What's in a name? 

Well, if I were to tell you that I knew of this great dog; not too large, friendly, loyal, well-behaved, fun to be with, which had spent way too much of its life in the shelter, you might wonder what was wrong.  Then I'd tell you that she's part pit bull.  That name explains it all.  Despite rescue groups and tv programs (Animal Planet's pit boss and National Geographic's the dog whisperer) trying to get the word out that these dogs get a bad rap from the media and general public and that they can make great pets, too many of them spend too much time in good shelters, languish in others, and never make it out of the worst shelters.  It is sad to see since, unfortunately, dogs are what we make of them.  But those of us who deal with them can do our best to give them the life they deserve.  So come and see Kira, spend some time with her or other pits, and find out that she is more than just her name.  

Hello again animal lovers!  Today I want to talk about cat personalities.  I think that this is the most important thing that a potential adopter should consider when looking at cats. It is important to adopt a cat that is compatible with your lifestyle and personality.

What personality traits do you find desirable?  Do you want a cat that enjoys being petted, cuddled and held?  Do you want a playful and talkative cat, or a quiet and mellow kitty?  Do you want a cat that is outgoing and friendly?  To answer these questions EBHS uses the MYM (Meet Your Match) Adoption Program.

The MYM program works by having both human and feline complete personality assessments. For the humans they take a 19 question assessment.  The cat’s “Feline-ality” is determined by: their enjoyment if being petted and held, their activity level/how talkative they are, response to new people and things.  After completing the test each cat and person is placed into one of three “color” groups: orange, purple and green.

A cat in the "green" color range is outgoing, savvy, and adventurous. An “orange” cat is good company and steady companions.  Cat's in the "purple" color range seek affection, are quiet and tend to stay out of trouble.  A person who is a “green” adoptor is most successful with cats who can adapt quickly to new situations and people.  People in the “purple” range are a good match for cats who need time to adjust to their new surroundings.  Adoptors in the “orange” color range are a good fit for the cat that is looking for a steady companion.  Within each of the three color groups: orange, green and purple are three specific personality types.  To learn more about the MYM personality types feel free to visit aspca.org.

Having been involved with cats and cat adoptions for a few years, I feel that the most important quality to look for in a cat is their personality.  Some people adopt a cat because they like the color.  Others adopt a kitten because they look “cute.”  Only later do some of these people find out that the cat they adopted doesn’t fit their lifestyle or personality.  For example, we got Mittens because we loved his color but we didn’t know he would be this needy.  Or I loved Spot when he was a kitten because she was so cute, but 4 years later she just isn’t cute anymore we don’t want her anymore.  Those are just a couple of the scenarios that can happen. However if you keep the cat’s “Feline-ality” in mind when adopting a cat, both human and feline can have many happy years together.

KITTENS, KITTENS EVERYWHERE

Summer has arrived and with it the shelter has become inundated with kittens and more kittens.

There are big kittens, small kittens and in between size kittens. There are black kittens, white kittens, orange kittens, blond kittens, grey kittens, beige kittens and multicolored kittens.

There are kittens with spots, kittens with stripes and kittens with crazy patterns on their fur.

There are shy kittens, outgoing kittens, lazy kittens and just plain silly kittens.

 There are kittens that like to play and kittens that prefer to sleep.

There are talkative kittens, quiet kittens and kittens that purr like a “Harley”.

There are all kinds of kittens. However they are not alone.  In addition to all the kittens we also have Momma cats, Daddy cats and Grandma and Grandpa cats and they all have one thing in common. They all are dreaming of a forever home and you may just be the answer to their dream.

What Dogs Mean to Me

A number of years ago, I received an afghan that contained the following message that expresses what my dogs and all the dogs I have met over the years mean to me. Hope you agree.

Dogs are Miracles with Paws!

A dog’s nose in the palm of your hand can cure almost anything.

Dogs are made of love and fur

Let your dog take you for a walk

Dogs are a sure thing

Some little known dog secrets: Dogs have no secrets

Dogs are like vanilla ice cream: reliably delicious

Dogs are wise angels directly from heaven

If you had a tail wouldn’t you wag it?

