE E R E P ORT S
Interested in joining the Public Relations Committee and helping shape
its agenda for 2015? Contact Committee Chair Heath Diehl for more
information.
SNIP
Leyna Jennings, Chair
For the annual SNIP report, see
page 23.
Interested in joining the SNIP Committee and helping shape its agenda
for 2015? Contact Committee Chair
Leyna Jennings for more information.
Volunteer
Jan Harr, Chair
The volunteer committee added
many volunteers to the Volgistics
database during 2014. Approximately 98 new volunteer orientations
were given during the year, and
many of those attending signed up
in our Volgistics online database
and became dedicated volunteers in
or out of the shelter. The volunteer
orientation protocol was standardized to help anyone who is giving a
tour to a new volunteer. Barb, one
of our committee members, began
giving additional detailed instructional orientations to anyone who
was interested in working in our free
roaming cat room.
(CONT.)
At this time we have 366 active volunteers registered in Volgistics, and
they have logged 3,100 hours during
2014.
The committee helped to recruit
volunteers for Wine and Dine,
Black Swamp Pisanello’s booth,
Mutt Strutt, McDonald’s Night
fundraiser, Pet Photos with Santa
and various Outreach activities.
Interested in joining the Volunteer
Committee and helping shape its
agenda for 2015? Contact Committee Chair Jan Harr for more information.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
Page 29
HONORS
THANK
AND
MEMORIALS
YOU FOR YOUR
In Memory of...
“Al” Rehklau from Don & Terri
Grimm
Arleen Hoag from BGSU College
of Business Administration
Bailey from Steve Cernkovich
Barbara Benedict from
John Hoag
BGSU College of Business
Administration
Economics Department, BGSU
Barney from Larry & Sue Graffice
Benson, Cooper, Ellie, & Wilbur
from Ann F. McVey
Bogie from Darla Koepke
Briana Schutze from
Mike & Laurel McHugh
Laurie & Brent Baker
Bryan Bird
Colleen Conway Cooney & John
G. Cooney
Anne Mancine
Reyna Caris
Phil Walton
John Shutze
Barbara A. Powell
Bob & Kathy McNutt
Brian & Miae Kalita
Marlys J. Reetz
Arlie Matera
Bridgie from Hannah Rickels
Bruce Baylor from San Juan Music
Group
CH Hartline’s Rumor Has It from
Joy E. Kantner
Charity Bejarano’s father from Deb
orah L. Helmbold & Ron
Bolander
Daisy White from David Goldsmith
Darlene Tucker from Tammy &
Phil Sheldrick
Dax from Marlys J. Reetz
Dude, Sam, Linus, & Buck from
Gretchen A. Sommerfeld &
Dennis Przysiecki
Elaine F. Kaczmarek from Anthony
Kaczmarek
Ellen Hepler from Turning Point
KINDNESS
Church
Ellie from Daniel T. & Deborah
Sczesny
Gracie from Deborah M. Yenrick
Guinness & Harp from Sue
Hoffman
Gus from Pat & Ed Hawley
H. Barnett Jones, Jr., from Leslie A.
Hojnacki
Harold & June Crouse from Linda
Welch
Havoc (cat friend lost in a fire) from
Robert A. Everhart
Jake & Jed from Anita C. Good
Jane M. Roth from Richard Roth
Janice Milliron from Randy & Peggy
Koch
Jean Gasper & Erma Ebersole from
Thomas M. DeThomas
Jerry & Dottie from Nada Sue
Knauss
Jerry Liss from Betty & Chuck
Gallagher
Jerry Melchior from Holly M.
Steward & Terry Matthews
Jerry & Genevieve (“Jean”) Melchi
or from Laurie Melchior
Huskisson
Karl J. Brushaber, Jr., from Paul
Thayer, Thayer Ford-Nissan
Kyle Jania from Pat Kania
Leona Ault from
Paul & Mary Schlatter
Juli & John Kolbeck & Family
Alice Davis
Mr. & Mrs. Carlton Dippman
M. Pooter, Jr., & Patty from Leslie
A. Hojnacki
Maggie from Doris Nigh
Maggie from Pamela Lafferty
Mammy from Rhonda & Leslie
Bockbrader
Dr. Margorie Conrad from
Christine Hathaway
Mike & Kay Miesle
Mohammad Sidiq
Meenie Kinkhousen from Karen A.
