Animal Corner - Wood County Humane Society
Transcription
Animal Corner - Wood County Humane Society
Wood County Humane Society Animal Corner The WCHS Minnibelle Conley Shelter 801 Van Camp Road Bowling Green, OH 43402 (419) 352-7339 HOURS: Monday: Closed 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 Debra Loprete Event Planner Tara Moore Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator Megann Smith Animal Care Staff Melanie Bracco, Michaela Brickner, Olga Clay, Kyle Macke, April McCurdy, Erianna Sherrod, Cassie Williams August 2015 JOIN WCHS FOR OUR ANNUAL MUTT STRUT EVENT: SEPTEMBER 26 By HEATH A. DIEHL PR Committee Co-Chair, WCHS We want you to “Get out and wag a tail” at our upcoming Mutt Strut fundraising event on Saturday, September 26, 2015. This year the event tentatively is scheduled to be held in the City Park (Conneaut and Fairview) in Bowling Green. Other details for the event, including time, are pending. Check our website Calendar of Events and our Facebook page for updates soon. The centerpiece of this annual family-friendly event is a walk to benefit our organization. Attendees are encouraged to walk with a pet, walk in memory of a pet, or even walk without a pet. Individuals can sign up to walk (and raise money) as a team on the WCHS’s Razoo page. (More details will be posted on our website as the event date nears.) Prizes will be given for the most money Continued on page 10 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Featured Adoptable Animals 2—3 Past & Upcoming Events 5—9 From the Shelter 11—25 Adoption Updates 26—27 Honors and Memorials Want to subscribe to Around the Country/World Animal Corner? Send an e-mail to our Board Secretary, with your e-mail address! Look for the next issue on the first Monday of August. 28 29—30, 32 In the Library with Mary Boone 38 Check us out online at: www.woodcountyhumanesociety.org P age 2 A ug us t 2 0 1 5 Tail Wags *KRISTEN GROM for lending your photographic expertise to us and helping make our animals look as photogenic as they can be! *PERRY AND DAWN HAMMOND for being mentors to our new dog walking volunteers, and for Dawn taking on the huge undertaking of weeding/cleaning up the flowerbed outside our cat room window. *TOM AND DONNA MCCURDY for picking up cardboard boxes from Kroger, for us to use as litter boxes! *CHRIST’S CHURCH for help with organizing and yard work at the shelter! *RHONDA GARVEY, our major donor for the renovation project, SHERWIN WILLIAMS for giving us a great deal on the paint, EVERYTHING FOR PETS for a very generous discount on our new cat trees, APPLIANCE CENTER for giving us a great deal on the refrigerators, MARK HOPEFL for being our amazing contractor, JOHN ZANFARDINO for helping paint, and JUSTIN GUCK for helping with pretty much everything! *PHYLLIS CHANEY for taking on the timeconsuming task of fostering our ringworm kittens— for giving them extra baths and medications—as well as for being an all-around outstanding foster mom and volunteer! Each month, Nagoya generously sponsors the adoption fees for one cat and one dog. Thank you, Nagoya, for your continued support! 6190 Levis Commons Blvd. (419) 931-8400 Website Facebook Bailey Bailey is a three-year-old female hound mix who just loves everything about life. To be sure, Bailey does get a little overexcited when she first meets new people. (We mentioned she loves life, right?) Nothing overwhelming, mind you. She’ll just talk your ear off sometimes! But that’s just Bailey’s adorable way of making sure that people pay her the attention that she enjoys so much. In fact, Bailey appreciates all forms of attention—from head scratches to kisses and good, old fashioned pets. But she is especially partial to cuddling. Bailey also loves to take long walks and playing with her toys. Check out Bailey’s Petfinder profile. Prometheus Prometheus was named after the Greek deity who created humankind, although this feline doesn’t boast of such an impressive backstory. Our Prometheus is an eight-year-old ginger-and-white shorthair who spends most of his days curled up in nooks around the cat room catching more than his fair share of zzzzs. Of course, Prometheus does enjoy good company from time to time as well, especially from his human companions. (Want to make Prometheus your best friend? Give him some head scratches!) But mostly Prometheus is just a very low maintenance, “chill” kind of guy. Check out Prometheus’ Petfinder profile. Join the WCHS or Re-New Your Membership Today 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 _________________________________________ City _____________________ State ______ Zip ________ E-mail Address ____________________________________ 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 2015 Board of Directors ANIMAL SPOTLIGHTS Jayla Officers Jayla is a rambunctious puppy through and through. This ten-month-old female terrier mix loves to play, run, romp, and, yes, play some more. (And, fraknly, there's nothing more adorable than an energetic puppy with love in her eyes and oversized ears, right?) Jayla is incredibly friendly as well. She enjoys all forms of affection—from belly rubs to ear scratches—and, in return, she will lavish her adoring humans with lots of sloppy doggy kisses. Jayla also can be quite the lap dog, if given the slightest encouragement. Check out Jayla’s Petfinder profile. President Lori Young VP of Administration Kathy Dean VP of Shelter Operations Debbie Johnson, DVM, CAWA Secretary Heath A. Diehl Treasurer Connie Black-Postl Committee Chairs Jean Valjean Budget & Finance This longhaired tabby may share a name with the hero of Victor Hugo's novel, but he couldn't be more unlike his namesake if he tried. You won't find our Jean Valjean trying to pilfer a loaf of bread for his starving sister. (Our Jean Valjean doesn't even have a sister that we know of, and he is perfectly content waiting his turn at the food dish.) Also, our Jean Valjean is actually quite nervous when he first meets someone--human or animal alike. He doesn't much like being picked up, although he does love to be petted and he can regularly be found approaching staffers (after he has warmed up to them, of course!) for affection and a bit of snuggling. Check out Jean Valjean’s Petfinder profile. Connie Black-Postl Building and Grounds John Aleksander Fundraising Bethany DeLuca Emily Keegan Membership/Contributions Sue Frost Public Relations Heath A. Diehl Andrea Szymkowiak SNIP Julien Julien is a loner. A rebel. At least for the most part. She often prefers to fly solo, avoiding the other felines in the cat room and just going about her business (although she does tolerate the other felines with whom she peacefully cohabits). Julien would be able to live with other, calmer cats, but she would not do so well in a household with high energy cats, dogs, or small children. Aside from being a bit of a misanthrope--or, is it "catanthrope"?