There are no bad dogs.

Be your dog’s best friend

Dogs like dancing, drive-in movies, and dreaming.

God made dogs and spelled his own name backwards!

Dogs make great therapists

Kiss your dog all the time

Some dogs are nap dogs

Dogs invented unconditional love

Dogs are party animals

Apply dog logic to life: eat well, be loved, get petted, sleep a lot, dream of a leash free world

Live Your Dog’s Life

Promote pet fire safety in your community

An estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by home fires, and a new data analysis by the National Fire Protection Association shows that nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is joining ADT Security Services and the American Kennel Club® (AKC) for the third annual National Pet Fire Safety Day on July 15 to spread awareness about how to prevent pets from starting home fires and keep pets safe in the event of an emergency. 

“Not many pet owners realize that their pet can actually be the cause of a devastating fire,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Simple preventative measures, such as flameless candles and removing stove knobs when leaving the house, can mean the difference between life and death for your four-legged friends.”

Chris and Kay Wardlow of Oklahoma know that all too well. Their curious dog Lucy was home alone and spied a cake on the stove top. As Lucy tried to get a taste, her paw accidentally hit the stove knob and turned on the gas burner that was under the cake pan. Within minutes, the house was filled with smoke, triggering the Wardlow’s ADT monitored smoke detector. Firefighters were called to the scene and Lucy was rescued. 

“Planning for unexpected emergencies like home fires and taking these precautions are an integral part of responsible dog ownership,” Peterson said. 

Fire departments across the country are encouraged to utilize Pet Fire Safety Day on July 15 to spread pet fire safety messages in your community. The following tips can be used to help educate pet owners on how to prevent their beloved pet from starting a fire, as well as how to keep their pets safe.

Prevent your pet from starting fires

• Extinguish open flames - Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.
• Remove stove knobs - Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house – a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
• Invest in flameless candles – These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.
• Beware of water bowls on wooden decks – Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck. The sun’s rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.
• Pet proof the home - Take a walk around your home and look for areas where pets might start fires inadvertently, such as loose wires and other potential hazards.  

Keep your pets safe

• Keep pets near entrances when away from home – When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them. 
• Secure young pets - Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home, such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.
• Practice escape routes with pets – Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet or firefighters need to rescue your pet.
• Consider using monitored smoke detection services – As an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms, smoke detectors connected to a monitoring center help save pets who can’t escape when left home alone.
• Affix a pet alert window cling – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to keep the number of pets listed on them updated.

The NVFC has a listing of fire departments across the nation where pet owners can obtain a free pet alert window cling as part of National Pet Fire Safety Day. Visit www.nvfc.org/ windowclings to find a location near you. The clings are also free online at www.adt.com/ pets and will be available this September at your local AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day. This year’s flagship event will be held in Raleigh on September 24. Visit http://www.akc. org/clubs/ rdod/ for more information on an event near you.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) represents the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.

Credit:  National Volunteer Fire Council and FEMA

Everyone's happy when Friday comes - even dogs! Come enjoy a Yappy Hour with your best friend(s) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 9, at Elmbrook Humane Society.

This Yappy Hour will have a tropical theme, so wear your grass skirts and come ready to kick back! There will be a DJ to play music, as well as lure coursing and play areas to help burn off your dog's extra energy. Once they've taken the edge off, relax and have some human treats--wine and snacks--and dog treats--water, puptinis (a yummy liver juice cocktail your dog is sure to love), and dog treats. Catch up with old friends and meet new ones!

The last TDIF was a hit with dogs and people alike. My favorite part was watching dogs figure out the lure coursing. If you've never heard of it, lure coursing is when a lure (in this case, a white plastic grocery bag) is attached to a string and zoomed along the ground at high speeds. Dogs LOVE to chase it. At least, most dogs love to chase it. The experienced dogs needed no urging or coaching and took off as soon as their collars were released. New initiates were at first a little confused. Some caught on quickly and took off after it like it was a rabbit on the loose.

