Kentucky Humane Society

Letter from Camp Fern Creek

2011-09-06T08:27:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Dear Mom,

I am enjoying my stay here at the Fern Creek Pet Resort. I have made lots of new friends in Doggie Daycare. Some of their names are Tara, Atlas, Sarah, Ditzy, and McKinley. I've been swimming, going on long walks on the nature trail and playing ball with all the nice employees. Every night we get a bedtime treat and a nice, soft blanket to sleep on. Thanks for sending me here for the weekend and I can't wait to come back for another stay.

Love,
Phoebe

Toby

2011-08-02T08:53:00.002-04:00

Toby
August 2, 2011

My name is Toby, I'm a one-year-old Wheaten Terrier. I have been coming to the Eastpoint Pet Resort since I was a thin puppy. I love to go there to play in Doggie Daycare and get my bath and haircut. The people are really nice and there are a lot of other dogs to play with. My Mom works very close, so she comes by and visits me on her lunch break sometimes. Every now and then my Mom and Dad will go out of town for the weekend so I will stay at Eastpoint Pet Resort during those times. Since I come there for Doggie Daycare, staying for the weekend is no big deal at all. I get to play for the day and then I'm very tired for my evening rest in my room. Everyone at Eastpoint knows and loves me, I wouldn't want to spend time anywhere else.

petresort@kyhumane.org

Bo

2011-07-08T15:09:00.002-04:00

Bo
Friday, July 8, 2011

Hi, my name is Bo. My brother, Stanley, and I come to the Fern Creek Pet Resort to play all the time in Doggie Daycare. A couple of weeks ago, the staff there threw us a huge Hawaiian Beach Party. It was the best! We all got to go swimming, play ball, catch bubbles and even wear colored leis! But, my favorite part was the doggie ice cream. I have so much fun; I wish every dog could come to Doggie Daycare. All of us dogs play so great together, and we even include the staff who take care of us. Thanks for giving us so much love and fun!

Love,
Bo

fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

A Note to St. Francis

2011-06-22T14:57:00.007-04:00

A Note to St. Francis
by Rick Maynard on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 3:53pm

Dear St. Francis:

You've probably noticed there's a new dog in heaven tonight. His name is Junior and he's been my best friend for 16 years. I'm entrusting him to your care for a while, so I thought I'd write you this note.

First, I know he's kind of a unique-looking dog. He looks a little like a Golden Retriever that someone shrunk because they left him in the dryer too long. The Humane Society folks told us he was half Golden and half Dachshund. You might think he's funny looking, but trust me, he grows on you. We think he's beautiful and you will too.

He gets along with everyone -- people and dogs both. When we first got Junior, his big sister Chelsea actively tried to eat him for the first several weeks. She was a much bigger dog and she could seem pretty mean, but Junior never bought into her act. He just kept coming back day after day, ignoring the growling and the snapping, until eventually she realized he wasn't going anywhere. They soon became best friends, and I'm glad they're together again.

His name is Junior, but his friends called him Hoonie. My cousin started calling him that many, many years ago and it stuck. So when you introduce yourself, call him Hoonie. That way he'll know he's among friends.

I know time doesn't have as much importance up there as it does here, but you can go ahead and throw your watch away. Hoonie's internal timing system is more accurate that a Rolex. At 9 p.m. on the dot, he'll come and remind you it is time for his late dinner. He'll do this by staring intently at you, whining softly and -- if you ignore him-- he'll bonk the heck out of you with his nose. Hoonie has mastered the art of the attention-getting bonk.

He likes to wipe his face on the rug after he eats and he loves to run down the hallway to celebrate the conclusion of another tasty meal. He loves having his belly rubbed and he doesn't like his feet messed with. He likes to sleep on the tile in the bathroom because it's cool, so if you need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, pick another one. We tried to never disturb him while he was sleeping.

Also, if you have a way to get in touch with those college students that gave up the world's most perfect dog all those years ago, give them a message for me. I can't remember their names, but they gave up Junior because they were going on spring break and they didn't have a dogsitter. I told them I'd take him and, while I couldn't keep him, I'd find a good home for him. They didn't care. Of course, I did find a good home for him -- mine. And while I used to be angry at those kids who were so willing to give up this great dog, I now realize I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. They played matchmaker for me and my best friend. So, to them, I say thank you.
That first night that Gina and I picked up Junior, we drove to Transylvania University and his owners met us on the sidewalk. He was unleashed and the traffic was flying by just a few feet away. I scolded them and asked them where his leash was. They handed over a small plastic bag with a worn leash, a squeaky toy and a handful of dog treats. Not much of a going-away present for the dog they gave up.

I put the leash on Junior and told them I'd let them know where he ended up. They didn't seem interested. With that, they turned around and walked back to their apartment building. We also turned around and headed for our car. Junior never looked back. I think he already knew he was on his way to his forever home. Gina drove us back home, while I sat in the passenger seat with Hoonie curled up in my lap.

Late last night, on his last night as my dog, Gina drove us to the emergency vet clinic and again, Junior was curled up on my lap. In between those two car rides separated by more than a decade and a half, he reminded me every day what it meant to love unconditionally. And I promise to never forget him for that.

And tonight at 9:00 sharp. I'll miss being bonked by an impatient, sweet and hungry Hoonie dog. And I'll miss that every other night for the rest of my life.

So please take care of him, St. Francis. But don't get too attached. Because one of these days, I'm going to see him again. And when I show up, I'll have only one thing on my mind and in my heart:

“I’ve come for my dog.”

I love you, Hoon.

Dad

Rick Maynard
KHS Board Member

Geordie

2011-05-31T08:55:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Geordie

Hi! My name is Geordie and I am a brown Terrier mix. I go to Doggie Daycare at the Fern Creek Pet Resort and it is such a blast! They really let dogs be dogs. I love playing with all of my doggy friends. I get so excited for daycare and I bark the whole way to the yard. I also like to get tennis balls and have the hother dogs chas me on the ramps and through the tires. When I get tired of running around, I run to the employees and stand between their legs. There isn't a better place I'd rather spend my days while my parents are gone at work. The employees love giving me a mohawk on top of my head. They say it makes me cool. I love playing with the puppies, as most of them are closer to my size. The employees at the Fern Creek Pet Resort do a great job at making daycare a fun and safe place for us to play. Well, it's time for me to go - hope to see ya around!

fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

It's Waggin' Trail Time!

2011-04-08T17:43:00.002-04:00

Spring is here and we're all ready to spend some time outside...pets and people. This May, why not come and spend a Saturday at the park with KHS? Our 2011 Waggin' Trail Walk for the Animals is scheduled for Saturday, May 21st at EP Tom Sawyer Park and we need YOUR help. Waggin' Trail is not only a fun day, it's also a major source of funding for our life-saving mission programs at KHS. When you support Waggin' Trail, you are helping the pets in our care. So, how can you help? Register and start fundraising today! It's simple...log on to kyhumane.org and click on Waggin' Trail to register. Our event includes a timed 5K trail run, a non-competitive walk, and lots of fun activities. It's really for everyone! You can sign up as a runner, walker, or sit-out fundraiser. It's really what you do in the weeks before Waggin' Trail that makes all the difference. Talk to your friends, family, coworkers...everyone about this special event you are taking part in. Don't be afraid to ask for their support! Tell everyone how much it would mean to the animals of KHS, and you personally, if they would sponsor you to walk. Any donation--large or small--will help an animal in need. Then think of event day as your "victory lap"--your chance to celebrate your hard work! Of course don't take this journey alone, bring along some friends! Starting a team to walk and fundraise with is a fun way to enjoy the Waggin' Trail experience. In addition to the walk and run, we'll also have fun activities for pets and people including contests with prizes, booths and entertainment, agility and behavior demonstrations, adoptable pets, affordable microchipping, and much more! So...what are you waiting for! Click here to register for Waggin' Trail! Kim Ulrich Community Outreach Manager