Wolf, Krytter Sytter Pet Sitting
Miss Minnie, BJ, Blackie, Lady, &
Sam from Bob & Ginger Sergent
Mittens & Missie from Eloise
Schober
Molly from Ruth A. Ruckman
Monda Tewanger from Deborah L.
Helmbold & Ron Bolander
Mugsy & Fred from Suzette M.
Pelton
Murphy (in Woodville) from James
A. Elkington
Nancy Vermilya from Rodna
Bordner
Nero from Dorothy L. Hjortsberg
Nick Smith, Sr., from Maeola Smith
Pat Hamad from St. Mark’s Luther
an Church
Remy, Meredith, Gus, Justin, Iris, &
Reese from Patricia Fugee
Richard “Dick” Plumb from Ethan
& Joanna Remley
Robert McClelland from Caprice E.
Cheney
Rocky from Kent & Mary Johnson
Ronald Saffle from Saundra Young
Sheba & Ling-Ling (Siamese cats)
from Benjamin A. Davis
Smoky from D. Michael Schmitz
Snicker & Daphne from Roger &
Karen Foley
Sydney Phibbs from Garth D.
Phibbs
Thomasina Wolcott (pet cat who
died in ’14 at age 19) from
Vernon and Nancy B. Wolcott
Three previous kittens given up
from Evelyn House
Tiffany & Felix Plikerd from
Annette Plikerd
VanLou Apple from Deborah L.
Helmbold & Ron Bolander
Virginia Deweese from Caprice E.
Cheney
Walter Wilbarger from daughter
Elizabeth J. Wilbarger
Wickett & Mr. Bean from
Kathy Sanka
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 3 0
HONORS
THANK
AND
MEMORIALS
YOU FOR YOUR
In Honor Of…
Abby from Doug Rojewski
Barb, Dale, & Jack Arnold from Sheba
Haner
Brandy from Dave Cunningham
Charlotte from Ellen M. Mens
Cooper, Benson, Ellie, & Wilbur
from Ann F. McVey
Cooper, Tug, Annie, & Jasmine from
Tom & Kathy Wojciechowski
Diva from Garth D. Phibbs
Ebony from Georgie R. Bauer
Erin McKibben Moore from Terry &
Kathy McKibben
Ethan B. Remley, on his 80th birthday,
from
William David
E. Rae & Richard Matacia
Ethan & Joanna Remley
Deanna Sifuentes
Doug & Karen Yoshino
Steven Rueter
Durrell & Mary Burden
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Kudlinski
Gabby from Mr. & Mrs. Peter R. Strobl
Greg (dad) from A. Feiertag
H. Barnett Jones, Jr., from Leslie A.
Hojnacki
Heath Diehl & Gary Thurman from
Heather Mosqueda
Jim Litwin’s dogs, Sadie, McGriff, & Jesse,
from Mr. & Mrs. Tom Klein
Jojo Lough from Tara L. Francis
Kaleb Haubert’s birthday
Kenya, pet, from Ina M. Terry
Kitty (pet) from Sue Greiner
The LaFond Family from Mr. & Mrs.
David Hollinger
Leo (adopted WCHS dog) from William
& Mary Best
Luc from John & Sally Briggs
Lucy & Edith Sheppard (grandchildren)
from Ellen M. Mens
Luke from Debra A. Uhde
Max, WCHS alumnus, from Marjorie
English
Miss Jazzy Girl & Castle of Beckett
from Joy E. Kantner
KINDNESS
Mogley from Ted J. Garzony
M. Pooter, Jr., & Patty from Leslie
A. Hojnacki
Nick Smith, Jr., from Maeola Smith
Noah’s 12th birthday from Mark & Shannon
Canterbury
Noah from Cindy Petryszyn
Olivia Thomas’ 13th birthday from Brad
Thomas
Phoebe (aka Beauty) from Susie Alexander
Renate Graubart from Gale & Tom Bishop
Robbie, Emma, & Elmer Schlegel (grand
children) from Ellen M. Mens
Sampson (WCHS rescue pet) Sarah
Janowiecki
Tom & Sharona Muir from
Maureen Hicks
Terence Muir
Toni Artz from Christina M. Artz
WCHS Staff from Greg & Val Dienstberger
Honors and Memorials from November 1, 2014,
through January 28, 2015
Petsmart Findlay
Adoption Days
2330 Tiffin Ave.
Saturday, February 14
1—4 P.M.