Talk about pure, undiluted dog joy! Now that's something we can all use a little more of, especially to kick off our weekends. Come join us July 9 and let your dog have a try at lure coursing. Your dog will thank you.

According to one dictionary it means to take into one's family and bring up as one's own; to select and enter into a new relationship.  When someone wants to adopt a child, there are all sorts of legal hurdles to jump through, classes to take, back-ground checks and who knows what else.  People who seek to add a child to their family certainly have to be committed to their final goal.  The decision is not entered into lightly.  Different people look to adoption for different personal motives.  Once the adoption has been realized, there is happiness, excitement, and then come the everyday ups and downs of child-raising.  I don't want compare children to animal companions, but there are similarities.  Certainly the shelters and rescue groups don't put the families through as many challenges.  I think it has become easier than in previous years to add to your animal family. 

The first time I adopted a dog, I was living in Maryland.  We went to the local shelter to check out the animals.  There was a cute puppy, terrier mix, and we filled out the required paperwork.  That was followed up by a call and a visit from an adoption counselor.  The person inspected our house and yard and ended up telling me that we needed to improve our fence so that a dog couldn't escape and that we couldn't have the puppy we had picked because it was part pit bull and would probably kill our cat.  Well, I was shocked and kind of upset.  I went right back to the shelter and picked out another dog, a 6 month old lab.  This time I was asked if I realized how destructive labs could be and was I sure I didn't want to wait to find another dog.  Well, I was more stubborn than the counselor and I took that dog home with me.  She was so frightened that she had to be carried to the car.  We had her for 13 years.  And I never did improve my fence (and she never escaped). 

Fortunately it is much easier to adopt an animal from EBHS.  But that doesn't mean that the commitment should be any less.  I have been told that dogs are like toddlers that never grow up.  They are easily distracted, can learn, but forget without constant reminders.  Classes aren't required except for puppies but they certainly are helpful, even if you are an experienced dog owner.  Introducing a new animal into your home is full of excitement and then come those ups and downs.  Perhaps the dog has habits that need to be corrected.  Once the novelty wears off, other family members may be bored with the routine care.  Animals are like humans in that they form attachments.  I am always sad when I see an animal returned to the shelter.  I know that it is back in a safe place but I wonder if they feel the rejection that a child might feel.  Adoption in any form is a serious matter.  It shouldn't be something done on an impulse.  It can be a long, hard road in some cases, but the rewards are too many to count. 

I’m always asked how can I work around all our adorable cats and kittens every day and not adopt one. It isn’t easy.

            For one, I have mild allergies, which like many animal lovers doesn’t mean a thing. We ignore those symptoms as our love of animals justifies any sniffles we have to deal with!

            Another reason I don’t adopt a cat is that I’m not sure that if I were a feline, I’d want to live at my house. I have Italian Greyhounds, and while they are cat-like in their behaviors, I am not sure it would be fair for ONE cat to have to deal with my crew, and the steady stream of fosters coming in to my home. Staff and volunteers always joke that my dogs would love the cat and probably allow it to cuddle in the pack with the rest of them. The cat would even end up thinking it was a dog.

            I think the biggest reason I don’t adopt one is because I’m afraid they might just be right. That’s all I would need – another pet to buy clothes and collars for, walk on a leash with the crew and that would want to go to work with us! I vowed NO MORE PET CLOTHES in my house so that’s why I don’t adopt a cat –  I just get my fix every day at work! I think my dogs would have a cat thinking he/she was an Italian Greyhound complete with all their demands and needs!

