Pet Dish for September 1, 2009

In this issue:

• Twirl a different dance partner at Whisker Whirl
• Partnership makes a difference in the lives of animals
• Fostering compassion in kids together
• Caring for urban chickens
• More Treats
• Scratching Post

Twirl a different dance partner at Whisker Whirl
It’s not a secret that Minneapolis-St. Paul is a dog friendly place to live. You have a plethora of dog parks to choose from, countless restaurant patios that will cater to your culinary favor, even a boarding facility conveniently located by the airport so you don’t have to part with your pup until just a few hours before your flight. You can also be treated as a VIP at Animal Humane Society’s upcoming party for people and their pups.

Whisker Whirl is just weeks away on Saturday, September 26. VIP tickets are still on sale—get yours today and you and your pup will be part of an exclusive group to meet old-world Master Bread Maker Klecko as he dishes out great dog biscuit advice and special treats for your pooches and Channel 45 News Anchor Megan Newquist. Fine wine will be provided by Broadway Liquor Outlet as well as beer by Finnegans Irish Amber. Click here to find out more about this exciting evening of canine camaraderie, great food catered by The St. Paul Hotel and an opportunity to support the services and programs of AHS.

Please support our sponsors including Mpls St Paul Magazine and Channel KSTC 45. Funds raised at the event support the nearly 40,000 homeless and neglected animals we see each year at AHS.

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Partnership makes a difference in the lives of animals
You’ve heard the saying, “It takes two.” But it takes more than two to help homeless and neglected animals. It takes your continued support of Animal Humane Society and many committed individuals and organizations to come together to care for these animals.

Whether AHS is leading the effort or providing support, we know that we can’t do it alone. We collaborate with 41 organizations to place animals in rescue and sanctuary that need more medical attention than we can provide due to the substantial number we take in each year. We also partner with 54 different organizations to take in animals that would have been euthanized at previous facilities due to declining adoptions and capacity limitations.

“These partnerships are very important,” says Jen Faehnrich, community programs coordinator for AHS. “We wouldn’t be able to accomplish what we do for so many animals without them.” The number of special cases Jen works on varies from week to week, but she has seen anywhere from 10 to 30 cases at a time. One recent case involved Winston, a Bengal cat who was brought in after a cruelty case. Upon exam, it was found that Winston was stricken with a heart murmur.

Winston’s condition was significant enough to keep him off our adoption floors and place him with a cat sanctuary that could address his specific needs. After three months we were able to place him with the help of our friends at Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minn. Wildcat was able to locate a place for him at Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary in Mississippi. One first-class plane ticket later, and Winston was a Cedarhill resident.

“Winston has settled in and loves it here. He talks all the time,” explains Kay McElroy, executive director of Cedarhill. “It’s a cat paradise. There are 178 cats in his compound, including two other Bengal cats, Ricky and Lucy. He is housed on an acre of land with five houses and a lot of shaded areas. And, he’s fallen in love.” Winston has become quite fond of the head caretaker, Michelle. He helps her with all of her tasks and even tries to sneak out to meet her. (Don’t worry. Winston is always kept safe.)

Winston was recently introduced in the Cedarhill newsletter. Read the excerpt on their website.

Other collaborative efforts

• A team from AHS left Minneapolis on Sunday, August 30 for St. Louis, Mo. to assist the Humane Society of Missouri to care for the more than 400 dogs rescued in connection with the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history. The dogs were seized in a multi-state raid by federal and state officers in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.
• More than 490 dogs have arrived from Oklahoma through our partnership with Save our Strays, a non-profit animal rescue group in Oklahoma. These dogs would likely have been euthanized had they not been transported to AHS where we have the space and resources to find them new homes.  Read more about our work with Save our Strays...
• Several chocolate Labs came to AHS after Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM) worked with a South Dakota breeder to surrender several Labs and golden retrievers in his care. We provided a transport van for the trip, while Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet paid for gas. Upon their return, RAGOM volunteers were on-site at AHS to pick up the golden retrievers for foster. We took in the Labs and worked with RAGOM to place one with fearful tendencies in a foster home through Carver-Scott Humane Society.
• A family had to surrender Twizzle the iguana to AHS after they determined they did not have adequate facilities for the lizard. We worked with Resource for Iguana Care and Adoption in St. Paul to find placement for Twizzle. They did not have room for him but promoted his need via their website. After more than five months with AHS, RICA was able to place him with Raptor Rescue Iguana Sanctuary in Louisiana.
• Wildlife Services collaborated with Erik and Andrea Johnson and local wildlife rehabilitators to secure the safety of three, three-week-old baby squirrels abandoned after their mother was hit by a car. The couple and their family discovered the squirrels during a Saturday evening barbeque. Read more about the experience in the Johnson family’s own words...

If you’d like to read more about any of these efforts, please e-mail us at petdish@animalhumanesociety.org and we’ll feature it in a future issue of Pet Dish.

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Fostering compassion in kids together
According to the U.S. National Parent-Teacher Association Congress, "Children trained to extend justice, kindness, and mercy to animals become more just, kind, and considerate in their relations with one another. Character training along these lines in youth will result in men and women of broader sympathies… in every respect more valuable-citizens."

Are you looking for opportunities to teach your child compassion as well as allow them to explore their interests? As a parent, you can partner with Animal Humane Society to foster compassion in your child by registering them for the PetSet Youth Club.