--Julien keeps to herself a lot and spends most of her time napping in a secluded spot. Check out Julien’s Petfinder profile. Leyna Jennings Louann Cummings Jack Karsten Check out all of our available animals on: Want to help our animals but can’t adopt? 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 lancets (to test our diabetic cats’ glucose), antibiotic ointment, A&D ointment, and catnip. A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 4 Help Us Find Arlo His Much-Deserved Forever Home Arlo can be a very affectionate gentleman. He would love to treat you like royalty and shower you with love, although Arlo does expect the affection to go both ways. A typical afternoon for this gentleman involves lots of lap time and cuddles. Arlo has an incredibly sweet disposition with people, but other cats agitate him considerably. In fact, Arlo has been so stressed out and unhappy since he came to the shelter that we are waiving his adoption fee in the hopes that we can place him in a no-cat, nosmall-children home much sooner than normal. If you're ready to spend your afternoons near a sunny window with a handsome man on your lap, then stop by and meet Arlo today! *All of our pets have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated appropriate to their age, tested for heart worm and current on prevention in dogs, and received an initial deworming and flea prevention; adopters also are given a free physical exam to local participating veterinary offices. All of our pets are also microchipped prior to adoption. Check out Arlo’s Petfinder profile. Fill out an adoption application for Arlo. Volunteers Needed We will be doing the Pisanello's Pizza booth at the Black Swamp Arts Festival again this year. The festival will be held on September 11, 12, and 13, so mark your calendars for those dates and enjoy the music, art and a delicious slice of Pisanello's pizza. Part of your pizza and drink purchase will go to our organization. We will be looking for volunteers for all days. If you are interested, please contact Jan Harr. A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 5 August 2—8: August 12: August 15: August 19: International Assistance Dog Week World Elephant Day International Homeless Animals Day World Orangutan Day WOOD CO. FAIR BLACK SWAMP ARTS FESTIVAL August 3—10 September 11—13 Come check out our booth in the tents near the Grandstand! Grab a delicious slice of Pisanello’s pizza and support the Wood County Humane Society! And don’t forget to enjoy all of the wonderful art and musical entertainment, too! September 26,2015 BG City Park, Time TBD September is Happy Cat Month September 13: National Hug Your Hound Day September 13: National Pet Memorial Day A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 6 FROM THE SHELTER: AREA YOUTH SUPPORT WCHS WITH FUNDRAISING EFFORTS Generous Evelyn turned 10 years old recently and when she had her birthday party, she asked for presents for us. This isn't the first time either. Last year she asked for the same thing. Thank you, Evelyn, and thank you to your family for raising such a selfless and altruistic young lady. Pictured above is Evelyn with her birthday donations in 2014 (LEFT) and Evelyn with her birthday donations in 2015 (RIGHT). In late June, sisters Lauren and Hannah Stout (pictured ABOVE with WCHS supporter Carol Sheeks) set up a lemonade stand in their neighborhood and sold glasses of lemonade to support the WCHS. Throughout the day, the sisters were joined by friends Nicole Smith (pictured UPPER RIGHT with Lauren) and Addison Smith (pictured LOWER RIGHT with Hannah). A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 7 P age 8 A ug us t 2 0 1 5 WCHS Members Celebrate National Best Friend Day A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 9 We had another record year and blew the thermometer up again with sales of $14,059.03, total income of $15,120.03, expenses of $1,334.27 for a net profit of $13,785.76! I don't know how this keeps happening, but it does and we are so excited this event has become one of the most important fundraisers for the Humane Society. We would like to thank all of our donors, the INCREDIBLE volunteers who get down and dirty with us all week, the Wood County Fair for all of their help , Northcoast Deli & Mr Melon 2, Costco, Stimmel's Market and Shoey Plumbing and Heating for feeding our hungry volunteers, BGSU Sustainability for their donations from surplus, Helena Chemical Company for providing the "Humane Society Express" setup and teardown truck, Sandy & Len Lepper, Karen Wood and Robert K Miller Insurance Agency for underwriting rent and advertising expenses and, of course, the incredible people who come and shop the garage sale every year and make it a success! Mark your calendars for the annual Wood County Humane Society Garage Sale, May 26,27 & 28, 2016! —Stephanie & Joe A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 1 0 Continued from page 1 raised by The Big Dog (age 21 and up), the Top Dog Jr. (ages 14 to 20), and the Top Puppy (age 13 and younger). 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. Pre-registration for the event will be available on the WCHS website beginning soon. Proceeds from the Mutt Strut will help provide care for the homeless and abused animals housed at the WCHS. The money raised also will help pay for special programs sponsored by the organization, like the cruelty investigation division, a spay/ neuter program, and Safe Pets, which helps people escaping domestic violence situations get temporary care for their pets through the WCHS. 