|
|
| Issue 4 - July/August, 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
(Please click above where TO VIEW THIS ENTIRE ENEWSLETTER PLEASE click here is indicated. Since different email programs may display information differently than intended, this will make sure you are able to enjoy the entire enewsletter.)
Welcome to the fourth enewsletter of the Humane Society of Skagit Valley!
We are extremely proud and honored to be associated with the Humane Society of Skagit Valley. This is a true society where everyone's goal is to better the lives of homeless animals and see to their needs while they await their loving and forever homes.
Last week, during our weekly trip to the Humane Society, we found it bustling with activity as usual. There were two people in the adoption room. We caught a glimpse of the people and they looked so happy and the new cat they found was on the woman's lap all snuggled-in as the staff person was completing the adoption paperwork. There was one young couple and their son petting a Husky mix and the look on their faces was pure joy. The phones were very busy. We overheard a staff member taking a report on a lost dog and we heard utmost compassion and care in her voice. There was a volunteer who was walking dogs. Another volunteer was busy entertaining a group of cats in one of the two roaming rooms. There were some people at the entrance checking out brochures. Some staff members cleaned the dog cages while playing and talking to the dogs.
All this is made possible by the generous donations and bequests of the people in our community. It is staggering to think about the devotion and dedication it takes for the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to keep this place going, growing, and developing for the future.
There has been so much done and so much remains to be done for the homeless animals in our community.
Thank you for caring about the animals and for your contributions to the Humane Society of Skagit Valley. Please keep those donations coming in. All contributions, no matter how big or small, really do make a difference in the lives of the animals.
If you have any feedback or suggestions, we would love to hear from you.
For all the animals,
Volunteers Karen and Bruce Roberts |
|
|
Donations
If you wish to donate to the animals online, below is a link to PayPal.
Please click the link and follow the instructions.
or
If you wish to donate and write a check, please make it payable to the Humane Society of Skagit Valley and mail to:
Humane Society of Skagit Valley
18841 Kelleher Road
Burlington, WA 98233 |
|
Please Join Us on
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Anne Jackson
Memorial Run/Walk
In Honor of Anne Jackson
and Her Love for Animals
All event proceeds go to the Humane Society of Skagit Valley
2 Mile Walk (dogs welcome!)
Formerly Humane Society's "Doggone Walkathon"
No dog? No problem! Just call the Shelter and ask about walking a Shelter dog.
Collect pledges from sponsors prior to the event.
Collect $50 or more in pledges, and receive a free t-shirt and free registration!
"Top Dog Award" will be handed out to the highest pledge donations.
5 K & 10 K Run
Prizes given for race winners!
Race Director: Herb Oberg
Phone: 360-661-6503
Email: hwoberg@gmail.com
After the walk/runs, there will be refreshments, raffles, awards and prizes!
Event Details:
Saturday, August 22, 2009 Location: Humane Society of Skagit Valley 18841 Kelleher Road Burlington, WA 98233 Phone: 360-757-0445 Fax: 360-757-2568 Website : http://www.skagithumane.com/
Hours: Mon-Fri 11-5, Sat-Sun 11-4
Day-of-Race Registration
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
2 Mile Walk Start
9:15 a.m.
5 K & 10 K Run Start
9:30 a.m.
Memorial Ceremony
11:30 a.m. |
|
Calling All Writers...Articles Wanted
Do you have uplifting, heartwarming, cute, funny, or happy stories to tell involving pets? Oh, sure you do! Please submit your stories (pictures welcome as well) to editorHSSVenewsletter@yahoo.com. We would love to include your stories in future enewsletters. The rewards include making people smile. |
|
HER GRANDMA'S TEACHER
Pictured Above: Olivia and Honey
Olivia has had a bond with dogs ever since she was two years old when she got up one snowy night and locked herself out of the house. When her Mom got up and realized her daughter was out at 2:00 in the morning, she found her snuggled up with a six-month-old Newfoundland/Chow puppy. Since the temperature was near freezing, it was a blessing to find her safe and warm.
Olivia started her community service project last year by taking Honey, her Golden Retriever, to the Life Care Center to make people happy. She did this for three months and then got involved with the 4-H Club.