Gambler's Fever

2011-04-05T12:38:00.002-04:00

Gambler's Fever Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Many years ago I had a dog that so desperately wanted to be good that one afternoon when I left a bowl of ice cream on a coffee table in front of said dog and hurried out the front door to watch a fire engine across the street, upon my return I found a melted bowl of ice cream and a very drooling dog. True story. It now must be revealed that the dogs was NOT a Weimaraner. It is not that Weimaraners don't want to be good, but when faced with temptation, they don't always make the best choices. Some things are self-rewarding. Trash baskets fall into this category. Complications arise if the household has more than one dog and/or more than one trash basket. Although in my house the dogs know I "own" everything, they may bide their time to see if they can score a forbidden object. Kind of like slot machines. You may not win every time, but that random prize will keep you trying again and again. Trust me. Through the years and other resident dogs, I have tried booby traps, bad tasting stuff and mouse traps, none of which worked for very long to keep them at bay, especially considering what sort of stuff gets tossed out. In fairness to a dog, I also have the concession that if something is on the floor, it is fair game. Since most wastebaskets are on the floor, I had to try to put these two thoughts together so we could live in harmony. Simply covering them did not work. One of our Weims loved to flip the cover off one of the wastebaskets just to hear it make noise. It was metal. He loved to watch how we would rush over to pick it up and put it back in place so he could do it again and again and again, well, you get the idea. And that basket had only office paper scraps in it. So one day on a whim I decided to put the bathroom baskets under the sink, behind the closed cabinet door, and VOILA! Suddenly the trash stayed where I put it. Yes, it was confusing to people, even those living in the house, as to the whereabouts of the trash basket, but at least we weren't picking up stuff or yelling like insane lunatics. Gradually I put all of them behind closed doors, even the one in the kitchen. In fact, to be doubly sure, there is a main basket and a smaller one for smelly stuff that can be closed tightly. Yes, that does deplete storage space, but finally the fight was over and the battle was won! All it took was to train the humans where to put the trash. Yes, there are some very clever dogs out there who can figure out how to open cabinets, but securing cabinet doors are way easier to do these days with the presence of childproof latches. And, after all, they are out "children". We owe it to them to keep them safe from our discards and our ranting and raving. The only other option seems to be lots of Metamucil for them and lots of bending and stopping for us to pick up stuff we have already thrown away. I think I will take the easy way out so when they get to the bottom of the Frosty Pay treat, the container is gone for everyone's good! Cindy Smaldone Eastpoint Groomer petresort@kyhumane.org

Most Faithful Friend: Images of Japan

2011-03-17T20:18:00.003-04:00

I've been haunted this past week by the images of devastation and suffering in Japan following Saturday's 9.0 earthquake, and the resulting tsunami. As an animal lover, I've wondered what, if anything, was being done to help the displaced pets that surely were affected by those disasters.

Today I found this, a brief but moving story of a dog who refused to leave the side of his injured canine friend; don't worry, it has a happy ending.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

We can all hope for a friend as loyal as this dog, and that, in a similar circumstance, we would demonstrate his (her?) courage and determination.

Click here for 6 ways you can help the animals in Japan.

Susan McKellep

Customer Care Manager

Kentucky Humane Society

customercaremanager@kyhumane.org

Waggin' Trail Walk for the Animals

2011-03-04T09:42:00.009-05:00

Spring is a busy and exciting time at the Kentucky Humane Society. Our 17th annual Waggin' Trail Walk for the Animals is coming up on Saturday, May 21st at EP Tom Sawyer State Park.

I want to share a letter with you from Rick Maynard, a dedicated KHS Board Bember and captain of the KFC and Yum! Brands Team--our top fundraising Waggin' Trail team for six years running. I hope you'll be inspired as I always am by Rick's passion for the animals.

Kim Ulrich, Community Outreach Manager

First things first: I hate to run.

I’ve always said that if you ever catch me running, that means someone is chasing me.

So how do I explain my going-on-seven-year love affair with a 5k event? It’s simple, really. It’s not just any 5k event. It’s the Kentucky Humane Society’s 5k event.

While I don’t love running, I do love my dogs and I do love the Kentucky Humane Society. So since I’ve lived in Louisville, I’ve always been a supporter of the Waggin’ Trail.

The first year that I was a team captain, my KFC and Yum! Brands team raised about $2,400 and we won a nice little trophy. I thought that was a huge amount of money and I was very proud of that trophy. It’s still on my desk.

The next year, we raised $6,000 and I was even more thrilled. In 2007, the total was $8,000. The following year, our team collected more than $17,000. And so on.

In six years, our little corporate team has been responsible for raising more than $50,000 for KHS through the Waggin’ Trail 5k.

So, people ask me: “How do you do it?” It’s simple, really:

One donation at a time.

The Waggin’ Trail web site makes it really easy for you to invite people to donate. We’ve always had 10 or 15 or 20 people on our team and everyone hits up their own contact list – friends, family members, doctors, dentists, Facebook friends, vendors, people who owe them favors. And through the miracle of modern technology, you can hit people up for donations and you don’t even have to look them in the eye! It’s beautiful.

My friends know I am a huge supporter of KHS and they also know that I ask them only once a year for a donation. I think they write the check for the 5k in part to ensure I don’t bother them the rest of the year.

Last year, I accidentally (really) sent an e-mail solicitation to my insurance agent. He made a donation. Guess what? He’s getting another accidental e-mail this year too!

I send an e-mail to the folks who have football season tickets in my row. I ask them if they’re renewing their season tickets for the fall and I ask them to make a little donation. They always renew their seats and they always donate.

I e-mail an ex-boss and tell him how much I miss working for him. He never responds that he misses having me work for him, but he always makes a donation.

I ask family members to make Waggin’ Trail donations in lieu of birthday or holiday gifts. Their gifts are always the right size and color and nothing has to be exchanged.

One year, I promised to actually complete (“complete,” not “run”) the 5k and send photographic proof to anyone who made a donation. I completed the event. It wasn’t in record time, but we raised a record amount of money. I found out my friends were susceptible to deal making. I’ll be making some kind of deal again this year.

We’ve done raffles. We’ve solicited funds from employees in our cafeteria. We’re lucky to work for a really generous company that matches every gift of $25 or more, which makes it an easy thing to “upsell” donors to the $25 level. “Well, if you’ll just add $5 to that $20 donation, the animals will actually receive $50!” See? It just sells itself.

We’ve mastered the art of telling heart-warming stories about our own pets (and distributing photos of same) in our e-mail solicitations. My dog Steel is personally responsible for thousands of dollars in donations. Some of my friends can say no to me, but they are powerless to say no when Steel is making the ask.

I urge you to form your own team and get creative in your Waggin’ Trail fundraising. You might be surprised how much fun it can be to ask people for money!

At Yum! Brands, we take a lot of pride in the fact that we have had the top fundraising team for the past six years, and we’ll be shooting for a seven-peat. But you know what would make me even happier? If some motivated team captain forms a team and raises even more money than we do.

Because while we are all very competitive, no matter which person or team raises the most money, it’s the animals that really win.

Steel and I will see you at the Waggin’ Trail!

--Rick Maynard

KFC and Yum! Brands Team

Whistle While You Work!

2011-03-01T13:00:00.001-05:00

Blog Fern Creek Pet Resort

Most people only wish to wake up and look forward to coming to work. I am one of the lucky few who can say that I do. I can say this because I work at the Kentucky Humane Society’s Fern Creek Pet Resort. Where else can I come to work and be greeted by fuzzy faces that are happy to see me?

Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of dirty work to be done when it comes to animals. Anyone who has owned or cared for a pet knows this all too well but, they also know it is the most rewarding labor you can do. However, even with all of the dirty work to be done there are plenty of fun times to be had. It’s because of the exciting times that outweigh the stressful, that I can say this place is not only a great place to work but a wonderful place to bring your pets.

We offer many services and there is something for everyone. The traveling pet owner can take advantage of our competitive boarding rates and the activities that we offer during their pet’s stay. The working, on-the-go pet owner can bring their dog for some running and playing for a few hours at our Doggie Daycare while they are at work, running errands or just to give their best friend time to play with their four-legged friends. We also offer grooming services for people who like to keep their pets smelling their best.

The services aren’t what I really want to talk about. I would like to give a more personal insight to what we do here daily. As an employee, I can honestly say that we treat every cat and dog that walks (or runs!) through our door as if they were our own pets. We are as crazy about the pets here as our own. We’ve really gotten to know quite a lot of them. And even if we don’t know them very well they still get the attention the others get. Besides, how else are we supposed to get to know them, without giving them a scratch behind the ear here and there?

There are plenty of reasons why I love my job. Number one is the animals and the joy they bring to me. I look forward to the future and all of the new friends that I will make. I hope to see you and/ or your four-legged friend soon!

Tara Dykes

Kennel Tech

Fern Creek Pet Resort

S.N.I.P. Clinic Statistics

2011-02-28T13:24:00.001-05:00

49% of the patients are cats

51% of the patients are dogs

53% of the patients are female

47% of the patients are male

82% of the patients are sexually mature

56% of the sexually mature cats are female

38% of the sexually mature female cats are in heat

50% of the sexually mature dogs are female

31% of the sexually mature female dogs are in heat

5% of our clients are referred by their private veterinarian

19% of our clients were referred by their family or friends

13% of our clients have been here before

25% of the pets sterilized at our facility are delivered through our transport system

As of January 1, 2011, the S.N.I.P. Clinic performed 32,617 spay/neuter surgeries

Best In Show!