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 and/or see our website for information about all of our volunteering opportunities. Tell Us What You Think READER SUGGESTIONS: Have suggestions for articles or columns that you’d like to see in upcoming issues of Animal Corner? Email 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 P age 1 1 RECENT RENOVATIONS INCREASE QUALITY LIFE FOR ANIMALS, SHELTER AESTHETICS By DEBBIE JOHNSON, DVM, CAWA VP Shelter Operations, WCHS When you decide to renovate a room in your house, what factors help guide your decisions? You probably think about how the room will be used and how it should function, what you want it to look like, and how guests would feel in the space. And you usually have a budget to work with. OF Once the paint was dry, cabinets were installed, and shelves and perches were hung on the walls. Seating was brought in for guests, and a new board featuring information about each of the cats in the room was installed. Finally, interactive toys, soft bedding, and water fountains were added. As mentioned earlier, best practices for sheltering animals have been researched and studied for many years now. The ASPCA has an entire division of experts who work with shelters across the county to conduct Wood County Humane Society has recently renovated research that benefits shelter animals. For example, did our cat adoption areas, and we thought about those you know that in their experiments, only classical music same things. We wanted the room to provide enrichwas shown to decrease cortisol levels (an indicator of ment and lower stress for our cats. We wanted to pro- stress) in dogs and cats ? [Read an article on this topic vide a welcoming experience for our guests, and we here.] This same effect was not seen with country, pop, wanted the rooms to look (and smell) as nice as possi- or easy listening music. Studies have been done on ble. And, oh yes, we wanted to do all this on a shoenearly every topic you can think of, including the ideal string budget. number of animals to house in a space and what kind of lighting to provide. Their studies have even shown There is an entire science behind designing shelter en- that cats with a toy in their cage get adopted more vironments, but much of the process is remarkably sim- quickly than cats without toys, even if they are not playilar to tackling a home renovation. We did our reing with the toy! search on the best paint types to hold up to daily scrubbing and the occasional hairball. We looked at differ- In 2010, the Association for Shelter Veterinarians deent options for covering our concrete floors and decid- veloped a set of guidelines called the Guidelines for ed for now to paint the floors to save money. We com- Standards of Care in Animal Shelters. These guidelines parison-shopped for inexpensive cabinets and shelves. were developed based on The Five Freedoms model We pondered and planned. And then we rolled up our from the Farm Animal Welfare Council. The Five sleeves and got to work! Freedoms are: freedom from thirst and hunger, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury, or The renovations were a three-day project, with prep disease, freedom to express normal behaviors, and work on day one, and painting on day two and three. freedom from fear and distress. An animal entering any That meant that the 17 cats who were living in there at shelter is likely already experiencing a significant the time had to be relocated for four days to allow time amount of stress due to leaving a familiar environment for the paint to dry. The staff worked very hard to keep and adapting to new sounds, smells, animals, and peoour cats as happy and stress-free as possible while they ple. We owe it to that animal to do everything we can were relocated to every nook and cranny of the shelter. to minimize his/her stress during his/her stay. EvaluatThankfully, our visitors were very understanding of our ing our shelter environment by using the Five Freechaotic environment during that time, and our volundoms model helps us to know how we are doing. teers still found a way to provide some love and attention to our cats. Continued on page 12 P age 1 2 Continued from page 11 Most of our cats live our “open” or “cageless” cat rooms in a group housing situation. While this type of housing has many benefits, it also has its challenges. Cats in this type of environment have the opportunity to control their interactions with people and other animals. They have opportunities for play, socialization, and companionship. They experience an enriched and varied environment. The challenges presented by this environment include increased risk of being exposed to an infectious disease, increased risk of injury, and the potential for inadequate access to food, water, litterboxes, or resting spots if there are “bully” cats present. Some cats will experience more stress, anxiety, or fear in group housing situations. All of these factors had to be considered as we developed our new cat rooms. A ug us t 2 0 1 5 mended to be housed in a group setting because their immune systems are not fully developed. These new cages can be cleaned and disinfected more thoroughly, and provide more space to separate food, litterboxes, and resting places. Regardless of the type of housing, the challenges faced by cats in shelters can include boredom, frustration, isolation, and social deprivation. With a small staff, we rely on our dedicated volunteers to help us overcome these challenges. We really could not do what we do without them, and without the generosity of our donors. The entire renovation project cost our organization a mere $1,334.47, thanks to donations and grant funding. Register for our next volunteer orientation. We also could not have accomplished this project without the help of board members, staff, volunteers, and In order to best meet the needs of each cat in our care, donors who gave their time to make it happen. Thank Wood County Humane Society offers both cageless you so much for supporting our efforts to continue to and caged housing options. Thanks to some amazing do more for the animals in our care. We invite you to donors and a crowdfunding campaign, we were able to stop out and visit our cats and see the results of everypurchase new state-of- the-art cages for those cats who one’s hard work. And don’t think we’ve forgotten about are just not suited to group housing. This can include our dogs; the next project is the dog kennels, so stay cats that are fearful, aggressive to other cats, require reg- tuned! Donate to WCHS ular monitoring, or are ill and require treatment. Addi- Check out photographs of our renovations on pages 14tionally, cats under five months of age are not recom17 of this issue of Animal Corner. FROM THE SHELTER: BIRDWATCHING BECOMES “NEXT BIG THING” AMONG RESIDENTS, VOLUNTEERS A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 1 3 FROM THE SHELTER: WCHS KITTEN SHOWER EDUCATES ON THE JOYS OF FOSTERING Photographs Courtesy of Emily Keegan A very special “Thank You” to the Bowling Green Community Center for sponsoring a charity week from June 22—June 27, during which, all proceeds from its classes were donated to WCHS! P age 1 4 A ug us t 2 0 1 5 From the Shelter: Renovation Projects Spiff Up the WCHS Everyone who has been out at the shelter recently knows things have been chaotic because we've been renovating our cat rooms. Our intake, isolation, kitchen, and free roaming cat room all got