After a visit to the Everett Animal Shelter, she went to her Grandma's house and put Honey, Rowdy (a Yorkshire Terrier) and any cat she could capture in cages. She played pet adoption and the whole family had to adopt one or they would surely be homeless.
Olivia has been a volunteer with the Humane Society of Skagit Valley since February 2009. Every Friday she gets a ride with her Grandma and ever so confidently signs herself in, puts on her volunteer badge with pride, and starts asking if any of the dogs she walked last week are still there. She isn't shy about telling everyone that she knows what wing they were in and what their names are. At the end of the day, Olivia assists in clean up and makes the rounds with the older volunteers.
Each week, she puts her Grandma's spare change in the donation box and says it feels good. She would like to see other kids help homeless animals, and wants to remind them not to buy a dog if they can't play with him/her.
To further advance her cause, she has written a five-page book about her adventures with Honey. It is on display at the HSSV. If you like it, she would like you to donate your spare change to the Shelter. Olivia plans on making it a chapter book. Olivia has already finished the next chapter about Honey's birthday party (to which all her friends were invited, even Kumar a bulldog with two missing toes).
Olivia wants to own a shelter to help dogs when she grows up. Her Grandma has declined her newest idea of turning Grandma's spare bedroom into a small hotel for dogs.
Olivia is only in the second grade and who knows where her passion will lead? She seems to be the teacher and her Grandma the student, and Grandma never knows what will come next.
Written by: Judy Peterson (Grandma) |
Meet Brandy Belcher,
Staff Member
Q. How long have you been at HSSV?
A. For almost one year now.
Q. What led you to work with animals?
A. I have been an animal lover since I was a little girl. I have always had animals in my life: dogs, horses, goats, cats, rabbits, chickens, etc. It was just inevitable that I wound up working around animals.
Q. How do you spend your time day to day?
A. I spend a lot of time processing incoming animals in the intake office. I get information about the background of the pets, give them a health check and vaccinations, and find them a place in our facility. I also spend quite a bit of time working with the public, trying to match them with the appropriate animals. As a supervisor, it is also my job to make sure the animals are being properly cared for. I also spend one-on-one time with any animal that needs extra TLC.
Q. What do you like about coming to work?
A. I love being around the animals. They always bring a smile to my face. There are so many incredible pets that come through our Shelter. I also work with amazing people who make coming to work a pleasure. They know how to work hard and laugh hard too.
Q. What is your favorite part of your job?
A. I love seeing the animals get adopted into their forever homes, especially the pets that have been here for longer periods of time. There is nothing better than knowing they'll be sleeping in their new homes that night and not in kennels or cages.
Q. Describe the happiest of times in your job?
A. Again, the best thing is seeing the pets get adopted into wonderful homes. Dogs are so people oriented. They are literally "man's best friend." Seeing them lonely and confused can be heartbreaking. It is such a happy moment when a pet finds a home.
Q. If you had to name one most memorable experience, what would it be and what made it so?
A. That would probably be the recent puppy mill bust when we had these poor critters housed in our Shelter. I went through with the vet to evaluate their health and it was just atrocious how neglected the dogs were. Their owners were making massive amounts of money on their offspring, while leaving helpless animals in sickening conditions.
Q. What is the funniest animal story you have witnessed while at work?
A. Animal Control brought in this feral cat that somehow escaped from his cage. The Animal Control Officer and I were standing there while this insane kitty ripped apart the intake office. Papers, pens, and miscellaneous items were flung around the office and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I am a lot more careful with feral kitties now, to say the least!
Q. Name the biggest challenge you encounter and how you deal with it?
A. At the moment, we are seeing a lot of owner surrenders because people are losing their homes and livelihoods. It is so hard for pets that have been part of a family for years to adjust to shelter life. They often get very depressed. I believe an animal is a lifetime commitment for better or for worse. I encourage people to take advantage of our free food program and keep their pets in the family.
Q. What advice would you give others who may be interested in working at a Humane Society?
A. It can be emotional work and you have to be prepared to deal with that. Animals are very perceptive creatures so they can pick up on your attitude.
