CCHS Newletter Banner
In This Issue
Did you know?
Shop til You Drop
Spring Cleaning?
Original Painting of Your Pet
Pet Store versus Shelter?
Pet of the Month
Alum of the Month
Volunteer of the Month
Employee of the Month
Behavioral Enrichment!
Thank you Do it Best
Buffalo Wild Wings
New Blog in Town!
Other Blogs and Tweets
Special Gifts for Special Needs

Paypal button
Calendar
Mon. May 17 - Adult Volunteer Orientation, 6pm - 7pm at the Champaign Public Library. No preregistration required.

Wed. May 19 - Youth Volunteer Orientation (ages 10 -17) 3:30pm - 5pm. Please send an e-mail to [email protected] to register or for more information.

May 20-23 - Drop offs accepted for the 2010 Giant Garage Sale, Kesler Hall, Champaign County Fairgrounds 
 
May 28 & 29 - Giant Garage Sale at the Champaign County Fairgrounds

Did you know . . . 
that in a recent poll, seven times more Americans said they were more likely to adopt their next pet from an animal shelter than buy one at a pet store?
Quick Links
From the Executive Director

Dear Friends,
Everywhere I look--everything I see reminds me that the CCHS GIANT Garage Sale is right around the corner.  As I drove around town this weekend, "garage sale" signs were everywhere, each one reminding me of all the things I have to do to get ready for the big sale.
 
I'm not talking about organizing, promoting, or running the event.  Lucky for me, the volunteer chair-persons of the CCHS Garage Sale cover all the bases and ask very little of me.  I'm talking about the clothes sorting, garage cleaning, book culling, and closet cleaning that has to be done before drop-offs are closed on Sunday the 23rd at 3:00 pm!  I've even got stuff in the attic I should sort through.
 
The GIANT Garage Sale is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and it IS our biggest and most-intense volunteer project.  Absolutely everyone can help homeless animals in some way during the last two weeks of May.  You can bring us your usable goods, you can volunteer to help before, during, or after the sale, or you can simply come and shop! 
 
Speaking of shopping, last year, I scored an Oreck vacuum for $20!  I've used it at least once-a-week since I got it and it sucks up pet hair like nobody's business.  I'm also still working through the books I bought at last year's sale.  Sorry, Amazon, you just can't compete with 25-cent paperbacks.
 
If all this talk of clearing out clutter and shopping for bargains is getting you in a garage-sale mood, prepare yourself for more.  Starting Thursday, I'll be sharing photos of garage sale preparation and the incoming treasures on our Facebook Page, Twitter, and the "Paws & Reflect" blog. 
 
I hope you'll feel inspired to join me and the rest of the CCHS GIANT Garage Sale volunteers as we make the 26th annual sale the best one ever!  Details on drop-offs and sale dates are provided below.
 
Tief
CCHS Executive Director

Shop til You Drop at the Area's Biggest Garage Sale!
Garage sale signSale Dates

Friday, May 28  - 7 am to 6 pm
Donation:  $2 until 3 pm

Saturday, May 29- 8 am to 6 pm
No admission fee on Saturday
 

$3 Bag Sale starts at 3 pm on Saturday

Map to the Fairgrounds

A food concession will be at the fairgrounds both sale days!

  
Spring Cleaning? 
Garage sale signChampaign County Humane Society volunteers will be accepting donations for the annual GIANT Garage Sale at the Champaign County Fairgrounds, May 20 through 23.

What do we want?

Good, useable items that are not broken or worn out.  We will accept clothing, but please do not bring items that are stained, torn or badly worn.  Yes, we DO want books.  We also sell live plants, so if you have any extras, bring them by.

What DON'T we want?
Please do not bring anything broken or with missing parts, carpeting, children's car seats, chemicals, computer monitors (unless flat screen), console TVs, flammable liquids, large appliances or large pieces of furniture, lumber, magazines, mattresses/box springs, out-dated computers, paint, sinks, tires, underwear or swimsuits, weapons, or windows.  We have difficulty reselling these items and must pay to have someone else haul them away.  Plus, they take up a great deal of space in the building.
 
Drop Off Hours

Thursday, May 20th   Noon - 7 pm
Friday, May 21st   Noon - 7 pm
Saturday, May 22nd    9 am - 4 pm
Sunday, May 23rd   Noon - 3 pm

No drop-offs will be ac
cepted after 3 pm on Sunday, May 23rd.


Bring your items during the hours listed above to Kesler Hall at the Champaign County Fairgrounds. (Map to Fairgrounds)

 
Painting Portraits to Help Pets

Portrait

Local artist, Pat Marlow, has generously offered to help CCHS by donating 100% of the money she earns painting portraits for CCHS friends and supporters.
 
How will it work?  You provide Pat with a photograph that she will use to create a portrait of your beloved animal (or human) family member.  Pat will provide all the materials necessary for creating your painting and will determine a "price" for her work.  If you're satisfied with Pat's final product, you'll make your payment directly to the Champaign County Humane Society.  If you're not satisfied, you will be under no obligation to buy the portrait.
 
If you'd like to talk to Pat about doing a portrait for you, call her at 217-384-1774 or email her at [email protected].
 
Pet Store versus Shelter - the public weighs in
Picture of Brady SoxWhen it comes to "How much is that doggie in the window?" more and more Americans are starting to say "No thanks. I'm heading the shelter."

Over half of those responding to a recent poll said they would get their next pet from a shelter, nearly seven times the number who said they would buy their pet from a pet store.

Thankfully, more and more people are expressing concern about over breeding, puppy mills, poor socialization, and health problems with pets originating from the commercial breeders that supply pet stores.