“PetSet is a service learning program designed for kids to explore issues related to animals and to think about how they can personally have an impact,” says Tammy Noack, humane education director for AHS. “We discuss current events, have guest speakers and hands-on service projects. The kids have a voice in what their group pursues and each group has a unique personality. The possibilities are endless”

Students work within a group setting to research issues and take action. Service learning projects may include single day, in-shelter projects such as building cat beds to longer term projects such as learning about the Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill and writing letters to legislators.

“The goal is to be an extension of community service and to offer kids a fun, educational opportunity.”  

Clubs for the fall semester are now forming. Students in grades 5-8 or 9-12 are invited to join in Golden Valley and grades 5-8 in Woodbury. Groups meet twice a month for a semester (four months) from 6:30–8 p.m. Click here to register your kid today!

The PetSet Youth Club is one of the many educational programs for youth at AHS. From birthday parties to Unleashed mini-camps, AHS offers a number of ways to partner with you and teach your children well.

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Caring for urban chickens
City Chicken Care Class September 27
Thelma and Louise are two smart birds. Obvious companion animals, they were in need of help so introduced themselves to a man working on his car. Flabbergasted by the site of a duck and a chicken coming off the street, the man contacted Animal Humane Society and, shortly thereafter, brought them to our Wildlife Services team in Golden Valley. The team found the birds to be in good health and that they were quite smitten with each other. After a few days, they were transferred to Chicken Run Rescue (CRR) in Minneapolis as a bonded pair and to be placed for adoption. Watch Thelma and Louise’s story…

The event provides an answer to the old mystery, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” It’s simple—to get help.

AHS and CRR have been working together for years to care for and provide homes for domestic chickens and other birds. On Sunday, September 27, CRR will hold a city chicken care class at North Regional Public Library in Minneapolis from 12–4 p.m. to provide a basic understanding to the public on living with chickens, the commitment required to care for them and about the rewarding bond that can develop between humans and chickens. The class is for those with chickens or considering getting them, animal control professionals, shelter staff and veterinary technicians (CE credits available). Pre-registration required. For a $20 donation, tours of CRR will be provided.

“In past years we have rescued, cared for and placed in permanent homes an average of 30 birds a year. This year we have had surrender inquiries for 166 fowl since April 1,” says Mary Britton Clause, co-founder of CRR with her husband Albert Clouse. “Based on the details of the inquiries and the condition of the birds we rescue, the overwhelming majority of people getting chickens (and other domestic fowl) know little about them or the care they need.” In response, CRR has developed the City Chicken Care Class.

Presentations will be given by experts on chicken history and behavior, vet care and zoonoses, animal law, shelter design specific to Minnesota climate, non-lethal predator protection and landscaping for fun and forage.

“We want people to learn about chickens for the fascinating and engaging creatures that they are,” says Britton Clause. “We want people to make an informed decision about bringing chickens into their lives before acquiring them. Chickens can live as long as 14 years, so the commitment is the same as for a dog or cat.”

Learn more about the class and review the agenda (.pdf) at www.brittonclouse.com/chickenrunrescue.

 

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Lean on AHS for boarding services
We all have them. People only vacations and workdays when you know you won’t be able to get away to care for your pet. During times like these it’s important to have someone you can rely on. Lean on AHS’s Golden Valley Boarding facility. We provide overnight boarding and low-cost day care services for your pup, cat, rabbit, bird, guinea pigs—even your fish or chickens! Learn more and reserve your spot by calling (763) 489-2222.

 

Free castration clinic for MN horses
AHS, in partnership with the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition and the Minnesota Horse Council, are offering a free, one-day horse castration clinic on September 26, 2009, at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, Minn. through the Gelding Project. The goal of the clinic is to reduce the number of unwanted horses in Minnesota. The unwanted horse is the single biggest welfare issue facing the horse industry today.

 

 

Donate your time, Purina will donate funds
AHS is supported by an incredible team of volunteers. They are our everyday heroes. Are you ready to join them? Pledge to become an AHS volunteer and Purina ONE will donate $5 to AHS as a participating shelter in its One Hope Network during its “Be My Hero” campaign. Spread the message to friends and family—Purina is donating up to $500,000

 

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A special wish list for cats
With more than 21,000 felines coming to AHS each year, cats are often met with an extended stay while they wait for a new home on our adoption floors. The days can get long and in an effort to keep each cat stimulated, we’re asking for donations of cat toys (without cat nip and not made out of real fur). Can you make a small toy donation to help a cat? Learn more…

 

Care for animals all year long
One simple commitment can help homeless and neglected animals all year long. Partner with AHS through its PAW (planned account withdrawal) program—you choose how much you want to donate and we’ll automatically deduct your gift from your credit card each month. That’s one commitment that provides 12 months of care. Learn more…

 

 

Delight your pet-owning employees
Local statistics reveal that nearly two-thirds of your employees have pets. With that in mind, consider Animal Humane Society’s Pet Concierge package, a benefits package for your employees. Via a network of pet industry companies, we can provide discounted training, overnight boarding, dog walking, pet sitting, pet food delivery, and more. For more information, contact Amy Rosenthal, director of corporate relations at AHS at (763) 489-2231.

Can you help a cat in need?
Kitten season is upon us and during this time thousands of kittens are taken in resulting in a dramatic decline of adult cat adoptions. You can help by taking an adult feline houseguest into your home for six months with start dates through September months. Then return the cat to AHS at a time when customers historically consider adopting an adult cat and when we have fewer kittens. Applications accepted through September 12.   Learn more about this innovative program...

 

 

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