Q. What advice would you give pet owners to keep their animals safe and healthy?
A. Make sure your animal is getting lots of exercise and attention. Feed your pet high quality food (you will notice a big difference) and take them to the vet regularly. Always keep tags on your pet to identify them and get them microchipped. Spoil them rotten!
Q. What advice would you give people who find stray pets?
A. Ask your neighbors if it belongs to someone they know. Then, call your local shelter and ask if someone has reported the pet as missing. Have it scanned for a microchip at the closest vet or shelter. If you are unable to find an owner, bring it to your local shelter because that will most likely be the first place the pet's owner will look for it.
Q. What do you like to do in your spare time?
A. I love hiking with my dog and riding my horses.
Q. Anything else you would like to say?
A. Just a big thank-you to everyone who has ever adopted a pet from a shelter or volunteered their time to help homeless animals. |
|
Just imagine how busy life is for a mama cat with six babies, feeding and looking after her precious little ones. Now imagine having four more babies to feed and look after. Yes, ten sweet babies! This is exactly what happened to Mama. Mama was at the Humane Society when suddenly four more babies were found orphaned on a boat and brought to the Shelter. Mama instantly welcomed them as if they were her own. In fact, three of the orphaned four are even Manx like Mama. All ten babies are thriving, thanks to our Mother of the Year!
The Richeson family is fostering Mama and her babies.
|
We Love Rain!
My sister, Theresa, is an avid volunteer at the Humane Society of Skagit Valley. She selects three to four dogs at a time to work with, training them to walk with a leash and generally to behave and respond to commands. This is all done in the hopes that it will make them more adoptable. In fact, she has adopted two dogs to join her and her dog Shumi.
Theresa often shares her stories about the dogs. Some of them are beautiful. One such story is about Rain.
Rain, a Shepherd mix, was at the Humane Society from April, 2008 until March, 2009 when she finally found a home and what a home she has found! Rain is living in a group home for disabled people. There are eight residents and she will be a service dog for all of them. She is being trained to open doors, turn lights on/off, pick things up, and in general be helpful to her new friends. What a wonderful new life for all concerned.
Let's not forget our four-legged friends, especially those who have no one to love and care for them. They can give so much in return.
Pictured below is beautiful Rain...
Written By: Linda Powell
Editors Note: We first met Theresa Chason in Issue 1 in an interview about the magnificent volunteer work she does at the Humane Society. |
Meet Kim Hamilton,
Volunteer
Q. How long have you been a volunteer at HSSV?
A. Three years.
Q. What led you to volunteer to work with animals?
A. I've loved animals all my life and after learning of the HSSV, I stopped by to see if there were needs I could help fill.
Q. What do you like most about volunteering at HSSV?
A. The common goal we all have to make the animals safe and loved.
Q. If you had to name one most memorable experience, what would it be and what made it so?
A. It was the very first Doggone Walkathon I participated in and I took my pup and neighbor's daughter, Rachael, with me. On the drive back, I looked in my rear view mirror to see the pup lovingly leaning up against Rachel. The connection between dog and girl was such a beautiful and touching sight and I will never forget it.
Q. What is the funniest animal story you have witnessed?
A. Around Christmas, the second year I was fostering for HSSV, I was asked if I could take a new arrival Manx cat that was pregnant. I took her home and isolated her in one of our bathrooms. Being around Christmas and with my grandson coming to spend his vacation with us, we became very busy. Christmas came and went and my husband and I discussed how long the Manx, now named Lovey Nub (because of her nubby little tail), had been with us. We wondered what the gestation period was for cats and after finding the answer on the internet we realized Lovey Nub wasn't pregnant. She had been showing a natural trait to the Manx breed. She was round, round, round. Having determined she wasn't pregnant we took her to the vet to make sure she was all right and to get her fixed if that was the case. The vet soon brought her back out with a shaved belly to show me she was not pregnant and she had already been spayed. This was a very amusing lesson in Manx rearing.