2011-02-17T09:00:00.004-05:00

I love dog shows. Well, really I love dogs - and you get to see so many at a dog show! It's always especially exciting to see an unusual dog win the highly coveted title of Top Dog (Best in Show), which is exactly what happened this year at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show:

Hickory is a 5 year old Scottish Deerhound, the first of her breed ever to win the highest prize. Although an adult can weigh as much as 110 lbs, these dogs are generally known as gentle giants.

Whatever your favorite breed, if you like dogs, then watching dog shows can be a lot of fun. Below are a few of this year's contestants:

They all look like winners to me!

Susan McKellep

Customer Care Manager

Kentucky Humane Society

customercaremanager@kyhumane.org

2011-02-15T10:58:00.003-05:00

Become a Volunteer Member TODAY!

Your annual $20 contribution as a Kentucky Humane Society Volunteer Member will provide you with the many benefits of our 2011 Volunteer Membership Discount Card! The use of this card will supply you with discounts to KHS services and programs. You will also receive a newly designed KHS Volunteer t-shirt! What’s more, membership makes a difference to the animals in our care!

This Year’s Exciting Member Benefits Include:
 Newly designed KHS Volunteer T-shirt
 2011 Volunteer Membership Card with the following benefits:
-$25 off KHS Summer Camp
-$25 off KHS Pet Adoptions
-$10 off spay or neuter surgery at the S.N.I.P. Clinic
-15% off KHS Eastpoint and Fern Creek Pet Resorts’ Services
-$20 off KHS Children’s Birthday Parties
 Invitation to our volunteer appreciation day
 Copy of our annual report
 Subscription to the Paw Street Journal, our quarterly newsletter

For information on how to become a volunteer member, please contact Jennifer Clark at 515-3145 or jclark@kyhumane.org. Thank you!

“What Can You Do for the Kentucky Humane Society?”

2011-02-09T17:15:00.002-05:00

As I reach the end of a six-year term on the Kentucky Humane Society’s board of directors, I have been reflecting on my time with the organization.

I vividly remember having dinner with CEO Lori Kane Redmon and several board members more than six years ago as they considered me for a board position. I was asked lots of questions that night, but the one I most remember is, “What can you do for the Kentucky Humane Society?”

To be honest, I don’t remember how I answered. I guess the response must have been suitable though (or they were really short on board members), because I got the job.

I will say this: whatever I did for the Kentucky Humane Society over the past several years pales in comparison to what they have done for me.

To begin with, they introduced me to two of the very best things in my life: Cotton and Steel. These previously unwanted, perfect dogs remind me every day what unconditional love really means. I admit there is separation anxiety at my house, but I am more a victim than my dogs are. I simply don’t like being away from them, and I barely remember what my life was like before they were in it.

KHS is as much about people as it is about pets, and I have also been blessed to meet some truly amazing people through the organization – people that I bonded with immediately because of our shared love for animals. They have become some of my dearest friends and I’ll look forward to sharing those friendships for the rest of my life.

While the pets and the people would be more than enough, KHS has given me something else that is very important: pride. I have never been more proud to be associated with an organization. Every staff member I meet, every story I hear, every facility I visit, every animal I interact with – they all make me proud of KHS. Some amazing things have happened in the past several years – the opening of our SNIP Clinic, the renovation of our Steedly shelter and the opening of our new facility on Lyndon Lane. Year after year of record-setting adoption numbers and ever-increasing numbers of spays and neuters. I am also extraordinarily proud of the willingness of our team to help other animal organizations that have benefitted from the leadership, expertise and commitment of KHS employees.

It makes me wish there was a better word than “proud,” because that doesn’t seem big enough.

I’ll miss the monthly board meetings, but I am enthusiastic about continuing to be a financial supporter, a volunteer and a vocal advocate for what I think is the best animal welfare organization anywhere.

And as I move forward, I will keep asking myself that same question over and over, just to make sure I stay focused on what is most important:

“What can you do for the Kentucky Humane Society?”

Maybe it’s a question we should all ask ourselves now and then.

-Rick Maynard

My Little Mess Makers

2011-02-04T11:34:00.003-05:00

With four dogs and one cat, you can imagine what my beige carpets look like. Especially in the late winter and spring when the backyard becomes a mud pit! I realize I'm fighting a losing battle, but yet I still try. Here are some tips for removing common pet stains from carpet if you have your own floor wars going on:

Grass stains:
Vacuum the stain to remove as much particulate matter as possible. Dip a white towel in cold water and blot the stain, repeating several times with different areas of the towel. You should be able to see the stain begin to transfer onto the towel. After soaking up as much stain as possible, blot with a cleanser listed with a pH of 7 on the label.

Urine:
Soak up as much urine as possible with a dry towel. Press firmly on the stain and repeat several times until no more moisture will soak into the towel. Rinse the area with club soda, then blot several times with a separate towel. Apply a cleaner/neutralizer formulated for pet stains and allow to air dry.

Blood:
Soak the blood stain with cold water. Apply a small amound of hydrogen peroxide and allow to bubble, then repeat until the stain is gone. Blot the area dry with a clean towel. NOTE: Hydrogen peroxide may lighten your carpet! Another alternative is to apply a paste of meat tenderizer/water or corn starch/water, let stand, then vacuum when dry.

Feces:
Remove solids and blot up any moisture with a paper towel. Rinse the area with club soda, then blot with a clean towel. Apply a cleaner/neutralizer formulated for pet stains and allow to air dry.

Vomit:
Remove solids then add a little bit of cold water to the stain. Coat the area with baking soda or salt, let dry. Vacuum, then wet the area again with club soda and blot dry with a clean towel.

Mud:
Do not scrub! This will simply rub in the stain. Allow the stain to completely dry, then scrape away any big chunks of mud. Vacuum, and most should come up if not ground into the carpet. If there is a stain remaining, rinse the area in a solution of 5 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Let soak then blot dry with a clean towel.

Happy cleaning!

Kim Ulrich
Community Outreach Manager

Extreme Makeover: Dog Edition

2011-02-01T11:35:00.003-05:00

Extreme Makeover: Dog Edition
Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Sometimes something as simple as a new haircut can make you feel so much better about yourself. And on a day when you're dirty from gardening or going on a run, does anything feel better than the shower you take afterwards? Our four-legged friends can also appreciate what it means to be clean and look good. Though our dogs may roll in foul things and play in the mud, the matting in the fur that can occur afterwards can be very painful to them. Their wolfy instincts may tell them to smell as bad as possible, but they no longer have the shedding techniques and dense coats their ancestors had to rid themselves of those layers of fur.

That is where Cindy and Virginia, our two amazing groomers at Eastpoint Pet Resort, come in.

It wouldn't be a stretch to call these ladies miracle workers. I've seen them shape matted balls of white fur into Poodles with bows in their hair, shave pounds of fur off of rescue Collies, and wrangle the most exuberant Labs into the tub and out to their owners, looking great and smelling even better. They can do spa treatments for dogs with sensitive skin, or mustts that prefer a blueberry facial. They can pull off show coats on Border Collies, puppy cuts on your Maltipoo, light trims on your terrier mix, and everything in-between. I've seen them de-shed so much fur off of some dogs that you could probably make another dog with the leftovers. I have a Saint Bernard mix whose goal is to look and smell like an extra from Pet Cemetery, and they can even make him look like he stepped out of Doggie GQ. Many dogs are so happy after being groomed that they bound around the grooming area like puppies, free from filth and excess fur.

Cindy and Virginia also take such pride in their work, perfecting dogs before they leave the grooming table. They are both a Da Vinci with scissors and combs as their tools. Working at the front desk of Eastpoint allows me to watch the careful consideration they put into making each dog flawless, a work of art in their own right. They manage to do this while putting even the most scared of dogs at ease. There is much petting, talking to, and cooing over every dog that comes in. Though they might not admit it, I have often heard them sing to some of the dogs to calm them down (does your stylist do that?!). They both genuinely care about making the pets they're working with feel good, and it shows!

The best part of this, of course, is seeing the reactions of the owners when they come to pick up their clean babies. They range from "Oh my, he looks amazing!" to "GOOD GREIF, she looks lika new dog!" My immediate reaction is to do a happy dance inside, thinking about how much fur we're leaving behind that will not be transferred to my house. A joyful day for you and your now clean-smelling, good-looking, even better feeling dog!

Cindy and Virginia also collectively work seven days a week, so your mutt doesn't have to wait for a weekday to feel like a new dog. You can even drop them off before work and pick them up afterwards. Call us and we'll make you dog an appointment, and you'll be on your way to having a happier hound.

Ember Marr
Animal Care Attendant
petresort@kyhumane.org

Amellia Update!

2011-01-20T09:30:00.009-05:00

Last summer I wrote about a little dog named Amellia, a Shih Tzu who came to us with a matted coat, severely deformed legs, and an indomitable spirit. After Amellia went to rescue, I didn't hear anything more about her....until last week, when a co-worker showed me this:

And then, this:

The moral of this story: NEVER give up.