Lady or "Lucky Lady" as we call her at Elmbrook is one lucky and loved little pooch who was reunited with her owner today after 3 days on the run!  Lucky jumped out the window of her owner's parked car on Saturday near 150th/Capitol.  Her owner, Dan, left her for a short time with the windows cracked.  He was devastated when he returned to find his loving companion of 9 years gone!  He immediately called area shelters and looked everywhere for Lucky but no leads turned up and they only had one sighting in the 36 hours since she went missing!  Today, after 3 days on the run, the dog's luck began to change!  Almost 10 miles from where she disappeared, a kind local Brookfield resident, saw Lucky and she jumped right into his car. Although Lucky wasn't wearing a collar, he immediately called Elmbrook Humane Society and our staff quickly went to work searching lost dog reports trying to make a match to locate Lucky's owner. Within minutes we were on the phone to Lucky's owner and through tears he confirmed that this indeed sounded like it was his dog.  Lucky was afraid upon arrival at the shelter and had a few wounds that staff cleaned up but otherwise was in good condition overall.  When her owner arrived, it was a tearful reunion and Lucky immediately perked up and her tail was up and wagging nonstop!   The kind citizen that helped Lucky was also contacted as Lucky's owner wanted to thank him personally!  The man who helped Lucky said he did so  because he too has a dog and hoped that someone would do the same for him if his dog was ever lost!

Statistics show that only about 15% of shelter dogs are ever returned to their owners. Thanks to the efforts of Lucky's owner when she was lost, the kind citizen that stopped to help Lucky and the staff at Elmbrook, this story has a very happy ending!

Not a day goes by at the shelter when someone doesn’t come in looking for a puppy. As someone who is young at heart and loves to exercise, I think to myself, “why would anyone want a puppy?” Now don’t get me wrong…I love the smell of puppy breath, the playful nature of a pup, and their amazement at viewing the world for the first time as much as the next person. I mean, who don’t love puppies, BUT I also love a few other really special things in life - like my carpet, my sleep and my time!

Puppies aren’t housetrained, don’t sleep through the night and need an incredible amount of training. The other comment I hear so often is “I want to train the dog right,” but let’s face it: sure, with a puppy you get a blank slate, but how many people really know how to fill that blank slate properly? Most people are not professional trainers. Also many people don’t make the time for training or have the skills to train a new puppy. (The importance of a good positive-based training class is essential…more on that another  day!). So that blank slate instead is filled with lots of “Puppy NO”! and very little real training. If we followed our good intentions and trained puppies, behavioral problems wouldn’t be the #1 reason dogs are surrendered to a shelter. It’s also a fact that 80-90% of shelter dogs have had no formal training so although we may all start with the best intentions of “training our dog right,” it doesn’t always happen! We head into our busy season at work or the kids have more school activities than planned and the next thing you know, we have a 6-month old, 50-pound “puppy” with no manners and training.

So why not adopt an adult? They have bladder control which can be a wonderful thing for those of us who love our sleep! They have some manners and, in my opinion, have the maturity that makes them easier to train. And do NOT believe the myth that you must get a puppy in order for the dog to bond with you. All my dogs were adopted as adults. All were special-need behavioral cases too, and two of my dogs are now therapy dogs. I am close to all my dogs, but my first adopted dog who truly thought I put the moon and the stars in the sky was the oldest dog of any of mine at the time of adoption. He was almost 5! So if you love your sleep, your belongings, and your free time, adopting an adult dog can be the perfect solution!

The senior dog project has a great article on the benefits of adoption of an adult dog. http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/adopt.ten.html

My personal favorite from their list is #10:

10. Older dogs let you get a good night's sleep because they're accustomed to human schedules and don't generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or bathroom breaks.

       Rarely a week goes by without someone asking the inevitable question…”How can you work at a shelter?...How sad...I could never do that.”

      Well first of all, I would have to say I’m a pretty optimistic person and have always preferred in life to see a glass empty versus half filled. So when someone asks how I can work at a shelter, I’m confused! You see when I walk into work everyday and say hi to my co-workers, we often stop to share a brief funny about some antics our dog or cat did over the weekend or how we had to clean up yet another poop accident from our foster early in the morning, etc. We share stories that many around the water cooler at most businesses wouldn’t understand. We share animal stories, the trials and tribulations of fostering and the unpredictable life of living with usually several animals. Why?...Because we all share one common bond. Everyone who works here is not just a fan of animals, but is a HUGE animal lover!