Q. Name the biggest challenge you encounter and how you deal with it?
A. The biggest challenge we have encountered is coping with the loss of one of our charges. Before I started fostering I had never lost a kitten. Having fostered well over one hundred cats and kittens since we opened our house to fostering in 2005, we have lost several kittens and lovingly assisted a few of our elderly inhabitants in their passing. Accepting these losses and knowing in my heart that these precious animals are ultimately in God's hands helps us to cope. We have set aside a small area on our property as a cemetery for our lost charges. This has helped give us closure and a place to give thanks for the time they spent with us.
Q. What advice what you give others who may be interested in volunteering at the Humane Society?
A. GO FOR IT!
Q. What advice would you give pet owners to keep their animals safe and healthy?
A. Tell them they're safe and loved and pray for them. Taking them to a vet is good as well! It is important to stay aware of changes in their behavior. If the owner notices their animals sleeping more than usual or they seem to be losing weight it would be best to have them checked out by their vet. Additionally, as a rule of thumb, the pets shouldn't be fed people food. An occasional taste is all right; however cat and dog food is designed to maintain pet health and should be almost exclusive to their diet.
Q. What advice would you give people who find stray pets?
A. Contact the Humane Society to see if they are lost. If the pets are not lost and you want to keep them, take them to the vet for shots and spaying or neutering. If you are unable to keep the pets, turn them over to the Humane Society where they can be cared for until they find new loving forever homes.
Q. We heard you have a "cat house"? Is that true?
A. The first year my grandson Jonah and I volunteered, we started fostering one cat at a time. The more time we spent at the Shelter, the more we saw the need for more fostering room. I located a 1200 sq ft doublewide manufactured home that needed to be moved from its location. After going through the permit process we had it moved to our 25 acres and I had the only legal "cat house" in Skagit County. It has two bedrooms where I can foster moms with babies and the rest of the house is for retirees and unadoptables. Two of the retirees found homes.
We have set up the house to be similar to an actual home with furniture and television and music. The house has electricity but no water or sewer so it requires a bit of work to keep the house clean and stocked with water. We heat with a woodstove so our 25 acres of wooded property has provided much needed relief from the high cost of firewood.
When Jonah visits us he has sleepovers and the kitties love the company. The kids help with some cleaning and bring in wood for the stove. The kitties watch Disney movies and listen to a variety of music. We always decorate for Christmas and in the spring they hang out on their little deck and meet my other kitties at a shed that is halfway between the main house and the "cat house." They always go back to their own home. My husband has cleared a lot of land so they have a nice yard of their own. As a family, we have decided to give them food, shelter, love and a chance to be kitties!
P.S. If you are ever out in the Marblemount area and wish to stop by, please call us at 360-873-4284.
Here are pictures of the "cat house," one during spring and one during winter.
|
|
Caring and Sharing
Meet Dee Raudebaugh and Nancy Chambers, two of the many people who opened their hearts and homes to survivors of the recent puppy mill bust in Skagit County. Both dogs were pregnant and Dee and Nancy share some of their experiences with fostering.
Dee Raudebaugh
Dee is a volunteer who has been walking and working with dogs since 1992. Dee has one feral cat named Sara who is 12 years old. In the past, Dee had various other pets (one cat named Shadow who had two legs shorter than the other two legs).
Dee recalls when the puppy mill dogs were brought to the Skagit County Fairgrounds. She saw the filth they had lived in and wanted to help.
Dee fostered a pregnant Yorkshire Terrier who she named Ms. Lucy. Dee says, "She told me her name." Ms. Lucy had four puppies that were born on March 4, 2009. Their names are Samantha (the first born and largest), Zoe, Bailey, and Mr. Feisty who was the last pup born and the smallest and most ignored. Mr. Feisty had a will to live and tried the hardest no matter what.
Dee says Ms. Lucy has great climbing abilities. "She can escape over gates. It took me three days of returning gates back to the store until I finally built a wall she couldn't get over. Ms. Lucy also has an adventurous spirit and is always curious. During her first trip outside, she was interested in and amazed when she heard her first bird singing and when she first saw a rabbit. She loved rolling around on the ground. She was fascinated by what was under the trees and all the creatures that are running around making strange noises," Dee notes.