Susan McKellep
Customer Care Manager
Kentucky Humane Society
customercaremanager@kyhumane.org

A Moment to Treasure

2011-01-07T09:20:00.008-05:00

My day began as any other. I woke up, fed and walked the dogs and got ready for work. Lulu would be working with me on this day, so I began getting her ready. I brushed her, cleaned and trimmed her face, and fixed her famous ponytail. We set out together for a very long day of presentations. I had several programs booked at one school and they all went really well. As I was getting ready to leave, the special needs assistant came up to me and remarked how she wished Lulu could come to her classroom. Lulu and I were completely exhausted but I just couldn't say no. I agreed to stop by, meet the students and tell the teacher about my programs.

I entered the classroom and spent some one-on-one time with the children in the room that wanted to meet Lulu. As usual, Lulu sat patiently as they stroked her fur. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the teacher lift a student from a wheelchair and carry him across the room. He sat the boy down next to Lulu. My heart instantly ached. The boy had suffered massive burns to his body... he had lost fingers, his ears, his hair and most of his legs. He could not speak. However, I couldn't help but grin as I watched him pet Lulu, a huge smile spreading upon his face. I showed him how Lulu loves to give kisses. His laughter was infectious. Suddenly, he was staring at me so intently, I knew what he wanted. I asked him if he would like a kiss from Lulu. He beamed and shook his head yes. Lulu kissed him over and over and the laughter continued. The teacher grabbed his camera and took pictures. "You don't understand how important this moment is....he is terrified of everything, even butterflies." He went on to explain how they have been working with the boy to help him overcome his fears. I was amazed. Not only did this boy enjoy petting Lulu, he was allowing her to touch her face to his. I have to admit it was difficult to leave that classroom, I didn't want our visit to end. These are the moments during my job that I treasure. The good news is I will be back. The teacher wants to have me come back to present to his class. I have to admit, I can't wait.

Watch out for Lulu's kisses... they cause contagious laughter!

Pet Disaster Supplies Kit

2011-01-06T12:53:00.006-05:00

While we all plan to have a happy and safe new year, planning for the unexpected is an important practice. Not just for the human members of your family, but for your pets as well. Here are some essentials you’ll need for a pet disaster supplies kit. Keep items in an accessible place and store them in sturdy containers that can be carried easily. Once you've assembled your kit, rest easy and hope you never have to use it.

Your pet disaster supplies kit should include:
Medications
Medical records (stored in a waterproof container)
First aid kit
Pet first aid book (find books for dogs and cats at http://www.redcrossstore.org/)
Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport pets safely and ensure that your animals can’t escape
Collar
Up-to-date I.D. tag
Up-to-date registration tag
Up-to-date rabies vaccination tag
Current photos of your pets in case they get lost
Current photo of you with your pets
Food
Potable water
Bowls for food and water
Cat litter/pan
Litter scoop
Can opener
Pet bed
Favorite toy
Blankets
Temporary I.D. tag with number and address of your temporary shelter or of a friend or relative outside the disaster area

Kim Ulrich
Community Outreach Manager

Welcome!

2011-01-03T12:57:00.003-05:00

Welcome
Monday, 3, 2010

Hey there! This is Faith, the Resort Leader for the Fern Creek Pet Resort. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce Annie our new full time groomer. She is new to the Louisville area, but, very friendly. She grooms here every day except for Sundays and Tuesdays, and you will find her rates to be competitive with those in the area. Her customer service is excellent and she has 4+ years experience. You will find her work to be exceptional! So, give us a call, we would be glad to pamper your pet, and I'm sure you will be satisfied.

Faith Travis
fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

A New Year's Resolution for All of Us

2010-12-28T17:14:00.005-05:00

It's a strange time of year in the department of good and bad habits. Without fail, I gorge my way through the holidays like I am trying to medal in the Food Olympics. My normal bad eating habits become almost unspeakable this last week of the year. I do get some exercise, but it's from running back and forth to the refrigerator. Then with a magic stroke of midnight on January 1, I always pledge to abandon my naughty ways.

This year, my New Year's resolution will be different. This time, my dogs will help me succeed in a healthier lifestyle!

Did you know that the average dog owner walks about twice as much per week as the average non-dog owner? Pets can be wonderful exercise companions, and it's just as vital to their health as it is to ours. Dogs that don't receive adequate exercise can display destructive behaviors like digging or chewing, along with hyperactivity, jumping, excessive barking, and general troublemaking.

According to the ASPCA, exercise needs for each dog can vary depending on age, size, and breed. But in general, all dogs benefit from daily aerobic exercise and a daily 30 minute walk. Aerobic exercise can be any exercise that gets your dog panting, such as fetch, tug, or chase.

My personal goal will be to set aside a playtime and a walk time with my dogs every day, but of course like all resolutions I will not be perfect. Still, because I love my dogs there are big incentives to keep trying. The ASPCA lists important pet health benefits from a daily walk such as weight control, better digestion, better sleep, and overall better strength and agility. And the rewards are not just physical. Regular exercise with your furry buddy can also build their confidence and trust.

If you're turning over a new leaf like me, but don't want to brave the cold for a daily walk, check out our upcoming winter issue of the Paw Street Journal. Behavior Leader Kat Rooks will share some great indoor exercise ideas for your pets.

I wish you and your pets a happy and healthy New Year!

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T13:41:00.005-05:00

The staff of the S.N.I.P. Clinic will be taking a much-needed break until Monday, January 3. We wish everyone peace and happiness in the new year!

Courtney McKinney
S.N.I.P. Clinic Manager

Image source: http://www.mota.ru/en/wallpapers/source/id/20983

"Just a Cat"

2010-12-16T00:01:00.004-05:00

"She's just a cat..."

Nothing could be further from the truth when you’re talking about Cha Cha. If you’ve visited our Steedly adoption site I hope you’ve had the privilege of meeting our “Official Spokes Cat”. Cha is greeter, counselor and stress reliever. She keeps the staff in line with a firm paw.

If the water isn’t fresh, or the food bowl isn’t full, she will meyowl until someone runs to fix that problem. If the litter box hasn’t been cleaned or someone closed a door to an office she planned to use, she will follow you around until that too is fixed to her satisfaction. (And if you’re the one who should have taken care of these things, but didn’t, she’ll tell on you!)

When Cha wants your chair, you have to share. If she feels the need to walk across your desk or keyboard, it’s best to give in because “The Cha” usually gets her way. I’ve seen her curse a sunbeam because it moved while she was sleeping. I think she actually expected it to move back because she didn’t think she should have to move to enjoy its warmth again.

Over the years Cha Cha has endured many staff changes, countless dogs and cats and most recently, the Main Campus Improvement Project. She’s attended staff meetings and Board meetings. She was even the star of her own commercial, and has also been known to blog.

Cha Cha also enjoys (or should I say tolerates) getting dressed up. She has a Derby outfit, a Santa suit, and several other hats and collars she wears for special occasions.

It’s been said that cats have 9 lives and Cha has certainly used up a few of those. She was brought to KHS because she was using the owner’s bed for her own private bathroom. That generally not a behavior a new adopter wants in a cat. She soon became a staff favorite, and was allowed full run of the adoption area. She quickly realized how easy it was to wrap humans around her paw.

Over the last couple years, she was awakened from her nap two different times by dogs wanting to toss her like a rag doll. Each time, her faithful staff came to the rescue and she was scooped up and quickly checked by the vet. With lots of love and attention she was back in charge in no time at all.

Once she had some type of fungal infection and had to have a bath in a “rotten egg” smelling dip. You could hear her displeasure all through the building. You could also smell her coming for days afterward.

Last year she had a reaction to a common medication. You’d be surprised how fast her staff can move when she is in distress.

True to her Diva nature, she has been trying to hide her age. Apparently, she is closer to 15 than the 10 years old she wanted us to believe. Yes, she sleeps more and she moves slower, but she still has the full attention of all her loving staff.

Recently, she had a medical emergency and had to be transported to another location for specialized care. A ride was arranged, blankets and carrier were located and again her staff was there do whatever they could to help her. There were hugs and tears as she left the building.

She seems to be improving and is getting back to her “old” self. She’s voicing her opinion and her displeasure at having to take medication. I hope she will soon be back at work wanting her bed fluffed or fresh water in her crystal bowl.

We need her to brighten our day and help us relax. She’s a good listener and a great companion to have nearby. You can’t be stressed when you’re petting Cha Cha.

Over the years, she’s been called lots of things: Diva, Princess, The Cha, and Cha Cha Marie. But you can’t say “She’s just a cat!”