      As we go through our morning routine, one of the ladies at the front desk makes sure to let me know that either they (or one of our wonderful volunteers) brought in some delicious chocolate muffin tops! This is just another perk of working at a shelter if you look at it in a positive light. That is, non-profit work is hard work, often we are stressed and overworked and since we seem to have a lot of women at our facility, we do what women do when we are stressed…we eat!!! I don’t think there is an employee at the shelter that doesn’t love sweets and chocolate! Yes, even our ladies on Weight Watchers occasionally splurge!

      So diving into my calls and emails with my healthy protein drink in one hand (I do start the day with good intentions) and a chocolate-covered donut in the other, I’m quickly interrupted with a question from staff. Where else do your co-workers come with 4-legged friends to ask you a question? Kara will come in to see me with a rat up for adoption in her pocket, Diane comes with a rabbit snuggled up to her like a scarf. Sometimes Jeanne will be carrying around her foster kitten that although she brought back for adoption, she just can’t quite let go! Or sometimes Julia, our Animal Care Manager, will pop in just to ask me if she can bring a dog up to my office. The dog is a little overwhelmed by the kennel, she explains, and she wants to know if he can spend the day in my office. “Sure,  what’s one more in my office today!?!”

       As the day continues and turns into night and just when I think I’m out of energy, I hear the page that “Mika” and “Jasmine” are going home and I’m quickly re-energized! After all, Mika has been here several months waiting for her forever home and Jasmine is a little on the shy side and is being adopted by a volunteer! This is great news for these two shelter animals, and it’s great news for two animals somewhere in need because now that means we have space to help two more!

            You see, to me the shelter isn’t a sad place at all. The animals that cross our paths are the lucky ones. The ones I worry about are the ones who do not make it to us! So when people say, “how can you work at a shelter,” my response is not only is it not a bad place, but I also know that with so many animals in need in our society, how can I not??

“why does she do that?”

It has been a year since we adopted this little white bundle of fur. She has changed a lot from the trembling, shaved down, frightened little girl we first brought home to foster.

She no longer trembles constantly, her hair has grown out and now she requires routine trips to the groomer.

She appears to be housebroken then leaves a puddle or pile behind a living room chair.

She comes around for treats like her buddies but refuses to take them from your hand. Place a treat on the floor and it will vanish.

She snuggles next to me on the couch contentedly sleeping but pick her up and she will freeze and avoid eye contact.

She follows me around the house but then hides under a bed or desk as if unsure of whether she is safe out in the open.

She watches as one “brother” plays with his toys, squeaking them and acting silly. She cocks her head and observes her oldest “brother” loping after a tennis ball but she participates in neither.

When company comes she’ll run to the door with the other dogs but if guests attempt to pet her, she quickly backs away.

“Why does she do that?” We hear that question many times and the very sad answer is, “She does that because she was raised in a puppy mill.”

She has come a long way during the past year and has become a very important part of our family. Each day we see more changes in her. She is no longer afraid of my husband. She eats her meals with her “brothers”. And did she really just do that? I think I saw a play bow.

I'm a dog-walker, one of the many volunteers at EBHS.  I'll start by telling you why I enjoy volunteering here.  The people are wonderful.  The shelter is small enough that most of the employees remember your name.  It is always easy to find someone to answer a question or help you out.  Also, I love animals and I especially love dogs so this job is perfect for me.  I get to interact with many different dogs; different breeds, different shapes and sizes, different personalities.  One of my hobbies is dog-training so I get to try to use what I've learned to help the dogs as they wait to find a new home.  It is always exciting to meet a new dog and try to figure out what it needs most.  Some of them need to burn off some energy so there is always playing fetch in the outdoor runs.  Some of them could use some manners training so they get walked and we practice sit and down.  Others just need to be loved; a kind word and a tummy rub.  The animals at EBHS are lucky but I think I'm the luckiest of all. 

It's National Bite Prevention Week.