a fresh coat of paint on the walls and floor, new cabinets, sinks, refrigerators, and cages. Thank you to our Board Members Deb, Emily, Heath, and John for prepping and painting everything. An enormous thank you to Rhonda Garvey, our major donor for the project, Sherwin Williams for giving us a great deal on the paint, Everything for Pets for giving us a very generous discount on our new cat trees, Appliance Center for giving us a great deal on the refrigerators, Mark Hopefl for being our amazing contractor, John Zanfardino for helping paint, and Justin Guck for helping with pretty much everything! Before Before After After A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 1 5 Before After Before After Before After After A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 1 6 From the Shelter: Cat Room Undergoes Extreme Makeover Shelter Edition Before After Before After A ni m a l C o r n e r Before Before P age 1 7 After After After After P age 1 8 A ug us t 2 0 1 5 From the Outreach Coordinator: Fair of Fear By MEGANN SMITH Outreach Coordinator, WCHS Imagine your friends invite you out on an adventure. You’re excited, dressed up, and ready to go. The car ride is full of excitement and high energy. Once you arrive you realize they’ve taken you to an interactive haunted attraction: instant fear. You walk in and immediately the attraction’s smells hit you. There’s too many to distinguish exactly what each smell is, but they all mix and assault your nostrils. There’s no certainty of what will hit your nose next and the constant onslaught of odor is overwhelming. As you proceed through the attraction, it becomes increasingly more congested and clogged with people. There’s not a spare inch between you and the stranger to your left and right. Even the space in front of you is nothing but bodies. The attraction seems to never end. To accompany the chaos, there’s so much noise you can’t tell whether your friends are laughing, screaming, or trying to talk with you. Suddenly a hand appears in front of your face and another and another. Giggling ensues. The constant war on your senses is too much. It’s turned from an attraction to a nightmare. As you work your way through the masses, suddenly hands are on your head and back, petting and stroking you. There was no permission given, just sudden invasion. You almost black out, but suddenly realize you’re back in the car. You’re hyperventilating, stressed, and just want to go home. Your friends are all laughing and crank the radio up; they’re still energized from the “attraction.” You curl up in a ball in the back seat and just want to sob and tell them “Please let’s go home; I’m done,” but they don’t seem to hear you. This scenario sounds like a really bad night out, that eventually someone would forget or overcome. For a beloved pet, this could be an extremely stressful situation that could leave a lasting impression. Fair season is coming up and it’s a very common place for people to bring their pets. As a pet owner, such events can seem like great opportunities to get your four-legged family member out on a new experience. It’s important to remember that it may not be as a great of an experience as you’re thinking it will be. Your pet will be overwhelmed with all the sights, sounds, smells, and strangers. That can lead to a lot of unwanted stress which, in turn, can lead to unwanted behaviors. It’s your responsibility to do what’s best for you pet. Some animals may be fully capable of handling these new situations, Continued on page 22 A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 1 9 WCHS Wraps Up Vaccine Grant from GreaterGood.Org We recently were awarded a grant after our Shelter Manager, Erin McKibben, participated in a one-hour webinar about Panleukopenia (a highly contagious and life-threatening viral disease in the cat population, commonly referred as feline distemper). Erin answered questions about the webinar as part of the grant process. For her participation in the webinar, WCHS was awarded 200 doses of cat vaccinations that helped about 100 cats/kittens, and allowed us redirect funds normally used for vaccinations to other areas of animal care. The webinar was presented by Boerhinger Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., and the grant was made possible by GreaterGood.org. We Are Looking for a Few (More) Good Fosters Want to spend your Friday night bottle feeding an adorable kitten? Become a foster today and help us save little lives like Sherman (LEFT). He would not have survived if not for one of our dedicated foster moms providing him with around-the-clock care. Or, don’t have time for bottle babies? We also need foster families for kittens like Elvis (RIGHT). He is eating canned food out of a bowl and using the litter box, but is still too young to come into the shelter and be adopted. He would crash at your place until he reached 8 weeks at which time he would be neutered and placed up for adoption. Stop by the shelter for more information about fostering or visit our website. All potential fosters must complete an application form, which must be approved by the Shelter Manager. A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 2 0 Annual WCHS Garage Sale: Planning Has Already Begun for 2016 On Monday, June 8, 2015, the organizers of the Annual WCHS Garage Sale—Joe Schroeder and Stephanie Ringler—held a meeting to begin planning the 2016 garage sale event. In attendance were long-time core volunteers who help make the event possible (and so successful). For a recap of the 2015 sale, check out page 9 of this issue of Animal Corner. And make sure that you like the “Wood Co Humane Society Garage Sale” on Facebook. Thank you to our organizers, our volunteers, our donors, and, of course, our shoppers for making 2015 another successful garage sale year! Food Assistance at WCHS 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 also offer food assistance for caretakers of free-roaming cat colonies to encourage spaying and neutering, and continued care of these felines. In partnership with the Cocoon shelter, a local non-profit 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 transiIf you need assistance with an owned pet, then tion due to domestic violence. All cases are please complete the Pet Food Assistance Application. If you need help feeding a free-roaming cat or completely confidential and quality care of the pet(s) is assured. If you are a victim of domescolony, then please fill out the Free-Roaming Cat tic violence, and have a pet(s) that you need Food Assistance Application. Food assistance is only offered during adoption hours. If you are new help sheltering