Sunday, February 15
12—3 P.M.
Friday, February 27
5—7 P.M.
Sunday, March 15
12—3 P.M.
Friday, March 20
5—7 P.M.
Saturday, March 28
1—4 P.M.
Friday, February 27Saturday, February 28
WCHS Community
Days @ BG ElderBeerman
Sunday May 3, 2015
WCHS Open House
801 Van Camp Road
Bowling Green
Friday, May 15
Annual Wine & Dine
Time and Venue TBD
Keep checking our
website for updates
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3 1
AROUND THE COUNTRY/AROUND THE WORLD:
FIRST DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTER TO ALLOW CATS
By TAMAR ARSLANIAN
Originally published on
CatChannel.com; Reproduced with permission
Earlier this year, I was
fortunate enough to attend the second annual
Purina "Better With Pets”
Summit. The summit is
an opportunity to celebrate and better understand the human-pet connection, and acknowledge
those already putting their
learning to use for the
greater good.
One keynote speaker was
Rita Garza, SVP Marketing and Communications
at Urban Resources Institute in New York City.
Her organization has
come to understand the
importance of pets in our
lives – especially for battered woman and children
– and has adapted and
created new programs
taking the human-pet connection into consideration. By doing so, they are
saving human lives.
One of the first slides
Garza flashed on the
screen was a statistic I
found quite shocking. According to a study conducted at Utah State University, 48% of women
stay in an abusive relation
out of fear for their pet’s
safety. As Garza said, "No
one should have to make
that decision.”
I felt pride at the depth of
compassion these women
display. Despite their circumstances, they continue
to show strong degree of
commitment to and love
for their pets when their
wellbeing – and often that
of their children – is at
risk.
Founded in 1980, URI
began as a women’s shelter and began adding other services such as medical and legal counsel as
the years went on. We’ve
come a long way.
In 2013, with the help of
Purina, they launched the
URIPALS — People and
Animals Living Safely —
pilot program, New York
City’s first and only initiative that allows domestic
violence survivors to enter
shelter with their pets.
This "co-sheltering” model helps survivors of domestic violence by caring
for them as well as their
pets. Not only are pets
"silent victims” in domestic abuse situations but
abusers use them to inflict
psychological torture on
their victims in order to
keep them (and their children) from leaving.
More than 70% of petowning women who enter
shelters report their batterer threatened, injured
or killed their pet.
According to Garza, we’re
talking about batterers
who put the family cat in
the microwave with their
finger on the power button, or duct tape them
and point a gun to their
head. Truly horrific and
unthinkable acts.
There have been no complaints from neighbors
about the URIPALs housing program residents or
pets, and children ofdomestic violence who
have lost everything and
find themselves in a shelter are helped when reunited with a loved pet.
Just this year, Purina
helped build a dog run
near the housing units so
families with dogs could
also partake in this amazing program. Garza took
the opportunity to bring
her own puppies to show
them why she hasn’t been
at home as much lately.
URI’s PALS program is
the only program of its
kind in New York City.
According to their website, "Currently, URI is
housing eight dogs and
five cats, and has welcomed 22 cats, 13 dogs
and three turtles since the
URIPALS program began.”
We can only hope other
groups within the state
and nationwide learn
from the progressive
thinking URI has demonstrated.
Tamar Arslanian is the author of the I Have Cat blog.
In partnership with the Cocoon shelter, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safety, healing, and justice for battered women and their children,
our shelter offers a SAFE Pet haven for Wood County
families in transition due to domestic violence. All cases are completely confidential and quality care of the
pet(s) is assured. If you are a victim of domestic violence, and have a pet(s) that you need help sheltering
until you are able to make arrangements for them to
be back in your life, then please contact the Cocoon
Shelter at 419-352-1545 or 1-800-472-9411. You can
also find out more information about the Cocoon
Shelter by visiting their website.