Epilogue:

12-13-2010: Sadly, Cha’s illness was more serious then we knew, and even though she tried to be strong for all of us, for her sake we had to let her go.

I’m sure she’ll find someone on the other side of The Rainbow Bridge to keep her food bowl filled, but I don’t think she’ll ever be more loved than she was during her time at KHS.

Thank you for everything, Cha. We’ll never forget you.

Love always, Your KHS Staff

My Own "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree"

2010-12-10T09:08:00.011-05:00

Yesterday, as I was driving home from work, I saw a billboard that sparked a revelation. It depicted Charlie Brown holding that famous, pathetic Christmas tree with the quote "All it needs is a little love." In the brief moment of seeing that billboard, I realized....I am a "Charlie Brown"! The only difference is that my sad, little trees are shelter animals that I eventually adopt.
Even my coworkers at KHS joke that I am obsessed with little, old and disabled dogs that many would not consider adopting. It is true...in fact, my motto is "Give me your little, old, decrepit and disabled. Give me your one-eyed, flea-infested, your deaf and your blind!"
In the three plus years that I have been with KHS, I have adopted three dogs, each with their own issues. First, there was Pablo...an old, cloudy-eyed, skinny, matted and flea infested little shih tzu. He couldn't hear very well and had a strange twist of the spine that gave him an endearing gait when he ran. Not only was his physical transformation dramatic, but his psychological one, as well. He lived exactly one year after his adoption, but I know it was a happy year for him, full of love and care. Then there was Zoe,a Pekingese that KHS rescued from another shelter after it was discovered that she had been there for three months. She seemed absolutely perfect until she developed an ulcer that required removal of the damaged eye. I fostered her and couln't let her go. She is the happiest one-eyed dog I have ever met...her tail is always wagging.

My latest "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree" is Anna. Anna was dumped at KHS during the middle of the night. What we discovered in the morning was an skinny,dirty, flea-infested and matted shih tzu with burrs and seeds stuck in her fur and paws. She appeared to be older and completely blind...just my type of dog. I immediately was reminded of Pablo. I first brought her into my office because she was so frightened in her cage. To make a long story short, she never went back. Do you remember how Charlie Brown's sad, little tree became the most wonderful tree after a little love? Well, so did Anna. A bath and haircut made her feel and look better instantly. However, it is the transformation that has come about over the past couple of months that is so exciting. With medication, her eyes have healed, allowing her to see everything but what is directly below her. She started showing an interest in toys a month ago and has just started playing "fetch". She has gained weight and confidence, no longer displaying any form of separation anxiety as she did when I first brought her home. She enjoys games of chase and going to schools with Lulu and I. I don't know exactly why I am drawn to dogs like this. I know that I see potential in them, just like Charlie Brown saw the potential in the spindly, little tree. All I know is that I have so much to be thankful for this holiday season, especially for finding Anna, my own Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

Warm & Fuzzy Memories

2010-12-07T15:55:00.008-05:00

I'm always thankful for my little family, (which includes me, my husband, and LOTS of animals) but never more than around the holidays. For me, the season would not be complete without a few cherished traditions...and of course most of them involve my pets!

Picture Your Pets with Santa has become one of those very special holiday traditions. This year I'll be hanging another "Picture Your Pets" christmas ornament on the tree, and it's incredible to see how much our family has grown and changed since our very first PYP!

Our first ornament had only one little beagle puppy, Henry, pictured in front. He was 8 months old in that first photo, and now he'll celebrate his 6th birthday next April. Of course as my babies grow up, they are also growing in number. By year 2 Herbie (top left) was in the photo, and this year we added 2 more to Santa's lap, Juliet and Gracie!

Maybe someday we'll add a few kids to the photo too, and that will be great because Santa needs help holding the dogs. I know a time will come when I have a tree full of Picture Your Pets ornaments...each one a milestone and a very special memory.

The holidays are busy and it's not always easy to load up the animals for picture day...trust me, I took four last weekend by myself! But I hope you will go to your nearest Feeders Supply store this weekend and take advantage of the final 2 days of Picture Your Pets with Santa. If you're anything like me, you will love opening that christmas storage box in 2011 and looking back on a great year shared with your best buddy.

Picture Your Pets With Santa
Saturday, December 11th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, December 12th (Noon-4pm)
All Feeders Supply locations

Kim Ulrich
Community Outreach Manager

Pet Care

2010-12-02T09:16:00.002-05:00

Pet Care
Thursday, December 2, 2010

Pet Care is a complicated issue here at the Kentucky Humane Society's two pet resorts. If you first consider all the different types of foods and feeding instructions, not to mention all the different products from treats, dog beds, toys, grooming products - the list goes on and on. Additionally, we deal with a variety of mannerisms, behaviors and health concerns. Then there are the Doggie Daycare clients, pets who are in for boarding, dogs to be groomed, and the a la carte activities that owners schedule for their pets. Some pets we get to see grow up, and are saddened when others pass away. When we have the time we love to share stories with our clients, as well as advice or a comforting word. This exhibits one of the best things about working at KHS' Eastpoint Pet Resort - sharing life experiences with families that normally we would not be able to meet. I believe we build a trusting relationship with our clients, many of which last for years.

Also, consider the service we provide which is able to assist in the Kentucky Humane Society's rescue mission. All of the profits raised through our efforts provide much needed things for pets as they wait for the forever homes.

Mark Niemann
petresort@kyhumane.org

Bacon

2010-11-30T08:46:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Bacon

Yo! What's up? You don't know me so I will introduce myself. My name is Bacon....yeah, that's right, Bacon. I am a chocolate Labradoodle and I have a brother named Moose. I am seven-years-old and he is five-years-old. And we love the Fern Creek Pet Resort (FCPR)! We can be found hanging out in Doggie Daycare most days. Sometimes we go for a sleepover, and, when we do, IT IS OFF THE HOOK! There is so much to see there. And the staff well, honestly, they love to fawn over us. (And I must say, I'm all about the lovin'.) Then there are rabbits, birds, and so many squirrels. I try to get them to come a little closer but they aren't having it. Moose says he likes all the pretty girl dogs the best, but then there is the Doggie Daycare. They have so many tennis balls. And in the winter there are snow balls! It's unreal, they have us running every which way trying to catch them all. Yes, I would rather be in the comfort of my own bed, but, when i can't, FCPR is my second home. Sometimes I pout and won't eat much but that just gets me more attention. I am much smarter than they think! Like I said, I am all about the lovin'. Well peace out! Maybe I'll catch you on the flip side at the resort!

Bacon

Faith Travis
fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

Giving Thanks

2010-11-23T09:07:00.004-05:00

With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, I asked the staff of the S.N.I.P. Clinic to complete the following statement:

I am thankful for our volunteers because……………..

• they bring us treats and smiles
• they do the little things that make it possible for us to do the bigger things
• in this busy world, they give us their time
• they are dedicated and ask what more they can do for us
• they are very reliable
• they are always here with a smile
• they are determined
• they are forever helpful and much appreciated
• they help with the phones, filing, and other odd jobs so that I can stay focused
on my paperwork and daily finances
• they want to be here out of pure love for the animals and our mission
• they come ready to pitch in with a smile on their face
• they make our busy days run much smoother
• they are my eyes and ears on the beach (recovery area)
• they are very compassionate about our patients
• they take very good care of the animals recovering
• they are willing to do pretty much anything we need
• they come in extra days if we are shorthanded
• if it wasn’t for them, we would be here late every day
• they bring us bread and cookies
• without them, our special events couldn’t be the successes they are

Simply put, our volunteers are the best, and they make us better able to care for the animals and people at our clinic. We wish them a very happy holiday!

Courtney McKinney
S.N.I.P. Clinic Manager

The Return of ChaCha

2010-11-19T13:21:00.004-05:00

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

So...all the hubbub and hammering and moving and painting and building are finally coming to an end. I've been able to move to my new office in adoptions so I can supervise my staff. So far they're doing fine, although I suspect they may have forgotten the importance of moi while they were out of my sight all those months.

The whole place looks GREAT!!! We have a cat community so cats can interact (or not). We also have get acquainted areas where you can spend time with your new family members to see if they really like you and want to go home with you. Everything got a face lift and looks bright and fresh, as befits a lady of my stature.

Come visit us soon, and check out our new digs. You might even find your new best friend and better yet, they will find a fur-ever home.

I'll be (sleeping) in my new office so come by and visit with me, too. I'm the cute furry one on the purple bed.

Meow for now,
Cha Cha

Picture Your Pet with Santa- Help still needed!

2010-11-16T15:24:00.003-05:00

The Kentucky Humane Society's 23rd Annual Picture Your Pets with Santa event is just under a month away, and we couldn’t be more excited! This event raises over $50,000 for the animals at our shelter, and it would not be possible without the help of over 500 dedicated volunteers like yourself.