until you are able to make arto the program, then please print and fill out an ap- rangements for them to be back in your life, plication and bring your driver’s license to the shel- then please contact the Cocoon Shelter at 419ter during adoption hours so that a staff member 352-1545 or 1-800-472-9411. You can also can review your application. Food assistance is by find out more information about the Cocoon donation. We typically ask for at least $1. Shelter by visiting their website. A ni m a l C o r n e r From the Humane Agent’s Pen: Title By DEBRA LOPRETE Humane Agent, WCHS P age 2 1 A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 2 2 Continued from page 18 but it’s your duty to know if your animal can. Even more so it is your job to watch for signs that it is overwhelming for your animal. Fairs are great for social interaction and discovering new things. When you bring your pet, people may want to interact with him or her and may even do so without permission. Do your best to keep your pet safe and comfortable. One way you can do this is by attaching a yellow ribbon to the leash. A yellow ribbon indicates that the dog is not necessarily comfortable with being approached and the owner should be asked first. Another way to keep your animal comfortable is by keeping him/her close to you at all times. What we highly recommend is listening to your furry family member and knowing whether the fair is the best place for him/her. This goes for not only the fair, but also other public locations as well. Want to advertise in Animal Corner? Our newsletter is distributed electronically six times annually—on the first Monday of February, April, June, August, October, and December—and its boasts a circulation of approximately 2,000 unique subscribers (most of whom reside in the northwest Ohio area). Additionally, our newsletter is made available to the public on our website. October Issue ONLY October & December Issues 1/16 page $10 $15 1/8 page $20 $30 1/4 page $30 $45 1/2 page $40 $60 1 page $60 $90 Deadlines for receipt of camera-ready advertising materials are as follow: October issue—September 25 by noon; and December issue—November 27 by noon. All materials should be sent to Heath A. Diehl. Checks should be made payable to “Wood County Humane Society” and should be sent to our shelter at 801 Van Camp Road, Bowling Green, OH, 43402. (Please indicate in the subject line that the payment is for Animal Corner advertising.) A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 2 3 Help Us Find Duke, One Of Our Longest Residents, His Much-Deserved Forever Home Duke arrived at the shelter with his brother, Oakie, after their owner passed away. Shelter life has been a bit of an adjustment for Duke after living in a very quiet home, but he has tried very hard to fit in and adjust to his new life. (Duke’s brother, Oakie, was only just adopted, so Duke is now trying to adjust to being “alone” in the shelter.) Duke is still a little hesitant with strangers, but genuinely enjoys both company and affection once he's comfortable with somebody. (In fact, Duke has become a special favorite of one of our long-time volunteers, who regularly takes Duke on special excursions!) Duke is an adult male border collie and beagle mix, approximately 3 years in age. *All of our pets have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated appropriate to their age, tested for heart worm and current on prevention in dogs, and received an initial de-worming and flea prevention; adopters also are given a free physical exam to local participating veterinary offices. All of our pets are also microchipped prior to adoption. Check out Duke’s Petfinder profile. Fill out an adoption application for Duke. Enjoy the Season with our Sum-Meow Adoption Special! It's summertime which means it's time for sunshine, afternoon naps, fun, and cats! From now until August 31st, cats over the age of 6 months can be adopted with a $10.00 adoption fee. We have a whole new renovated room full of felines looking to find their summer and forever homes! The adoption special is only valid with an approved application and the adoption must be completed the same day. All of our adoptable pets are fully tested, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, microchipped, and loved. If an animal has yet to complete any of those steps, then that animal is not available for the special but would still love for you to consider taking him/her home. Learn more about adoption. A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 2 4 FROM THE SHELTER: DELILAH’S JOURNEY By CASSIE WILLIAMS Shelter Staff, WCHS Delilah came to us by very unfortunate circumstances in mid-May. She was violently attacked by a dog in her home and her owners could not afford the vet care that she desperately needed. They made the difficult choice to surrender her so that we could provide her with medical care. Just when Delilah was finally starting to physically recover, her foster mom came home to discover her struggling to breathe. Delilah was rushed to Dogwood Emergency Vet Clinic for treatment and was diagnosed with Puppy Strangles. Puppy Strangles is an autoimmune disease characterized by enlarged lymph nodes and pustules on the face. Delilah’s swelling was very severe and she required hospitalization at the emergency clinic so she could be treated with powerful steroids and kept on oxygen while also being treated with antibiotics for her previous dog bite wounds. Even though she was in pain and in unfamiliar settings, she still wanted to cuddle and give kisses to all of the veterinarians and vet techs. Delilah was released to her foster mom after a few days so she could continue her recovery at home. After almost two very long months, Delilah was finally ready to be adopted into her forever home. Recently Delilah was at the shelter with her foster mom when Kristen and Nathan Instone and their two kids came in to see the animals. They had been in search of a family dog; after meeting all of the other animals, stopped up in the office to meet Delilah. Her foster mom was working on the computer when she heard the most beautiful sound. It was a little girl hysterically laughing with pure joy. Delilah was smothering her with kisses and the little girl loved every second of it. Her laughter was contagious and soon her family and Delilah’s foster mom were all laughing along with her. It was obvious that the family was smitten with Delilah, so they took an application home with them and talked it over. Kristen came back a few hours later with the application ready to make Delilah a member of their family. Luckily, the Instone’s are a very