P age 3 2
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
The WCHS Wants
YOU
115 Clay Street
Bowling Green, OH
(419) 352-5417
to
ADVERTISE YOUR
BUSINESS
Visit their website for more
information
Here!
For information on advertising in
Animal Corner, please contact
Public Relations Committee
Chair Heath A. Diehl.
215 N. Main Street
Bowling Green, OH
(419) 352-5104
117 E. 2nd St.
Perrysburg, OH
43551
108 N. Main Street
Walbridge, OH
(419) 666-9900
Visit their website
We’re your library
Bowling Green * Walbridge * Bookmobile
Follow WCHS on:
6190 Levis Commons Blvd.
(419) 931-8400
Website
Facebook
Wood County Dog Shelter
1912 E. Gypsy Lane Rd.,
Bowling Green
(419) 354-9242
1-866-860-4140, ext. 9242
Emergency: (419) 353-9802
Check out the adoptable dogs currently available at the Wood
County Dog Shelter on
their Petfinder!
E-mail
Website
Facebook
Shelter Hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8:30—4:30
8:30—4:30
8:30—4:30
8:00—12,
3:30—4:30
8:30—4:30
9:00—12:00
Closed
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3 3
HELP ABRA FIND HER FOREVER HOME
Special needs cats often
are overlooked by
adopters when they visit
animal shelters in search
of a new family member.
Yet these are the animals
that most need the extra
special TLC that they only
can receive in their forever homes.
since January of 2014 and
we are appealing to you,
our members, to help us
find Abra her forever
home.
playful. She enjoys playing
with people’s hair once
she gets to know them
well enough to be in their
personal space.
As you can see from her
glamour shot below, Abra
Abra would make a great
cuddle buddy and lap cat!
She loves to be petted and
will let you scratch her
ears for hours on end.
Abra also is quite the talker and has no qualms letting you know when she
thinks it is dinner time.
Most shelters are overcrowded and their overworked staff members can
not always provide special
needs animals all of the
extra time and care that
they require. And some
special needs animals require a financial commitment that can, over time,
significantly strain a shelter’s already tight budget.
Abra requires a very special home and very special
humans who can not only
keep up with the cost of
her medical care, but also
provide the extra TLC
that her medical condition
demands. Her adoption
fee is waived with an approved application.
Abra is one of the special
needs cats who currently
resides at the WCHS. A
diabetic, Abra needs a
prescription food along
with twice daily insulin
injections in order to remain in good health.
Abra has been with us
is a gorgeous black cat.
About seven years of age,
Abra has a personality
that is as lovely as her appearance. Despite all of
the poking and prodding
that she has to endure on
a daily basis, she is extremely loving and very
CALLING
GRANT WRITERS!!!
ALL
We currently are looking
for community volunteers
with interest and experience in grant writing.
Persons interested in this
opportunity would be expected to research potential grant projects and
identify relevant ones that
would assist us in raising
funds to support the treat-
ment and quality of life
for the animals of Wood
County. Grant-writing
volunteers might spearhead a capital campaign as
well as seek out grants to
fund animal care or education/outreach positions,
in addition to other projects. These volunteers
would be expected to
work closely with the
Learn more about feline diabetes by visiting:
Shelter Manager and other
relevant persons in the writing of grants.
Interested parties should
contact Kathy Dean, VP of
Administration for more
information.
Giving Made Easy
The next time you're
buying a book by
your favorite author,
or downloading music by your favorite band,
check out our wish list and
donate something to the animals as well. To do so, visit
www.amazon.com and, from
the main menu in the upperleft-hand corner, left click on
“Full Store Directory.” Scroll
to the middle section of the
store directory and, under
“Gifts & Lists,” left click on
“Wish List.” In the search bar
on the next page, type in
“Wood County Humane Society” and you’ll be taken to
our wish list.
Did you know that
Amazon.com will
donate 0.5% of the
price of your eligible
AmazonSmile purchases to
the charitable organization of
your choice? All you need to
do is visit https://
smile.amazon.com/, log in,
and then designate the
WCHS as your charitable
organization of choice.