The event is approaching us quickly, and some store locations are still in desperate need of your assistance. The following is a list of dates, locations and positions that we are still looking for additional volunteer help:

Dixie: 4th- Santa 10-4

E-town: 11th- Santa, Greeter, Printer, 1-4
12th- Greeter, Registrar, Cashier 12-4

Preston: 5th- Santa, Cashier 12-4
11th- Santa 10-4

Springhurst: 11th- Greeter, Registrar, Cashier, Printer, Animal Handler 10-4
12th- Greeter, Registrar, Cashier, Printer, Animal Handler 12-4

Holiday Manor: 11th- Registrar, Cashier, Printer , Animal Handler 10-4

As you can see from the list above, we are still in need of quite a few volunteers to play Jolly Saint Nick! This is an extremely fun job that allows you the most interaction with the animals, so sign up today for this position!!

If you are available to assist at any of these location or know someone who is interested, please contact me directly at 515-3145 or jclark@kyhumane.org. Help bring joy to a homeless pets life!

Thank you for all of your help!!

Jennifer Clark
Volunteer Manager

Home for the Holidays Adoption Special This Weekend!

2010-11-11T15:24:00.001-05:00

Take a pet HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! For three days only, the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS), in partnership with Metro Animal Services (MAS), will waive adoption fees for all pets four months and older to help cats and dogs find lifelong homes before the holiday season. Potential adopters must bring a much-needed item to secure this deal. Items needed include bleach, cat litter, pet toys and multi-packs of paper towels. All pets adopted from KHS and MAS have been spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and given worm, flea and tick preventatives – services which are valued at nearly $250.

For more information, contact KHS at (502) 366-3355 or kyhumane.org, or MAS at (502) 361-1318 or www.louisvilleky.gov/AnimalServices. The adoption special takes place at nine permanent KHS adoption locations, including seven Feeders Supply stores, as well as the MAS Animal Care Center. Adopters must pay for any applicable licensing fees, microchipping and microchip registration. Adoption is pending approval of an application process that usually takes an hour or less. The adoption special runs November 12-14 only.

The Holiday Season is Right Around the Corner

2010-11-02T14:14:00.002-04:00

The season is right around the corner. Have you made your arrangements for your fuzzy loved ones?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010

This is the time of year when Halloween and Christmas are competing for store shelf space, yet another reminder of how quickly the holiday season creeps up on us. If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to book your pet's stay at one of our pet resorts.

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays always book up quickly, so now is the time to book your reservations. Even if you aren't planning to go out of town for the holidays keep in mind any one night overnight trip you might be taking, parties, or gatherings that might stress your pet out, or gatherings that you might be attending that would keep you away from your pet longer than their needs require. Make your reservations now, and that is one less thing you'll have to worry about as the season approaches.

Boarding isn't the only thing that gets booked at these times of the year - keep grooming and doggie daycare appointments in mind as well.

No one wants to entertain with a smelly unkempt pet at home. As we approach the holidays, grooming appointments will be limited as well. We have three locations to serve your pet's grooming needs. Out Eastpoint and Fern Creek locations have grooming available daily, and our new East Campus takes grooming appointments several days a week. Please check our website or call any of our locations to make an appointment.

Lastly, if you are looking for a place for your pet to burn off some extra energy during this busy season and you don't have the extra time to do it yourself, consider a visit to one of our locations for Doggie Daycare. Eastpoint, Fern Creek, and East Campus all have Doggie Daycare available. This is a great way for your pet to spend the day, out playing with other four-legged friends. They will come home tired and ready to curl up with you for some much needed holiday rest.

We are all looking forward to a busy, safe, and happy holiday seasonfor out area's pets and their owners alike. We thank you for your patronage, which helps needy pets in our area who are still looking for their forever homes.

Happy Holiday!
Joe Hagan
Eastpoint Pet Resort
petresort@kyhumane.org

Meet the S.N.I.P. Clinic Veterinarians

2010-10-28T13:14:00.007-04:00

Heather Thomas, DVM
I was born and raised in Louisville. I went to the University of Louisville for my undergraduate studies and then moved to Auburn for vet school. I have been practicing veterinary medicine for three years and have been at the S.N.I.P. Clinic for 16 months. I love my new home with the Kentucky Humane Society! Along with being a veterinarian, I have a wonderful husband of nine years and two precious babies, Skylar (22 months) and Jaxon (11 weeks). We also have a small zoo at home comprised of four dogs, five cats, a macaw, two tortoises, four horses, "Norman" our bull calf, and a snake. It is never a dull moment at the Thomas household!

April Newsome, DVM
I am a 1999 graduate of Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine. I grew up in this area and all through vet school dreamed of someday coming back to my hometown of Lexington to start my own veterinary hospital. The hospital is named after my father, Noah Newsome Jr., who passed while I was in veterinary school. I promised him many years ago that one day I would have my own clinic and name it Noah's Ark after him. Now, after years of hard work, I have kept my promise. Since my practice was started from scratch, I needed to work other relief jobs to make ends meet and started working for KHS in 2004, filling in when and where they needed me. In 2007 I began working part time for the S.N.I.P. Clinic. I really enjoy surgery and I am very proud of the quality of work we do there. In my off time, I enjoy being a parnormal investigator and roller skating. I have six dogs, eight cats, and two turtles.

Heidi Hulon, DVM
I graduated from Auburn University for both my undergraduate and Veterinary degrees. I have worked for KHS off and on since 2000, currently doing relief for the shelter and part time at the S.N.I.P. Clinic. During my career in veterinary medicine, I have worked in small animal medicine, shelter medicine, industry and academia. I am the immediate Past-President of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association. I also serve on the Louisville Zoo Foundation Board and the Alumni Advisory Council for Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine. I live in Oldham County with my two sons and two French Bulldogs.

Courtney McKinney
S.N.I.P. Clinic Manager

Dog-gone Good Sportsmanship

2010-10-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

Football is one of my favorite things in the whole world, so my husband and I watch a ton of sports this time of year. We also have a ritual of playing fetch every night with our three dogs. Our dogs are as dedicated to their sport as any NFL player, but they have three very different approaches to sportsmanship.

We’ve tried throwing 3 tennis balls simultaneously so all of our dogs can “win” on every catch, but they always end up competing over only 1 ball. So now we just throw one ball and sit back to watch the antics.

Henry (left) is our pretty boy and our notorious ball hog. He is the captain and sole member of Team Me, and he wants all of the glory in the game. When Henry catches the ball, which is less than half of the time, he prances around like a show pony while we cheer for him. Then he plops down in the monkey grass and won’t give the ball back. He’d rather blow up the game than give the other dogs a chance to play.

Juliet (middle) is our best athlete, but she actually succeeds the least. She has the speed and agility to beat the other dogs to the ball every time, but instead she loses sight of the prize. She wastes her energy on herding, nipping, and trash talking her opponents instead of just playing her own best game. When the other dogs inevitably get the ball first, she is a very sore loser.

And then, there’s Herbie (right). He is humble, hard-working, and dedicated to his goal…which means he gets the ball most often. When Herbie catches the ball, he runs back immediately to drop it at our feet and get ready for the next throw. When he misses the ball, he happily turns around and gets in position to try again the next time. Herbie plays the right way, and because of that it’s obvious that he gets far more joy out of the game than the others.

It’s kind of funny that with all of the athletes I watch on TV, maybe my best sports role-models are right in my backyard!

Kim Ulrich

Community Outreach Manager

(P)update!

2010-10-21T17:10:00.003-04:00

The puppies came in for a visit today! Well, actually Mama came in for shots, but their foster mom Joan brought the pups along too, knowing we were all needing a puppy love fix. My office filled up once again with well-wishers and puppy-cuddlers, and work came to a screeching halt as we all admired "our" beautiful, fat little fur babies. With a lap full of puppies and a huge smile on my face, I stopped for a moment to marvel at the fact that I get paid to do this!

In the past 24 hours, all 10 pups have opened their eyes. They're moving around with what appears to be more intention, and my gosh how they've grown! Denver, the only solid white puppy, is the biggest so far.

Developmentally, days 13-20 are a transitional stage, between the neonatal stage when they were just warm little lumps of fur, and the awareness period, when early socialization begins. During this time puppies' eyes and ears open, they begin to walk (or wobble!), and will begin to respond to taste and smell. According to this website, http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/DevelopmentalStages.html: "This is the time to introduce novel stimuli to the whelping box such as a plastic milk bottle, knotted towel, cardboard box, etc. This is also a time to introduce puppies to friendly cats. It is important to continue picking up the pups daily, admire them, talk to them, and spend a few minutes with each one individually." Between JRT mama Sassy and Foster mom Joan, these puppies are getting everything they need.

