Pet Dish 01/08/13

Celebrating the first adoptions of 2013

Animal Humane Society kicked off the New Year with several adoptions within the first few hours of opening in 2013. Each of our five locations celebrated their own very first adoption of 2013.


St. Paul’s first adoption was Murphy. This 2-month-old terrier mix puppy has already provided hours of fun with his puppy energy for adopters Tim and Elise. His favorite toy is his soft, squeaky elephant and he loves chewing on his Nylabone. Murphy has also shown his cuddly side and Tim and Elise say he will be a wonderful companion and playmate for years to come.	Buffalo’s first adoption was Keysha. John recently lost his cat of 14 years so when he walked into the shelter with his daughter and granddaughter he said “Grandpa needs a new kitty!” They spent a lot of time with Keysha who was very playful and cuddly with the family. Her adoption happened just in time – she was one day away from becoming a Forget-Me-Not since she’d been waiting for a home for almost a month!

Woodbury’s first adoption was Sienna. The 5-year-old Australian Shepherd went home with a loving family of four. Parents Linda and Chris say she’s settling in fast and is a very smart dog. Two-year-old Vivian says “I love Sienna” and told everyone at daycare about her. Four-year-old Jackson is having a blast playing fetch with her and even asked if he could sleep in Sienna’s bed with her!	Coon Rapids’ first adoption was Selena. This adorable 7-week-old black kitten went home with a very lucky family. The girls thought they were coming after school to pick her up, but their mom decided to go early and bring her home to get settled in so she would be there when they arrived home from school. We can just imagine how excited the girls were to see their new companion when they walked in the door!

Golden Valley’s first adoption was Church. When Mike walked past his kennel, Church lit up with excitement as if to say “yes, that’s him, that’s my person!” It was then that Mike knew he found his match in the 3-month-old Pit Bull puppy. Mike had been waiting years to get a dog and now that he was finally ready, he says he’s happy knowing that Church chose him.

AHS team provides relief to animals affected by Sandy

Since Superstorm Sandy made landfall on October 29, people along the East Coast have been struggling to pick up the pieces. The storm left many feeling completely helpless and caring for a pet in those circumstances can be all the more overwhelming.

The ASPCA has been assisting in affected areas by rescuing animals, reuniting them with their families, distributing supplies and providing veterinary care. They opened an emergency boarding facility in Brooklyn for pets that were unable to return home after Sandy. This free temporary shelter aims to lessen the burden on storm victims and help keep hundreds of families together as they work to get their lives back in order.

The ASPCA contacted Animal Humane Society in December, asking if we could assist in caring for the animals over the holidays, a time when volunteer support can be challenging to find. Four AHS staff graciously volunteered to spend a week in New York at the emergency boarding facility, cleaning, feeding and caring for more than 100 displaced animals.

“We know what an important part of family our pets are so it was rewarding to help these animals and their families during this difficult time,” says Sara Hirschfeld, animal technician supervisor at Animal Humane Society. “We were able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with the animals and provide special treats and enrichment to make them as comfortable as possible while they wait.”

The team witnessed several touching stories, including meeting a man who lost both his business and his home in the storm. His dog Magnus was staying at the shelter and he traveled four hours round trip each day to visit him. He became such a regular that he even started helping out while he was there. The staff and volunteers got to know him and took up a collection to personally help him get back on his feet. “It was great to see people like him visiting their animals and knowing that at a time when everything is such a mess, their pets are in good hands,” says Sara.

Where the red carpet meets the dog park

Where can you get dressed to the nines and take your canine out to dinner with the fabulous company of other animal lovers and pups? At Whisker Whirl – the place for pooches and people to see and be seen!

This year’s event is Saturday, February 23 at the Depot in downtown Minneapolis. Don’t miss out on the event that has become the talk of the town among pet lovers! Reserve your tickets today and join us for a glittering night to help the thousands of animals that come through our doors each year.

AHS is the place to be on no school days

Looking for a place to send the kids during their upcoming days off from school? Let us keep them busy with our exciting animal-themed camps. Each one is different!

There’s still time to register your child for our Unleashed President's Day Camp on February 18. This one-day camp is available to kids in grades 3-6 at our Golden Valley location, and grades 3-4 at our Woodbury and Coon Rapids locations. Learn more about this fun-filled day your child won’t want to miss!

And here’s a great way for your kids to spend their Spring Break – Animal Humane Society and Stages Theatre Company have partnered together to give your child a new and unique camp experience. Campers in grades 3-6 will participate in a variety of animal-related activities and will work together to produce a play that they will perform at the end of the week. Reserve your child’s spot today!

Special delivery for pets in need this holiday season

When our friends at Purina found themselves with a large amount of Purina Dog Chow available for donation just before the holidays, they called us hoping we could help find a way to distribute it to families with pets in need. We connected with Second Harvest Heartland, the largest hunger relief organization in the Upper Midwest, and facilitated arrangements to receive the donation.

Second Harvest received 36,000 pounds of Purina Dog Chow right before Christmas, making it available through its network of food shelves. The donation is helping families who may sometimes struggle with the ability to feed their pets.

Burst the Barn with U of M Women's Basketball team

Animal Humane Society is teaming up with the University of Minnesota Women's Basketball team to "Burst the Barn" at Williams Arena! If the Gophers reach their goal of 5,000 people in attendance, Coach Pam Borton will give a $1,000 donation to AHS. Come watch the team play against Big Ten rival, Nebraska, on Sunday, January 20 for a special price of $10 for two tickets to the game.

Pet Dish 01/08/13

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