I heard a sad story on the radio last week.  Another child was bitten by a dog.  That is sad for the child and his family, sad for the family of the dog, another black mark against the breed, and the dog paid the ultimate price.  What is even worse is that education and training might have been able to prevent this.  Parents should keep small children under control and teach all children to never approach a strange dog.  If the dog is with the owner, ask first before approaching and touching someone's dog.  Teach them how to touch a dog.  Let the dog sniff their hand; don't pat it on top of the head.  People with dogs should socialize them with other dogs, other people, new situations, from the time they are a few months old.  Train them with obedience so that they bond with you and listen to your commands.  If you get a dog from a breeder, make sure that the breeder is responsible and checks for health and temperament issues before breeding as well as after the puppies arrive.  Dogs from shelters are temperament tested for adoptability.  Find one that fits well with your family and situation.  Always remember that these are dogs, not people, and don't think like we do.  What may be considered non-threatening or unprovoked to us, may be looked at quite differently by a dog.  Was the dog protecting the person on the end of the leash?  Some dogs are quite protective of family and the breed was developed with that quality in mind.  A toddler, while cute to us, may be some strange being to the dog who hasn't been around them and has one rushing up to it.  One of my dogs is well-trained and goes to nursing homes, adult day care, and schools for obedience training demonstrations and visits.  She has no trouble with the sights and sounds of these facilities.  All sorts of people touch her all over her body.  I have never seen her happier than in the middle of a group of elementary kids, having them shake her paw and giving kisses in return.  But I have also seen her hackles rise and heard her growl when a group of 3 pre-school ages girls were running around, squealing and playing.  That was something that she had never been exposed to but I was with her, she was on a leash, and we both learned something.  I have been bitten by dogs and have the scars to prove it.  Neither of the dogs that bit me were those breeds that come to mind which just confirms my own beliefs that breed specific restrictions are not fair to the breed or the owner.  I have read that small breeds are more likely to bite, generally out of fear.  The problem is that when big dogs bite, even if less often, they cause more damage.  Try not to blame the dog or the breed but promote smart dog ownership and education.  That would be best for all concerned.

I have 4 favorite boys at the EBHS.  They are always happy to see me.  Sometimes they cry or have tantrums when I leave.  I'm only with them each about 10 minutes of the day but they seem to think the world of me.  Clem is the oldest.  He is happy as can be, walking down the street.  His manners are pretty good but work with him on a regular basis and it wouldn't take him long to understand what you want.  Next is Sox.  He is a puppy at heart, no manners, but he's so willing to learn.  I'm trying to keep him from jumping up and I can tell he's really trying.  He practically wiggles out of his skin.  Waldo's right behind.  He is speed personified (or doggified, I guess).  When he gets loose in the large runs he races around like crazy.  He also could use some work on his manners but wearing him out goes a long way towards better behavior on the end of the leash.  His face and ears are so soft; I love to rub them.  Last is Dexter.  He behaves nicely when we go for our walk but I can tell he'd love to run and play instead.  He is very gentle taking treats and thinks I'm not quick enough at giving them.  I'm starting to get very attached to them which means they have been here longer than I would like (a few weeks).  I'm sure there has to be someone out there who would love to give them a fresh start.  Come and see.

Hello my name is Bryan and I volunteer with EBHS (Elmbrook Humane Society) as a Cat Socializer at the PetSmart in Greenfield. I am one of a few EBHS volunteers who will be providing blogs on various topics related to EBHS, volunteering in general, and working with the different types of animals. I have been a volunteer at the Greenfield PetSmart for over 3 years and love working with the staff and EBHS volunteers.

EBHS likes to provide a volunteer for each night of the week between 5 and 9 pm to clean the cages and let the cats out for some much-needed play time. My night for volunteering is Monday, although I often stop by just to check on the cats or to fill in for a volunteer who cannot work their shift.

When I arrive, I check in with the shift manager to get the keys for the adoption area. First, I like to observe the cats for a minute to see if any might be sick. Then I check for any new arrivals and read their health reports and personality profile through the “Meet Your Match” program. I let each cat out of its cage (one at a time) and fill up their food bowls and provide fresh water. I also change the litter if needed.

Then my favorite part: I play with and cuddle the kitties! Each cat has his or her own personality. Some like to cuddle, some just want to play, some want a little of both. Some cats are very shy and don’t want to come out, so I try to pet them in their cage so they get some love. My goal is that each cat gets at least 15 minutes of playtime/attention.

