HAPPY TAILS    

      

Mango & Slipper  

Mango was a very special 4-week-old kitten who came to us with a severely ulcerated and injured eye that (unfortunately) needed to be removed. Over the weeks that followed, Mango recovered nicely from the surgery and has remained just as loving, sweet, trusting and, well...kittenish as can be!

 

Her remaining sibling, Slipper--a lovely calico with a gentle, easygoing personality--bonded lovingly with Mango throughout her ordeal, making the two nearly inseparable. The question was: was there someone out there who would adopt this delightful duo? With just one eye to guide her, it was in Mango's best interest to continue her life with Slipper by her side.

Imagine our delight when--within 24 hours of Mango and Slipper's availability--their new family walked through our doors!
Adopted together by a wonderful, loving family from the East Bay, the pair will go on to lead healthy, well-loved lives!

Mesa

This beautiful  6-year old Australian cattle dog was nervous and anxious when she arrived here in August. Her gorgeous red merle coat revealed a flea allergy that had left some 'hot spots,' but beyond that, it was clear to our medical and behavioral teams that in a calm, quiet setting, she could easily re-connect with her core personality--that of a confident well balanced, easy-going dog.   After several weeks of exercise and a full recovery from itchy skin -- Mesa spent an afternoon playing catch with a new friend named Jack, who fell in love with her calm, yet energizing spirit. Walking side-by-side, the two formed a loving bond that brought Mesa to her new, forever home. There's nothing like a heart-warming ending that forms a new beginning!

Meet. Play. Love.

Cattle dogs have taken the spotlight quite a bit these last autumn / winter months--and we've seen a wide range of personality types from this active breed. If you're the kind of person (or family) that keeps an active lifestyle, cattle dogs could be a good fit. Smart, responsive and obedient, the Australian Cattle dog--as its name implies--is also an excellent choice for agility training, which simultaneously provides focus to the independent aspect of their nature.

We've adopted out seven cattle dogs like Mesa in recent months, many of whom have found homes where there's room to run and play. Some went to family farms and vineyards; others to homes near wide open spaces or with generous backyards.

Know someone with a big property that needs some watchful canine oversight? We currently have one more pair--Courage and Foxy--who would be best suited to being adopted together. Here's their story:

Go ahead, make our day! Adopt us...Courage& Foxy Lady

Courage   

6-year old Cattle Dog

I'll put it to you straight--you're the boss and I respond well to that. I've got plenty of energy and am darned smart--with a healthy dose of humility thrown in. Give me a job and I'll get on it straight away, mate. In other words, your happiness is my top priority!

My three favorite things? People (especially you!), a place to run, and my lady Foxy. See, we've become companions and it's kind of hard to live without someone you love...you know what I mean. Just in case you think I'm perfect, I'll let you in on a couple of things: I get anxious and insecure in new environments, so I'm hoping you'll be patient and use positive reinforcement to help me build my confidence.  

Once I know you've got my back, I guarantee I've got yours...for life.

Foxy    

4-year old Cattle Dog

Care for a roll in the grass?

It's my favorite thing to do before and after a good run. Born on the range, I'm still adjusting to the indoor life. No rain or pine cones falling out of trees onto my head... wow, it sure is nice! And guess what? Once I get to know you, I seem to turn into hot cheese...I get all gooey-like and melt into your lap for endless cuddling.

Stuff like walking on a leash is still new to me, so a patient and kind heart will do wonders for easing me into this new territory. My trainer says I'd get along well with another mild-mannered dog and kids 12 and older. I've got my paws crossed that I might be able to join my mate Courage wherever his forever home ends up being. Say, you're the pack leader, right mate? Can you make it happen?

Considering adoption? Watch our video!  

Beauty  

9-year old German Shepherd

Reggie  

5-year old Rottweiler

Upon my arrival here, I was timid and hardened to affection. Since then, I've learned that my humans are trustworthy and help to guide me in the right direction. Although I'm mindful of my manners on the leash and during play, deep down I do best with someone seasoned with big breed experience to oversee my development! If you think I'm your guy, please come by for a visit. I look forward to sharing my heart and skills with you and can't wait to fulfill my role in your day to day routine!

Topaz  

10-month old American Pit Bull Terrier

Beautiful, smart, fun-loving and affectionate, I'm a young, energetic pup who craves love, exercise and strong leadership...I'm determined to fight the misconceptions around my breed. In fact, determination is one of my best traits--along with my enchanting eyes!

Exercise is the name of the game for me. My zest for life is so high that being around small children is probably not the best right now, because I'm pretty sure I'd accidentally knock them over in my excitement to lick them everywhere. Speaking of excitement, I really become energized when I see small furry creatures so having them around wouldn't be a great fit for me either...but...I'd dearly love to become your best friend! Now, look into my scintillating eyes and tell me--aren't we meant to be together?    

Photo by jster91 with Creative Commons License  

Do you or someone you know live or work at a

RANCH, VINEYARD, FARM, WAREHOUSE or BARN/WORKSHOP property?

The Opportunity: We have some terrific BARN CATS in need of a safe, warm living environment. Their health exams, vaccinations, microchips and spay/neuters are all done. 

The Details: 'Barn cats' represent a portion of the feline population that thrive on free-range living rather than bunking down for the night in a typical home. Like any other domesticated animal, they still need warm shelter, food and water. In return, you'll have a forever pal (or two) who'll play sensible sentry with you 24/7. Interested?

Call Don at 707.577.1917.

6. Our first-time participation in the 'Just One Day' nationwide event--advocating an end to euthanasia across the country--moved us into a significant leadership role within Sonoma County, inspiring the largest number of locally participating organizations in the U.S. Awesome teamwork!

7. By empowering our volunteers with the tools to successfully run off-site adoptions, nearly 100 animals were adopted out through Outreach Events in 2012. We hope to double that this year!

8. In strategic partnership with Compassion Without Borders, we hosted two low-cost spay/neuter clinics for Latino communities. 60 animals were sterilized and another 150 were given wellness exams.

And finally...(drum roll)...

9. Honored as 2012's "Comeback Kid" for the Human Race, we raised funds that were 10X that of 2011!

It is with tremendous gratitude that all of our animals, volunteers and staff Celebrate YOU for the collective power of your generous gifts to our community throughout the year and holiday season!

Kiska Icard 

Executive Director  

Sonoma Humane Society 

START YOUR YEAR OFF RIGHT

WITH OUR 2013 CALENDAR

Don't miss our best calendar to date available at the Sonoma Humane Society's Paws to Shop November 1st! A special thanks to Sybilla Herbrich of  Studio Bark and Willam Duke for volunteering their incredible talents to benefit the animals of the Sonoma Humane Society.  And let's not forget the folks at  KZST for putting on the contest and reminding their listeners to vote!