patient family because Delilah wasn’t quite ready to leave that day. She still had medications to finish and one last vet check-up to go to. Once Delilah got the ok from her vet, Delilah’s new family came to pick her up (along with all of her possessions that her foster mom had spoiled her with) so she could start her new life with A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 2 5 them. Delilah had been through so much in her short life and her foster mom had gotten very attached to her so her departure caused many happy tears. Delilah has thrived in her new home. Her mom says that “Since adopting her, our home feels complete.” She has spent every night sleeping with her new human siblings Max and Riley. They call her the “licking puppy” because Delilah likes to spend her time showering them with kisses. In fact, Max says that “she licks us and loves us, we’re like frosting” and Riley says, “She is adorable; she loves to lick my lips and play with squeaky toys. She lays on the couch and likes to squish around you.” Delilah has been nothing but loved and cuddled since she was adopted and she finally has the wonderful family she so greatly deserves. Contribute to Our “Second Chance Fund” and Help Other Deserving Animals Like Delilah If you would like to help other special animals like Delilah, then you can donate to our "Second Chance Fund" by calling the shelter (419-352-7339) or by stopping by during regular shelter hours (801 Van Camp Road, BG). Any amount will be greatly appreciated, and we accept cash, check, and credit card! You can donate by credit card at our website. P age 2 6 A ug us t 2 0 1 5 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: ADOPTION UPDATES 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 August issue of Animal Corner is 24 July 2015 by noon. “Tiffany (UPPER LEFT) and Kasidee (ABOVE) are sisters who joined our household in 2011 at the age of seven, having been at the WCHS shelter for two years. They immediately took to their newly expanded ‘cage’ and quickly explored every room. We have a secure outside enclosure where they are allowed to go when we are at home. They are absolutely adorable and have us totally under their control.” (LEFT) “2 years ago I got rescued by Josie! My how time flies when you're so in love! Bless you all for the amazing work you do!” A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 2 7 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: ADOPTION UPDATES (ABOVE) “Here's Henry relaxing in the cat tree...he is not too crazy about the dogs, but he is getting used to them. He is doing really good.” (TOP RIGHT) “I adopted this sweet girl (Gabrielle) 6 months ago ...what a perfect addition she has been. She is so cuddly and sweet. So thankful I found her!“ (RIGHT) “Leo on the left and Killian (formerly Eustace, adopted in May) on the right. So happy with our two boys.” (LOWER RIGHT) “My kids, who are BFFs, enjoying a sunny day last week. Both Cody Willis (right) and Nellie Sue (left) came from the WCHS. Thanks for all you do!” (BELOW) “Bff's for life! Diva (formerly Lindsey) (from WCHS) myself and Diesel (found roaming and rescued) are the best friends a girl could ask for and they absolutely adore each other.” A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 2 8 HONORS THANK AND MEMORIALS YOU FOR YOUR In Memory of... Bailey Cervenec from Jack and Susan Pesci Bev Bockbrader from Michael and Susan Frost Buster, Dixie, and Critter (pets) from Laura V. and Dave Weaver Champion Hartline’s Rumor Has It from Joy E. Kantner Cloie (pet) from M. Sue Kalmbach Cody (pet) from Robert D. Erford Dolores Grote from Linda M. and David Yonkof Donald Santmire from James and Jeannine Roof Edith Spirek from Melissa M. Spirek and Sean McClelland Eleanore Rysz from Bill and Marlene Evans Gertie and Bella (pets) from Karen and Gregory Keever Gin Trimble from Benjamin E. Van Scoder Grace R. Maggiotti from Melissa M. Spirek and Sean McClelland Harold Harvey from James A. Elkington Larry and Tina Ponzi R. D. Conley Greg and Peggy Harmon Doris Cole Kim Pohlman Rich and Terry Hoff Joel Nowicki from Kay and Kent M. Lincoln John F. Espen from C&G Memorial Branch 100 John Mermer from KINDNESS Phil and Chris Dominique Amy Kajca Barbara and Jim Harris Jeffrey and Susan Barley Michael and Trina McGivern Kayan S. Jordan from Barbara Stott Dan and Patsy Roe Marvin D. Heminger Micheal and Monica Elling Lucas (pet cat) from Michael and Susan Frost Lyle Yackee from Deborah L. Helmbold and Ron Bolander Malcolm (pet) from Renee K. Foreman Marybeth Salisbury from Anonymous Mr. P-Cat from Michael and Susan Frost Muffy (pet) from Marilyn Norwalk Bragg Nemo from Patricia Fugee and Greg Cole Robert and Millie Foltz from Lizette and Gerald Kraushaar Tank, Big Red, and Coco from Norm and Carol Carpenter Thomas Shapler from Chris Szymanowski Carolyn A. Shelt Thomas and Judith Sanderson Walter Meyer James and Ruth Baumann Tito Kunckler (pet cat) from Karen Wolf Vernon Morlock from Scott and Cynthia Emch Virginia Trimble from Helen Topp Walter (pet) from Ronald E. and Jeanne A. Stoner Winnie from Connie Bridges Board Members Sought We currently are seeking applications to our Board of Directors, 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. The WCHS Board of Directors meets once monthly for two hours. Other time commitments vary. Those interested should contact Heath A. Diehl, Board Secretary. In Honor Of… Brian McMillan from Jean and Bill Espen Evelyn Eynon’s 10th Birthday (Happy Birthday, Evelyn!) from Lesly and Michael Stout Janie (pet) from Linda Edgar John Eggerstorfer from Mary and Leslie Jan Kendall Foley’s 4th Birthday (Happy Birthday, Kendall!) from Scott E. and Joy E. Stocker Raysa J. and Lizardo Lopez Daniel R. and Lindsay S. Almester Richard W. and Sarah M. Byington Preston Linley and April Distel Douglas M. and Mary K. Nelson Danielle M. and Richard M. Blech Kaila D. and James E. Mugford Lindsay and Patrick M. Scott Wesley D. and Erin C. Grieger Jessica D. and Jared Barron Amy M. and Eric L. Hohenberger Lacy Jane from Kathy J. Stahl-Groves Lexi from Connie Bridges Maisee (pet) from Karen and Gregory Keever Margo (pet) from Donna Bosch Mike and Sue Frost from Grant and Barb Tansel Virginia Parratt from Dan Parratt Honors and Memorials from May 15, 2015 through July 15, 2015 Ask Felix & Connor Curious about cats? Send in your questions to Felix and he’ll highlight a few in our next newsletter. Or, if you have a few questions about dogs, then send in your questions to Connor and he’ll highlight a few in our next newsletter. A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 2 9 AROUND THE COUNTRY/AROUND THE WORLD: YOGA STUDIO OPENS ITS DOORS TO SHELTER CATS HOPING TO FIND A HOME By STEPHEN MESSENGER Staff Editor, The Dodo It's (obviously) no secret that the company of cats is good for the soul, and that practicing yoga is too. But when the two come together, it's a match made in heaven — and even more so when it's for such a wonderful cause. Homeward Bound, a no-kill pet shelter in Illinois, recently teamed up with a local studio, Yoga at Connie's, to host a special class featuring adoptable adult cats. Students were encouraged to practice their poses and mingle freely with the felines, all in hopes of finding them and others the forever homes they deserve. The results were amazing. "I love cats, so obviously it was going to be great," yoga teacher Connie Pease told The Dodo. "It was an opportunity for people who like cats to help the shelter." Six adoptable cats from the shelter were welcomed into the studio, allowed to wander among the students and join in on the activity. For the duration of the class, they snuggled among the students and accepted belly rubs while putting on poses of their own (though a few of the cats preferred to watch from the sidelines). "The ones that were really active really made the class a lot of fun," Pease said. "They jumped on the students and kissed them. One had their butt in my face, but we had so much fun with them." As fun as the class was, it resulted in more than just a good time. From just that one class, participants raised more than $500 for the shelter, money that will go a long way toward helping the other kitties who couldn't join in that day. Continued on page 32 A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 3 0 AROUND THE COUNTRY/AROUND LIBRARY STOCKS CATS THE WORLD: By LAURA DOERING Contributor, CatChannel.com You’d expect to hear more "shhhhhh!” and less "meow!” if you worked in a building that houses a library. But for one library in New Mexico, a little meowing is acceptable. A Reddit poster who goes by the handle Loocyloo recently shared a little perk she and her fellow officemates get to enjoy — an on-site cat and kitty playland. Prepare to be jealous: building employees get to check out cats and kittens and take them back to their desks for an hour each day to have some play time, lounge-in-lap time or whatever else strikes the feline’s fancy ("Ooh, crumpled up meeting-minutes paper… dibs!”). Yep, you have every right to feel envious, especially if your closest cat-fix to get you through your workday is a "Hang in there!” kitten on-the-ledge poster. Loocyloo’s post explains how the cats came to the library. "The county work[s] with the local animal shelter, and because we get so much of the public coming through our lobby every day, they put up a large enclosed cat condo, and some of the shelter kitties come here so they have a higher chance of being adopted. Meanwhile, the employees get to enjoy them, and it gives the cats a chance to be socialized before they are adopted.” The cats come to the library for a little stay before going up for official adoption, and Loocyloo reports that this program has been in affect for a year now, and it has lead to more than 100 cat adoptions. "I’m all for any way of finding cats happy homes to be loved in and if they have some fun and interaction in between then that sounds great, too.” Well-said Loocyloo, well-said. The cats apparently have a pretty sweet spot at the front lobby of the building, and here’s a stat to share with your own boss: when the cats came to the office, employee job satisfaction rate went up. For those unfortunate employees allergic to cats, this twofloor building offers alternative routes around the cats and, in the "make-it-work” spirit, employees who are in the cat allergy-clear are respectful enough to keep the cats away from co-workers who might be allergic. Happy cats, happy employees; win-win all around. Read the original article here. A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 3 1 Giving Made Easy The next time you're buying a book by your favorite author, or downloading an album 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 upper-left-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. 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, Did you know that Amazon.com will donate about a penny is donated to our cause. It adds up— 0.5% of the price of your eligible Amaalready over $635! Just go to GoodSearch, choose zonSmile purchases to the charitable organi- WCHS as your cause, and then search as usual. zation of your choice? All you need to do is visit https://smile.amazon.com/, log in, and then desigDid you know that you can support the nate the WCHS as your charitable organization of care of homeless animals simply by walkchoice. ing your dog, or just yourself? When you use the WoofTrax app during your walk Have you enrolled in the Krogor run, your logged miles will turn into a er Community Rewards® program? donation to benefit the pets in our care. Simply install Did you know that Kroger Community the free Android or iPhone app, select the Wood Rewards® has contributed thousands County Humane Society as your chosen shelter, and of dollars to the animals at the go! You can select the organization you are walking for WCHS??? The program was designed to make fund- in the setup tab of the app for iPhone users, or in the raising easy for everyone involved—and it couldn't be settings menu for Android users. 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 Thank you for your support! swipe your card and a percentage of your total bill will be donated to WCHS! CALLING ALL GRANT WRITERS!!! We currently are looking for com- the animals of Wood County. Interested parties should contact munity volunteers with interest and Grant-writing volunteers might Kathy Dean, VP of Administration, experience in grant writing. spearhead a capital campaign as for more information. well as seek out grants to fund aniPersons interested in this oppormal care or education/outreach potunity would be expected to resitions, in addition to other prosearch potential grant projects and jects. These volunteers would be identify relevant ones that would expected to work closely with the assist us in raising funds to support Shelter Manager and other relevant the treatment and quality of life for persons in the writing of grants. A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 3 2 Continued from page 29 One of the cats present has even since been adopted. For shelter volunteer Jeanette Skaluba, whose idea it was to put on the event, giving people the chance to interact with cats like this can make all the difference when it comes to finding