When each of the cats has had their cage cleaned, I sweep the floor and take the trash out. Then I sign out and return the keys back to the shift manager.

I love working with cats in general. Specifically, I can say the cats EBHS brings us are adoption-ready. They are affectionate, fun-loving and love being around people. Having volunteered with other organizations, I can say that EBHS does a great job of placing cats for adoption that have great personalities and are the cat’s meow!

On behalf of my fellow bloggers, I would like to welcome you the reader and hope that you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them!

 I wanted to share Dr. Emily Weiss's blog from a couple of weeks ago.  She talks about how she wouldn't have met the shelter's criteria for adoption when she was younger.

 www.aspcapro.org/blog/2010/04/i-was-them/

For those that don't know Emily Weiss, she is the ASPCA researcher who developed the Meet Your Match program that many shelters use now and that has saved thousands of dogs lives. The whole key behind more open adoptions is  - faster adoptions does not mean they are poorer quality adoptions. Quality has nothing to do with speed. It is all about asking the right questions. That is why the ASPCA designed the program.  As you move animals through the shelter system quicker - you save lives, both by freeing up space - either at the humane societies or animal control.  And also by reducing illness, cage stress, etc.

National statistics show that over 90 percent of adoptions work out just fine.  It is easy for us to focus us on the 10 percent that don't work out because they're the ones that break our heart.  I'm sure if you were a cancer doctor it would be the same thing.  Pretty soon it would seem like everybody had cancer, when in fact the majority of the public don't have cancer and will never get cancer.  

The shelter system should be and will always have to be "the safety net" to catch the 10 percent. That is what a good shelter is supposed to do. And there will be a very small percentage of people who are evil. We can't stop them all.  In my heart - I truly believe that God will deal with them when the time comes.

But denying adoptions to the 90 percent is only driving people elsewhere - to breeders, pet stores and unscrupulous rescues.

I love working at the humane society and I'm happy to make the 40-minute drive to work each day. Today, however, as I was listening to the radio, an ad came on for a well-known puppy store in the area. The announcer excitedly exclaimed that they were having a puppy sale - $200 off all puppies for the rest of the month! They followed by dropping names of breeds…they have boxers, terriers, pugs, and so many more!

    Now this upsets me for more than a couple of reasons.

    Number one, I work at a shelter where we are trying to find homes for many puppies and dogs who by some misfortune became homeless.

    Two, how can this puppy store know the proper information about the parentage and health of these puppies when they carry so many breeds? Many of the dogs mentioned in the irritating ad were mixes found at any shelter. Also 1 in 4 dogs in a shelter are purebreds.

    Then there is reason number 3, the big one. Pet store puppies are from puppy mills. NO responsible breeder sells their puppies via a pet store. The proper reason for breeding dogs is to improve or keep a high standard within the breed. Puppy mills keep their breeder dogs in poor conditions, using them only for reproduction without care or concern about their well-being. How does mass production of puppies keep a standard within a breed? IT DOESN'T!

    Quality breeders look into the potential homes of their puppies, they care about where the puppies go and how they are cared for. Does this sound like the kind of people that send puppies to be sold at a pet store? No.

    Buying a puppy at one of these stores is no different than buying the food to feed them. They don't care about the well-being of the puppy or what you know about the breed, as long as you can give them the money they want. When you buy from one of these stores, you are not “rescuing” a dog, but condemning the parents of the dogs to a life of hell. It’s all about supply and demand. If you empty that cage, it just makes room for another and perpetuates the problem.

    Here is a hypothetical situation. A young man buys a puppy from a pet store. However he still lives with his parents, his parents don't want the puppy in their house, and so the guy gives it to his friend. The friend decides to let the still-un-spayed dog roam where she wants to since her parents don't want her in their house either. Before you know it, the dog ends up pregnant. The girl, not wanting a pregnant dog, takes it to the humane society. The dog gives birth and now there are 5 homeless puppies and a homeless dog. It may sound farfetched, but it happens more often than you think.