Have you enrolled in the
Kroger Community
Rewards® program? Did you
know that Kroger Community
Rewards® has contributed
thousands of dollars to the
animals at the WCHS? The
program was designed to
make fundraising easy for
everyone involved—and it
couldn't be simpler to enroll
and participate. Just visit the
Kroger Community Rewards® webpage and follow a
few simple steps. Then, every
time you shop at Kroger, just
swipe your card and a percentage of your total bill will be
Continued on page 34
F e br ua r y 2 0 1 5
P age 3 4
Giving Made
Easy
Continued from page 33
donated to WCHS!
What if WCHS
earned a donation every time
you searched the internet? Or
how about if a percentage of
every purchase you made
online went to support our
cause? Well, now it can! The
GoodSearch toolbar is free to
download and allows you to
raise money for WCHS virtually every time you search and
shop online! Each time you
shop at more than 1,400
stores, a percentage of your
purchase will automatically be
donated to WCHS—at no cost
to you! The toolbar also has a
search box and each time you
search the internet, about a
penny is donated to our cause.
It adds up—already over $635!
Just go to GoodSearch,
choose WCHS as your cause,
and then search as usual.
Did you know that
you can support the
care of homeless
animals simply by
walking your dog, or just yourself? When you use the
WoofTrax app during your
walk or run, your logged miles
will turn into a donation to
benefit the pets in our care.
Simply install the free Android or iPhone app, select
the Wood County Humane
Society as your chosen shelter,
and go! You can select the
organization you are walking
for in the setup tab of the app
for iPhone users, or in the
settings menu for Android
users.
Thank you for
your support!
IN THE LIBRARY...
By MARY BOONE
Public Relations Coordinator,
Wood Co. District Public Library
Whether you’re looking for a nonfiction
book to help welcome a new animal family member or a fiction book with an animal playing a central role in the story,
Wood County District Public Library
(WCDPL) has many books for you to
peruse about all creatures, great and
small.* In this first article for Animal Corner, I’d like to suggest a few books and
where you’ll (usually!) find them on the
library’s bookshelves.
erally taken of the author’s last name.
On the other hand, fiction at the library is
generally shelved by the author’s last name.
For instance, if you want to follow the adventures of Bunnicula, James Howes’ book
about a mysterious rabbit, look in the Children’s Place fiction collection under
“Howe.” Looking for Richard Adams’ beloved novel, Watership Down (also with
rabbits, but of a sort other than Bunnicula)? Look in the adult fiction collection
under Adams.
To help your family and your new animal
companion adapt to one another, try one
of these books from the library’s nonfiction collections:
Sometimes there will be exceptions to
these “rules” regarding how a book is
shelved. If you’re not finding a book where
you expect it to be shelved, ask a librarian
to help you. We’re eager to help find
books you’ll love and love sharing.
The Adopted Dog Bible by Kim Saun-
See you at the library!
ders (636.7 S). Found in the Adult Nonfiction collection at the library, Saunders’
book addresses issues of choosing, training, and caring for a shelter or rescue dog.
The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee by Laurie
*PS Want to read James Herriot’s wonderful All Creatures Great and Small about a
young vet’s experiences in Yorkshire during the 1930s? It’s at 636.089 H, in the
Adult Nonfiction collection.
Cinotto (636.8 Cin). Written for juvenile
readers, the publisher describes this book
as “a fun guide to all things kitten.”
The Complete Care of Baby Animals:
Expert Advice on Raising Orphaned,
Adopted, or Newly Bought Kittens, Puppies, Foals, Lambs, Chicks, and More by
C.E. Spaulding and Jackie Clay (636.089
Spa). This book is also located in the
Adult Nonfiction collection.
There are many, many more animal related nonfiction books at the library. Regardless of whether you’re browsing the adult
or children’s nonficiton areas of the library, generally you’ll want to look
amongst the shelves labeled with the Dewey decimal number starting “636.” You
may have noticed in the books above a
single letter or series of letters in the Dewey decimal number. Those letters are gen-
On Thursday, October 30, 2014, we hosted A Humane Halloween: Howl at the
Humane Society. This family-friendly,
Halloween-themed event featured food,
fun activities, and animals. This event coincided with the annual trick-or-treat hosted
by downtown Bowling Green businesses.