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Happy Summer!
As we enjoy the beautiful summer days, the PoundHounds crew is full speed ahead with planning for Barktoberfest, scheduled for September 26, 2010. Seems like a long way off, but from a planning perspective, it's right around the corner.
We're looking for volunteers to help us at the event, and we are especially interested in hearing from people who have ideas about dog contests and games. It's our 10th Anniversary for Barktoberfest this year and we want to make it extra fun. Please consider volunteering at Barktoberfest (details in the article below) and contact us with your creative ideas - the more ideas and volunteers we have, the better the event will turn out.
Warmest regards,
Seana Dowling
President, PoundHounds, Inc.
PS: Are you on Twitter? PoundHounds is! Follow us on Twitter and stay up to date on all the dogs we help!
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Calling all Volunteers!
Barktoberfest - September 26, 2010
Mark your calendars and tell your friends and family! Barktoberfest has been scheduled for September 26, 2010 at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Westford, MA.
We could really use your help running this event. Are you interested in volunteering? We need people to help us with everything from contests, working at our merchandise tables, helping out in the snack-shack and more.
Do you like to bake? We have an excellent bake sale and we are recruiting bakers to commit to making goodies. 100% of the bake sale proceeds go to PoundHounds.
If you are interested in helping out by baking for the bake sale or volunteering at the event, please e-mail us at volunteer@poundhounds.org and we will get in touch with you. |
Ask the Trainer
Question: I watched service dogs being trained, they are so obedient. Is there some way we can train our dogs to be just as responsive?
Answer: We can absolutely train our dogs to be just as obedient as service dogs. The key is consistency and exposure.
If you want a dog trained to the degree of a service dog, you must view every day as a training experience. Service dogs must be calm and attentive in every environment with every distraction imaginable. This means bringing your puppy, or young dog, to each place that he or she may need to behave in later.
Self-control and attention are gained through baby steps. Dogs need to be trained by setting up challenges that are achievable. A dog must come in the house first, then the yard, then a park and later with added distractions including new people, other dogs, food, etc.
True training is achieved when a dog is able to resist any distraction and listen to any command you give him or her.
To read the full article with all of the recommendations Sonia makes, please visit the PoundHounds website.
If you have a question about your dog's behavior that you would like to Ask the Trainer, please send your question to info@poundhounds.org and put the word "TRAINER" in the subject line.
"Ask the Trainer" is written by Sonia Mullen of Canine Techniques. Please contact her if you would like to learn more about her training services. |
| Comfortable Dogs at Taunton Pound
Kuranda Bed Donations
PoundHounds received donations of several Kuranda Beds and has been able to equip 5 kennels at the Taunton Animal Shelter with new beds. The dogs wasted no time getting up on the beds for a nap. Mona is pictured here, enjoying a snack on her new bed. Thank you to our generous Kuranda Bed donors. Your contributions are already making a big difference.
Click here if you are interested in donating a bed to PoundHounds. Please choose PoundHounds, Inc. Bolton, MA from the drop-down menu on the donation page. |
ACO Resources
Spay/Neuter Symposium
September 25-26, 2010
The New England Federation of Humane Societies is hosting a Spay/Neuter Symposium in Springfield, MA. Veterinarians will receive hands-on procedure practice using kittens and puppies from local shelters. If you would like to bring some of the animals from your facility for procedures at the course, please contact Stephanief@humanecommunity.org at the New England Federation of Humane Societies. |
Open House and Adoption Event
Gardner, MA
On Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 10:00AM-2:00PM, Gardner Animal Control is holding an Open House and Adoption Event. The event will promote the animals available for adoption and raise money for veterinary bills. There will be a yard sale, raffles and crafts and baked goods for sale. Show your support and stop by the facility at 899 West Broadway in Gardner, MA. For more information about the event, please email the shelter: gardner_adoptions@verizon.net. |
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FDA Warning
Don't Feed Dogs Animal BonesCarmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration states that "bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian's office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death." The FDA lists 10 reasons why you should never give your dog an animal bone. A few of the reasons include broken teeth, intestinal blockages, and getting a bone stuck in the windpipe. To see the full list and read the article, visit the FDA website. |
Featured Dog for Adoption
Rocco
Rocco has been at the shelter far too long. We featured him in our January issue and despite his friendly nature, he's been overlooked. The folks at Animal Control aren't giving up on him though. They know it's only a matter of time before someone meets Rocco and discovers what a great companion dog he will be. Can you give Rocco his forever home? To learn more about Rocco, click here or call the Norton, MA pound at 508-286-3655. |
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Happy Tails
Darling Juanita, a senior Chihuahua, was a bit of a mess when she was taken in by Animal Control Officer Anna Fenton, Belchertown, MA. Juanita's checkup at the veterinarian revealed that she had 2 tumors in her mammary glands, her teeth were in such terrible shape that several required extraction, and to top it off, she needed to be spayed.
Fenton called on PoundHounds to fund the surgery needed for her spay, to remove the tumors, and to get her teeth squared away. She recovered well under Fenton's care and fortunately was quickly adopted into a happy and loving home. A big thank you to Anna Fenton for taking such good care of Juanita, and many, many thanks to Juanita's new owner who made a generous donation to PoundHounds so we can continue to help dogs in need, like Juanita. |
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Buddy
This 14-year old Schnauzer mix found himself in the hands of Animal Control when his elderly owner went into the hospital and unfortunately, won't be able to return home. Animal Control Officer Martylee Caramente, Long Meadow, MA called PoundHounds for help with adoption outreach so he could find a loving home.
Caramente made the right call...PoundHounds Board Member Diane C. fell in love with Buddy when when she saw his picture and adopted him right away. Congratulations Diane and Buddy! |
| Dog Quote of the Month
"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts."
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About MAC
Spay/Neuter License Plates
 The Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC) disburses grants to non-profit humane organizations and municipal animal control agencies. The grants are funded by the sale of the Massachusetts Spay/Neuter License Plate Program. MAC has provided funds for PoundHounds to pay for spay/neuter procedures for PoundHounds sponsored dogs. In 2009, funding from MAC allowed PoundHounds to spay or neuter 50 dogs in 18 different town pounds across Massachusetts. Those procedures represent $7,500 in MAC support. Please show your dedication to animals and help control over-population. Register your new car or swap your existing plates for spay/neuter plates. The additional cost for special plates is $40 with every registration renewal. The first time, $12 covers the cost of making the plate and the remaining $28 goes to the program. At subsequent renewals, the entire $40 funds spay/neuter services. The standard registration charged by the registry to all drivers is $50 every two years, making the total for special plate holders $90. |
Thank you for your continued interest and support of the invisible dogs in town pounds. We can't do it without you! Please visit the PoundHounds website at: www.poundhounds.org for more information. Or, contact us directly:
Message Center: 508.435.5029
Address: PoundHounds, Inc. - P.O. Box 212 - Bolton, MA 01740
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