To read more about the poll, click here>>
 
Pet of the Month:  Josie
Josie is an 8-year old spayed female who has been with us since July 2009.  Josie loves to be in the company of other cats, so if you already have a feline family member, Josie might be a good fit for you. 
 
Staff members describe Josie as a "cuddle bug" who loves to sleep in your lap. 
 
Josie's adoption fee has already been paid by a generous volunteer who loves Josie and looks forward to seeing her live out the rest of her life in a loving home.
 

Alum of the Month:  Mo

 
Picture of AlumFor this month's newsletter, the Young family provided us with an update on Mo, the dog they adopted in April.
 
"Mo has fit right into our family since we adopted him.  He's extremely smart, loving and is a natural athlete, guard dog and sooooo kid friendly.  He gets along with all the neighborhood kids and dogs too.

Mo has a wonderful personality, and we are constantly amazed at how smart and intuitive he is.  He's learned so many tricks and learns them quickly.  It took him all of 30 seconds to learn to climb the ladder on the kid's play-set and slide down the slide with them.  Are you sure he didn't come from the circus?

We are so grateful that Mo has found a home with us."

The Young Family
 
Volunteer of the Month:  Lauren Grill
Volunteer of the Month pictureLauren has been volunteering as a kennel assistant and dog-walker since October 2009.  She also helps out at our off-site events and has offered to help CCHS Animal Behavior Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Davis, with additional administrative tasks as well. 
 
Lauren always arrives at the shelter with an abundance of energy and a "ready for anything" attitude.  In addition to providing shelter dogs with routine exercise and interaction, Lauren works with dogs that need behavior modification or have other special needs.  Her handling style is always positive and caring. 
 
CCHS is so grateful to have volunteers that are willing to commit to the extra training and time it takes to work with special-needs dogs.  These volunteers work closely with experienced staff members and are required to follow precise directions and keep records.  All the effort pays off when a special-needs dog is adopted and thrives in his new "forever home."    
 
The CCHS staff nominated Lauren for this month's award because she is "awesome" - and that's no exaggeration.  Thanks, Lauren!   
 
For more information on volunteering, see Becoming a CCHS Volunteer.
 
Employee of the Month:  Sarah Scott
Sarah cuddles Pet of the Month - Josie
Employee of the Month
 
Sarah has been a highly devoted CCHS staff member for 5 years.  As a member of the Adoptions staff, Sarah is always patient and courteous with our visitors.  She is a fantastic adoptions counselor because she gets to know the animals in the shelter and gets to know her human clients.  She makes good matches because she is a great listener and spends as much time as it takes to match up an adopter with the right animal companion. 
 
 

Like all CCHS employees, Sarah also helps care for our shelter animals and she takes her roll as care-giver very seriously.  Sarah is extremely observant, knowledgeable, and compassionate when it comes to animal care.  Her intuition is spot-on.  Sarah doesn't leave the building at the end of her shift without knowing that all the animals are safely tucked in for the night. 

Sarah is also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and sees the good in all people.  Her outlook has a positive effect on everyone around her.  We're lucky to have Sarah on the CCHS team!
 
Behavioral Enrichment at CCHS!
Pool Party
Video: It's a Pool Party!


Thank you to all the wonderful CCHS volunteers that help us bring joy to the shelter dogs.

Watch the video here >>
Thank You Do it Best!
LogoThank you Do it Best Hardware for helping us out with the paint we're using to spruce up the shelter - you're the best!
Champaign Do it Best Hardware
107 West Springfield
Champaign,IL 61820
217-356-6454
Buffalo Wild Wings
 
BWW logoEat Wings - Raise Funds
 
Every Monday through June 21st
 
Present an "Eat Wings - Raise Funds" ticket at
Buffalo Wild Wings and they will donate
10% of your pre-tax food purchases to CCHS.
 
 
Share the tickets with your friends and co-workers.
There is no restriction on distributing tickets!
 
Participating Locations:
Champaign, IL (217.378.4400) � Savoy, IL (217.356.9464)
New Blog in Town!
CCHS Executive Director, Mary "Tief" Tiefenbrunn joined the roster of bloggers for The News-Gazette in late February.  The blog is called "Paws and Reflect" and can be found at http://www.news-gazette.com/blogs/paws-reflect/
 
  
Read our Blogs and Tweets!

Paws and Reflect in the News Gazette(Executive Director)
Kittens is Cats Blog(Foster Family)
Life is Learning Blog(Foster Family)
Pups is Pups Blog(Foster Family)

CCHS on Facebook 

CCHS on Twitter Pups is Pups on Twitter
 
Special Needs
CCHS seeks the following in-kind donations to help
 with some pressing needs. 
 
Animal Care Items
  • Treat pouches (belt pouch or clip-on style) for our volunteer dog trainers
  • Sturdy buckle collars for Medium and Large sized dogs
  • Extra Large (XL) Kong dog toys
Other Goods & Services
  •  Mulch for gardens and outdoor play areas that tend to get muddy.  (non-toxic varieties, please)
  • A riding mower and a sturdy weed wacker 
  • Pot-hole repair in our parking lot. Driving through our parking lot may be hazardous to your car.
 
See our Wish List for more in-kind donation ideas.
 
 
Join Our Mailing List!
 
Shelter Hours
Adoptions
Mon, Wed, Thu, and Fri: 2 PM to 7 PM
Sat: 11 AM to 6 PM
Sun: 11 AM to 4 PM

Relinquishing an Animal
Mon, Wed, Thu, and Fri: 2 PM to 4 PM
Sat and Sun - 11 AM to 1 PM
Tuesdays by appointment
 
The shelter is closed on Tuesdays and legal holidays.

Address - 1911 East Main Street, Urbana, IL, 61802
Phone - 217-344-7297