So, without further ado, here is this week's dose of puppy love:

L to R: Uno, Panda Girl, Sid, Domino, Spike, Calico Jack, Avis, Denver, Anne Bonny, Panda Boy

Denver, strrrrretching

Piles o' Pups!

Education Manager Valerie, with Avis

Denver, upside down, and Anne Bonny

Intake Leader Kat, with Domino, Spike, and Denver

Stretchy sleepy puppies!

Charles Schultz was right: Happiness IS a warm puppy!

Susan McKellep

Customer Care Manager

Kentucky Humane Society

Santa's Helpers Needed!

2010-10-19T16:18:00.005-04:00

The Holiday Season is approaching us quickly, and the Kentucky Humane Society is in need of your help for our 23rd annual Picture Your Pet with Santa event! We need “elves” to help staff 10 of our Feeder’s Supply location on the weekends of December 4&5 and 11&12.

A list of job descriptions is viewable below. If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please send the store location, date, and job area that interest you the most to Jennifer Clark at jclark@kyhumane.org or call 502-515-3145.

This event takes over 500 people to pull-off, so please start spreading the word to family, friends and co-workers. We couldn’t do it without dedicated volunteers like you! Each pets picture taken brings joy to a homeless pets world!

2010 Picture Your Pets with Santa
Volunteer Opportunities & Job Descriptions

Event Dates and Times
December 4&5 and December 11&12
Saturdays, 9:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sundays, 11:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Store Locations
Baxter Dixie
E-town Fern Creek
Hikes Point Holiday Manor
Middletown Preston
Springhurst St Matthews

Greeter Job Description
• Directs customers to event registrars & answers customer questions

Registrar #1
• Assists customer in selecting a photo package and photo gift items
• Completely fills out order forms with customers

Registrar #2
• Fills out slate cards completely and properly –please write large
• Gives order form and slate card to cashier

Cashier Job Description
• Asks customer if they’d like to make a donation!!!
• Totals receipt and Collects payment

Animal Handlers Job Description
• Positions pet with Santa & keeps the attention of the animals on the photographer
• Makes sure Santa looks good for the picture (make necessary adjustments to his costume)

Printer Assistant # 1
• Prints out photos according to the package that the customer has ordered.
• Place photos in marked manila envelope

Printer Assistant #2
• Writes customer name and number located on slate card on top right corner of manila envelope
• Organize stapled registration forms & slate card in the expandable file folder by the 4 designated categories
• Delivers envelope with photos to the cashier for pick up

SANTA
• Dress up as Santa to take photos with the animals. Costume is provided by KHS.
• Be sure to wear black shoes as we only provide boot covers
• Comfortable with handling all types of animals

Jennifer Clark
Volunteer and Events Manager

Puppy Love!

2010-10-13T22:44:00.020-04:00

The Kentucky Humane Society – like most animal welfare organizations – advocates spaying or neutering all pets. These staggering statistics explain why:

For every person born in the United States, 15 dogs and 45 cats are born.

In just six years one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies.

In just seven years, one cat and her young can produce 420,000 kittens.

AND –

According to the American Humane Association, “It is estimated that approximately 3.7 million animals were euthanized in the nation’s shelters in 2008. This number represents a generally accepted statistic that is widely used by many animal welfare organizations, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).” With numbers like that, intentionally bringing more cats and dogs into the world just doesn’t make sense.

At KHS, we spay/neuter every pet we adopt out, and to date our S.N.I.P. Clinic has altered more than 25,000 privately owned cats and dogs from our community and surrounding areas. We’re proud of those numbers. That’s a lot of puppies and kittens who were never born, and who will never end up homeless, or worse.

Sometimes, though, puppies happen – and when they do, we’re as besotted as the next person.

Last week we took in a very pregnant JRT mix from another shelter. Her belly was so distended that everyone who saw her had the same reaction: "Whoa! How many puppies do you think she’s going to have?!”

Two days after she came to us that question was answered, when Sassy gave birth to ten adorable, wriggly, fat little puppies. Because we virtually never have puppies born at KHS, and some employees had never witnessed it, there was a constant audience in attendance. The oohs and ahhs as each puppy appeared lasted throughout the day; a few times our assistance was required, to pierce the amniotic membrane, cut an umbilical cord, or give a quick massage to encourage those first breaths. Sassy took it all in stride, wagging her tail and licking our hands as we helped her with her monumental chore. We named each puppy as it was born, and by the end of the day, all of us were exhausted –and completely in love.

For the next several days Sassy and Family resided comfortably in my office, bedded down in a large plastic kiddie pool lined with blankets, Sassy holding court as the endless stream of visitors passed through to admire the babies, and praise Sassy’s good nature. Because a shelter – even a great shelter like ours – isn’t an ideal place to raise a litter of pups, the little family was soon moved to a foster home.

For now, my office is quiet again. I’m no longer interrupted every 10 minutes by a member of the puppy-palooza fan club, and with the puppy pool playpen gone I can walk around my desk again. We’re keeping tabs on “our” puppies, though, and I’ll be bringing you regular updates for the next few months as they grow, are adopted into their “fur-ever” homes, and hopefully, into adulthood.

For now, just look at this line of pupcakes:

Left to right: Spike, Calico Jack, Sid, Domino, Panda Boy, Anne Bonny, Denver, Panda Girl, Uno, Avis

Stay tuned for updates!

Susan McKellep
Customer Care Manager, Kentucky Humane Society

Facebook: susan.mckellep.kyhumane
Twitter: @susanmc_kyhumane

October is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month!

2010-10-07T00:00:00.004-04:00

Meet Tux, a 9 months 1 day Border Collie Mix

available for adoption at the Kentucky Humane Society!

I’m always looking for ways to encourage people who want a new canine companion to consider adopting a shelter dog instead of buying from a breeder or pet store, or getting a “Free to Good Home” pet. This month, though, I’ve got some help from the American Humane Association, who has declared October “Adopt a Dog Month,” and the ASPCA, who has declared it “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.”

So why should someone adopt a shelter dog?

Because there are so many really great dogs in shelters all over the country - dogs who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves homeless. They’re just waiting for the right person to come along and say, “Let’s go home, pooch!”
Because 25% of the dogs in shelters are purebred, so if you’re looking for a specific breed, you can usually find it at a shelter.
Because the fees you pay to adopt a shelter dog are generally to recoup some of the cost of the services the dog has received. At the Kentucky Humane Society, every pet we adopt out has been spayed/neutered, tested for certain diseases and parasites, microchipped, temperament tested, and brought up to date on vaccinations. It’s like paying for the services, and getting the pet free – and as an owner of one “free to good home” dog, I can tell you with absolute certainty that it’ll cost you more to get everything done on your own for your new pet than we’ll ever set as an adoption fee. (My other five dogs are shelter dogs!)
Because, in an effort to facilitate truly good matches between pet and adopter, and to place pets in lifelong homes, we offer adoption counseling, and follow-up assistance. We want to help adopters succeed; we also recognize that some pet matches may not be successful, through no fault of the adopter or the pet. We will welcome you and your pet back at any time.

The real question is, why shouldn’t you adopt a shelter dog?

I can’t think of any reason at all. See all our adoptable dogs, here.

Susan McKellep
Customer Care Manager, Kentucky Humane Society

Facebook: susan.mckellep.kyhumane
Twitter: @susanmc_kyhumane

Louie

2010-10-05T09:29:00.002-04:00

Louie

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

My name is Louis also known as Louie. I am a regular daycare dog at the Fern Creek Pet Resort. I am here Monday through Friday. I am a 12-year-old Great Dane/Labrador Retriever mix. You will almost always find me hanging out in the office. I'm the one you will see just laying there barking. I can't see or hear very well anymore so I just like to bark. I love when the weather is nice because then i am able to go out to the yard and play with the rest of my friends. I love it out in the yard but some days it is just too hot out there for me so instead I like to hang out in the office. The puppies in the office seem to enjoy annoying me. They wake me up from my beauty sleep by bumping into me while playing. I have to say I love it here at daycare. Everyone spoils me with love and lots of treats. What more could a dog want? I know I couldn't ask for more. I bet your dog would like it here as much as I do, so bring them along to play with me! Well, time to get back to my nap!

Fern Creek Pet Resort Staff
fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

What's up with the line?

2010-09-24T12:22:00.002-04:00

I was at the Walgreen’s on Eastern Parkway a few days ago when the cashier noticed my S.N.I.P. Clinic name badge. She said, “What’s up with the line I see every morning outside the clinic?” It’s a question I am asked a lot. Here’s the answer: all patients spend the night after surgery and are released the following morning with post-operative care instructions. Release is from 7:30-8:00 AM so we have cage space for the incoming animals, which are checked in at 8:00 AM. We do approximately 35-70 surgeries every day, making 70-140 animals in and out our door in a very short amount of time!