"The puppies were very active and as soon as they could get around, they began playing together, jumping on each other, rolling around, pouncing, etc.," says Dee.
Asked what advice she would offer other foster parents, Dee said, "Talk to others about the work and facilities needed. Check with the organization for which you are helping and ask a lot of questions along the way. Also, be prepared to bond with the mom and/or puppies. It is impossible not to bond."
Here is Ms. Lucy:
Here are the adorable pups at four weeks:
Nancy Chambers
Nancy first adopted a Chihuahua, that she named Zeke, from the Humane Society in 1999. Zeke is now 16 years old and going strong. Nancy also has seven potbelly pigs, five goats, five ducks, two turkeys, and a parrot (all of them rescued animals). In addition, Nancy has 42 laying hens, assorted banty chickens, a Great Pyrenees named Kiska and a Golden Retriever/Chow mix named Kwan.
Nancy could not help but offer to foster a pregnant Yorkshire Terrier from the recent puppy mill bust. "The Yorkshire Terrier was named Gidget while at the Humane Society and the name fit her very well," recalls Nancy. Gidget was not only Mom to one of her own babies, but also three other pups from another rescued Chihuahua at the Shelter!
"I remember the first time I took Gidget outside; she had no idea why we were there. However, the second time she spotted the chickens and nature took over and she was belly down on the grass and started to stalk them. Gidget was also a little too interested in the parrot, but never did get close enough to get nipped," Nancy remembers.
Asked what advice she would offer other foster parents, Nancy said "Make sure you have lots of patience because there will be set backs, but the final outcome is well worth it."
Kwan sure made an excellent pup sitter and looked for them whenever they were out of his sight:
Here is Gidget with Pixie, Gypsie, Dobbie, and Smokey:
|
|
So Many Options...Come On In...
What's New at the Humane Society Thrift Shop
The Humane Society Thrift Shop is still bursting with lots of summer shorts, sandals and swimsuits for the entire family! We've also recently started a new Junior section, which is featuring clothing for teenage and young women...clothes that are on the fun, trendy side.
Also new in our shop is a selection of nicer jewelry, including lots of sterling silver and even some gold.
We also have a huge selection of ceramic molds for sale....only $1 each!
And we almost always have beautiful cats available for adoption!
Remember when you are cleaning out your own house, that the Humane Society Thrift Shop would be delighted to receive your donation of clean, resalable items. All proceeds stay local to help the homeless and abused animals in Skagit County!
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 7:30 pm
Saturday, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
You'll find us at 525-D East College Way, just four doors north of Value Village. Call 360-424-5991 for additional information. We thank you and hope to see you soon!
|
|
I have to be the luckiest ferret ever. I was abandoned in the back of a bus without any food and water. It was sure scary. A wonderful person found me and brought me to the Shelter. I never even got to say thank you. Everyone is so nice here; I feel really special. Here is a picture of me.
You may have thought the Humane Society of Skagit Valley was for dogs and cats only. Well now you know the great people here take fantastic care of all kinds of animals. I myself have seen rabbits, goats and birds. How fortunate we all are to be here with such caring and gentle people who take excellent care of us while we wait to be adopted.
|
|
Fun Facts
Did you know, cats:
are the only animals that purr and they purr around 26 cycles per second, which is the same frequency as an idling diesel engine.
have a sense of smell approximately 14 times stronger than ours.
drink liquid from the underside of their tongue, not from the top.
have ears that pivot 180 degrees, have 30 muscles in each ear, and use 12 or more muscles to control their ear movement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you know, dogs:
sometimes hesitate before going out in the rain, not because they're afraid of getting wet, but because the rain amplifies sound and hurts their sensitive ears.
do not sweat by salivating and instead sweat through the pads of their feet.
have nose prints that can be used to identify them because their nose prints are as unique as human fingerprints.
respond better to hand signals and gestures as well as spoken commands when in training.
| |
|
|
|
|
We hope you enjoyed the fourth issue of the
Humane Society of Skagit Valley's enewsletter.
Again, we would love to hear from you!
Please email us at:
For all the animals,
Volunteers Karen and Bruce | |
|