    This is exactly why we ask you so many questions when you come to us to adopt a dog. It's why you have to bring in your family members to meet the dog. It's why we spay and neuter all of our animals. It’s why we try to make the right match when you come in to adopt. We only want to make sure our canine friends get forever homes. 

    All I want is to be able to ride to work thinking about the great things that happen at the shelter, all the animals that get great homes. I DO NOT want to hear about how some puppy store is having a big puppy sale, for I can guarantee you some of those puppies will end up in our shelter. And not to mention, for the $200 that you are “saving” at their sale, you could have saved a life that is already here with just that amount. And the animal you adopt from us would already be spayed/neutered, had initial shots, been microchipped and come with 30-day insurance! Now that’s a deal! 

In my opinion, all dogs should be fed on a schedule (i.e., no open feeding) and if you crate, their meal should be in a crate. Feeding in a crate allows you to monitor their food, makes the crate a GREAT place to them, and prevents dogfights. I have fostered many dogs and I can't believe how many times I have been told that a dog who comes in for fostering is a picky eater…NOT AT MY HOUSE. We have no picky eaters. I also have had dogs leave my house that later "become picky eaters," usually because I find out they free-feed.

Now for those that say, "I only have one or two dogs and I want them to be able to have food whenever they want," I say WHY?? First of all, feeding on a schedule is a very easy way to have well-behaved dogs. The reason? In packs, the pack leader controls the feedings. When you free-feed you lose that easy alpha move. Next is the possibility of an overweight dog. Some say dogs know when to stop…I say they don't. I have seen many overweight free-fed dogs, and how many people do you know who at times overeat? Probably many...if we as people don't always have the sense to "stop," why should our dogs? Next, free-feeding IMO creates picky eaters...they’re thinking, “why should I eat THIS…I will wait to see what else comes along at the end of the day.” Last but not least, you are setting your pack up for a competitive environment where often one dog will eat or guard the bowl while the more submissive dogs are afraid or cautious about eating.

Why feed in a crate? 1. Because it makes the crate a positive place where good things happen and 2. It forces you to be consistent. Dogs are creatures of habit and Mondays are a very hard day for many dogs because they often aren’t crated all weekend and enjoy constant companionship only for you to go off and leave for 8 hours on Monday! By feeding in a crate, it forces you to crate your dog daily, even if only for a short time, so the dog isn’t thrown out of his routine by the time Monday morning comes along.

For those that still aren't convinced, think about Thanksgiving...the smell of the turkey, the anticipation of the big meal, then finally the dinner....and restful nap after. Would you get so excited if that turkey was out all day long for you to look at? My point...mealtime is a HUGE deal at my house...the smell, the anticipation, the nap after. My dogs get excited, they wait, they look forward to dinner. It's one of the high points of their day…why deprive them of that excitement by having the same bowl of food looking at them all day? Free feeding IMO takes the fun out of a dog's dinner and mealtime...why would anyone want to do that??

So there are many benefits to feeding on a schedule. Oh yes, and last but not least...it makes housetraining MUCH easier! Control when and what goes in, and you control when it goes out!

What attracts us to certain types of animals?  I suppose psychologists could write long papers on the whys and wherefores.  I see that one of the other volunteers really likes bulldogs and similar variations.  I'm very ordinary, I guess, because I'm crazy about labs.  My family never owned one.  We had cocker spaniels, a fox terrier, a vizsla, and two mutts.  Later my mom had a yorkie and an English bulldog.  My sister loves Airedales and works with their rescue group.  My brother thinks boxers are great dogs.  So, there is nothing that is bred in me toward wanting a certain type of dog.  But I like the way they look (even though the two I have are built and act quite differently).  I like their personalities.  I like their energy.  That doesn't mean I don't like other dogs or I could never own another.  In fact I think pit bulls are quite intelligent and I love interacting with them at the shelter.  I like Dobermans and shepherds and collies.  But with me and labs it is love at first sight.  In my world, there are people for each and every dog and just your type might be just down the road.  So what are you waiting for?