them a forever home. "A lot of people find shelters depressing, so they're not inclined to visit," Skaluba told The Dodo. "By taking the cats to something like a yoga class, people have the opportunity see and interact with them outside the shelter. It gives these cats exposure and shows their personality. I think people can envision these pets in their home easier because they're outside the shelter." Adult cats in particular can use the added attention. All too often, potential pet owners overlook more mature cats in favor of kittens, even though they too have so much love to offer. With their generally calmer, more easygoing personalities, adult cats should be especially appealing to fans of yoga. Unlike dogs, says Pease, cats seem to want to hop right in when their humans are exercising: "If you're doing yoga, they enjoy it too. That's the reason we put the yoga and the cats together. They're just ideal companions." Skaluba and Pease say they plan on teaming up in the future for more classes like this involving cats — and they hope word will catch on in other yoga studios around the country about what a great idea it is. "I felt so blessed to have the chance to do this. We had to step back and just say 'wow,'" Pease said. "I don't charge enough for yoga. To me it's not about money, because I like helping people. But now that I can help animals become adopted, that's a whole different world for me." Read the original article here. 307 Industrial Parkway * Bowling Green, OH, 43402 (419) 352-6300 A ni m a l C o r n e r P age 3 3 In loving memory of Joe & Zola Buford and their Chow-Chow 24165 Front St., Grand Rapids (419) 832-7520 (419) 352-8639 (419) 352-5166 Proud Presenting Sponsor of the Wood County Humane Society’s 2015 Wine & Dine Event 1021 Warwick Avenue Toledo, OH 43607 (419) 578-7387 infotoledo@pawsandremember.com Paws & Remember was founded to support pet owners in their time of loss. Since 1997, we have been providing full-service memorialization for pets of every description. Our high-quality pet cremation, pet urns, and pet remembrance products help pet owners and families express their feelings and pay tribute to their pets. Paws & Remember works to help pet owners in a time of mourning and reflection. By bringing together support services and memorialization options, Paws & Remember helps pet owners cope with loss and honor their pets in an appropriate, meaningful way. The WCHS Wants YOU to ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS Here! For information on advertising in Animal Corner, please contact Public Relations Committee Chair Heath A. Diehl. 6190 Levis Commons Blvd. (419) 931-8400 Website Facebook Wood County Dog Shelter 115 Clay Street Bowling Green, OH (419) 352-5417 1912 E. Gypsy Lane Rd., Bowling Green (419) 354-9242 1-866-860-4140, ext. 9242 Emergency: (419) 353-9802 Visit their website for more information E-mail Website Check out the adoptable dogs currently avail- Facebook 215 N. Main Street Bowling Green, OH (419) 352-5104 We’re your library Bowling Green * Walbridge * Bookmobile Website Facebook 108 N. Main Street Walbridge, OH (419) 666-9900 able at the Wood County Dog Shelter on their Petfinder! Shelter Hours Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 3:30—4:30 Friday Saturday Sunday 8:30—4:30 8:30—6:30 8:30—4:30 8:00—12, 8:30—4:30 9:00—1:00 Closed Pet Sitting Puppy Visits Pet Transportation Daily Dog Walking Good Manners Training Overnight Stays Yard Clean Up Customized Visits www.petamigopetcare.com 13270 Bishop Road Bowling Green, OH 43402 (301) 471-0296 Website E-Mail Facebook Check out our exclusive WCHS merchandise at 3131 Tremainsville Road, Toledo, OH 43613 (419) 266-5607 Website E-Mail Facebook A ug us t 2 0 1 5 P age 3 8 IN THE LIBRARY: IN THE PAWPRINTS OF ASTA My love of mysteries began as a child with the Nancy Drew books and with the old movies I watched with my mother. Among the latter, one my favorites was (and remains) The Thin Man, based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. William Powell and Myrna Loy’s acting chops in the film were lost on me, however. To me the movie was all about Nick and Nora Charles’ clever dog, Asta. Later, as an adult, I came to appreciate not only Powell and Loy, but also Dashiell Hammett’s brilliant crime fiction, which ranks among my most favorite. When thinking about dogs in mysteries (and not wanting to forget Toby, the bloodhound occasionally employed by Sherlock Holmes) many of us first think of the nightmarish dog in Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic, The Hound of the Baskervilles. I’d like to suggest four contemporary mystery series with dogs who follow in Asta and Toby’s pawprints, and are truly best friends to a book’s protagonist. When it comes to canine companionship it’s hard to beat Golden Retrievers. Just ask V. I. (Vic) Warshawski, a tough, no-holds-barred P.I. and champion of Chicago’s downtrodden. Vic first appears in Indeminty Only by Sara Paretsky. Paretsky’s own love of Golden Retrievers is mirrored in Vic’s relationship with her Goldens Peppy and Mitch, and later in the series, Callie. Similarly, writer Laura Lippman’s love for her hometown of Baltimore and for rescue greyhounds finds expression in her PI books featuring reporter-turned-detective, Tess Monaghan. Tess is the human companion to a couple of “sad-sack” greyhound rescue dogs. Charm City is the first of the Tess Monaghan series. Dogs frequently share in the action in mysteries, too. Look no further than Mutt and Dog, characters in the mysteries of Dana Stabenow and Craig Johnson for two examples. Mutt is the half-wolf, half-husky companion to Stabenow’s Alaskan PI, Kate Shugak. Dog is a mastiff-mix reluctantly adopted by Craig Johnson’s Wyoming Sheriff, Walt Longmire. Meet Kate and Mutt in A Cold Day for Murder, and meet Walt and Dog in The Cold Dish. These are four of my own favorite series. In addition to giving us memorable canine and human characters, these mysteries are written by award-winning masters of the genre. Their books offer readers a “fair play” mystery (providing clues for those who enjoy solving the mystery along with the sleuth), capture a strong sense of location, and are peopled by complex characters, humans and dogs, who grow over the course of the series. The good news for mystery and dog lovers is that all four of these writers regularly publish new books. Even more good news: there are many more great mysteries which feature dogs and humans in crime-solving partnerships. Stop by the library and let us help you discover one! See you at the library, Mary Boone Join me next time for “Cats on the Case: Beyond Koko and Yum Yum.”