“Why in the world would you schedule so much activity that early in the morning?” I explained that this system keeps costs low and maximizes the number of surgeries we can safely do. With all of the animals settled in early, we can focus on their comfort and care for the rest of the day. “Makes sense to me,” she said. It does to us too.

So if you enter our lobby and see a big crowd, don’t panic! Our staff is organized and will get you in and out quickly. We are glad you have made the choice to spay or neuter – for the love of your pet, and the pets in our community.

Courtney McKinney
S.N.I.P. Clinic Manager

2010-09-21T16:35:00.005-04:00

The Kentucky Humane Society is going through big changes, and we are in need of volunteers to help support these changes taking place. One of our biggest goals is to provide better customer service for the people that use our services. The following is a list of new volunteer jobs and ways that you can help us reach our goals. If you are not yet a volunteer, orientation is a requirement for all the programs listed below. Please contact me at Jclark@kyhumane.org or 515-3145 to receive the date for our upcoming orientations.

Admissions Clerical Assistant
Starting in October, the Kentucky Humane Society will begin admitting animals by appointment. With this new program, we are going to need tons of additional volunteer assistance in our admissions areas!

Volunteers will be responsible for answering phones in the admissions areas and assisting callers by answering any questions about our admissions procedures. We will be asking every caller to make an appointment to admit their animals to KHS. You will then schedule this appointment in our Pet Point database.

After attending orientation, telephone and Pet Point training is a requirement and will take place every Tuesday from noon-3 p.m. Initially, we are searching for volunteers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There will be two shifts: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. If you are available on days other than those listed, we can definitely still use your help!
*KHS will still be admitting animals without an appointment. For additional information, please contact Animal Care Manager, Anne Engelsher at 515-3136.

Mystery Shopper- Volunteer
KHS is currently using volunteers to assist with our “mystery shopper” program, but we are in need of additional assistance! “Mystery shoppers” are made up of volunteers and staff that contact different departments at KHS to observe, document and evaluate the customers experience at our KHS facilities in order to achieve high-quality, consistent customer care.

We are in need of volunteers to assist “shopping” in each department at least one time per quarter. There will be three different areas of the “mystery shopping” experience that we will be testing: location visits, phone calls and e-mails.

Your job will be to pose as a customer without revealing your identity to the employee. You will then be asked to fill out a short questionnaire within 24 hours of your experience with the KHS team member. Please contact Jennifer at jclark@kyhumane.org if you are interested in this program!

Pet Photography Volunteering
The Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) is currently in the process of revamping our Pet Photography Program. Our goal is to increase adoptions through high-quality photos of adoptable pets on kyhumane.org.

We are looking for volunteers to help with the following:
Runners to gather pets who need their photo taken
Animal handlers to pose animals and get their attention for photographing

A digital camera, lighting and all props will be provided. Photo sessions will only be conducted at the KHS Main Campus, 241 Steedly Drive, Louisville, KY 40214.

Transformations

2010-09-20T15:00:00.000-04:00

From neglected and flea-infested to happy and handsome!

From miserable and matted to magnificent!

It's a beautiful thing...to watch a cat or dog transform before your very eyes. A shy puppy becomes boisterous and full of joy. A one-day old, completely helpless kitten grows into a happy and loving companion. A stray dog that is dirty and untrusting learns to love again. A matted, long-haired cat purrs after being shaved and free from pain. Such transformations do not take long. Change can take place in minutes, as in the case of a matted and dirty animals. It can be just a matter of days, for the shy and untrusting. Others may take weeks but the wonder of it all is the same. I feel so lucky to witness such transformations during the course of my workday. It is a great advantage to working at KHS, where 25 to 50 animals come into our shelter every day. Many of the animals surrendered are in good condition, confused but ready to find that forever home. Others come in dirty, smelly, and unkempt. Some come in shy, unsocialized or broken in spirit. All it takes is a loving heart and patience and small miracles occur. If you feel envious, don't worry! You, too, can be a part of a shelter animal's amazing transformation..by fostering an animal in need. You can foster for a few day or weeks and if you decide to adopt your foster, all the better! To transform the life of a shelter animal, call 366-3355. I can assure you that once you foster a needy animal, you just might undergo a beautiful transformation too.

Cha Cha and Main Campus Improvement Project

2010-09-16T00:01:00.002-04:00

It's going to be great… It's going to be great... It's going to be great…Think positive… Be positive... As most of you know, we are going thru a lot of changes here at the Main Campus. AND CATS HATE CHANGE!! Especially if it means moving the food bowl and bed.

Recently they went too far. I have been moved from my office and locked away "for my safety." How can I supervise from behind a closed door? My staff needs me!! Of course my basic needs are met. I have food, water and clean facilities, but I know the humans out there need my attention. Honestly, if I were out there running things, you can be certain it wouldn't be so noisy!

I can hear the drilling and the hammering and the workers with loud voices & heavy boots. I know some of the areas are already done and it looks great. There is also a new HVAC system. I don't know why humans think they have to spell things in front of me. It cleans the air a billion times so if a sick animal comes in the germs don't get to the healthy animals. Everyone is getting newer/brighter/bigger areas.

I guess I can make this sacrifice for the greater good. So here I sit—in this large bright office with big windows. Which chair will I sleep in today? Dry food or moist? Will those puppies ever stop barking? No self-respecting cat would make that much noise.

Since I'm not allowed to come out and visit my admirers, I am starting a "Cha Cha Campaign." Please respond to my post and let me know what you think of the improvements.

It's going to be great…. It's going to be great… It's going to be great…..ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (Supervising this construction is soooo exhausting!)

Meow,

ChaCha

@ChaCha_kyhumane on twitter

Your New Best Friend (that you didn't know you were looking for) Is Out There Waiting For You

2010-09-07T11:55:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Your New Best Friend (that you didn't know you were looking for) Is Out There Waiting For You

This time last year, after having lost our beloved 16-year old Aggie in June, our family decided we would just have two dogs at all times for the rest of our pet owning lives. Losing Aggie had been a difficult loss not only for us, but also for our other dogs. Having been a blended family of three dogs, all girls, we had had some struggles with our furry children not getting along at times. After Aggie passing that seemed to calm a bit and we didn't want to stir up any issues by adding another dog to the mix.

One weekend while running the usual errands we popped into our local Feeders Supply store to pick up dog food and treats for Parker, 13, and Dingo, 8. It is standard procedure for us to swing past the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) adoption location immediately upon entering the store to see what sort of cuties are looking for new homes. We have done this many times and left the store with just as many dogs as we had when we went in. Today would be different.

In what I like to call the "puppy aquarium" there were two adorable terrier mix puppies, one male and one female. The female reminded us of Aggie. She had the same coat and coloring and the same feisty attitude. We played with them for a bit as we normally do and then moved on for our purchases, and left to have lunch. All during our lunch I couldn't stop thinking about those puppies. Having had puppies in the past I tried to convince myself that they are a lot of work and we decided that we weren't going to have more than two dogs again. Finally I blurted out to my partner Alex, "Hurry up and finish your food." "Why?" he asked. "Because those puppies are cute and won't be around very long." I responded. We finished our lunch and headed back to the Feeders store.

We headed right back to the puppies, which luckily were still there, and resumed playing with the little female pup. While we were playing and debating what our other girl would think of a new baby sister, Alex picked up the male puppy ("Dallas"), and raised him to his chest. Little Dallas' head melted into his neck and as tears streamed from Alex's eyes I said, "I'll just get started on the paperwork." by the time I finished the paperwork Dallas already had a leash, collar, food, bowl, and a dog sweater. We were now the owners of a super cute terrier beagle mix. After a few day of debate him name changed to "Elijah Edward" - Eli for short.

Introductions at home went well with the sisters, both of whom were reluctant at first, but both grew to love him in different ways. He quickly began adapting to his new life of chasing sister Dingo around the backyard, and learning all sorts of helpful tips from sister Parker like "helping with the dishes" & "cute=treats", attending puppy class and going to Doggie Daycare. He quickly worked his way into the family and filled the void we felt when Aggie had passed. We still miss her terribly, but were no longer as sad for her not being with us on a daily basis. Instead we had this funny guy to remind us what living life was all about.

Eli was the perfect addition to our family even thought we didn't think we needed another dog. He goes with us everywhere, loves everyone, and is such as joy everyday. I truly believe he was sent for us, or vice versa, to help with the loss of Aggie, and Parker less than a year later. I can't imagine what life would be like without him, or how horrible it would have been losing both of them without the addition of Eli to our lives. He has forever changed how I feel about adopting puppies versus dogs, and taught me never to say, "I'll never have more than two dogs again." He is truly proof that your new best friend (that you didn't know you were looking for) is out there waiting for you.

Joe Hagan
petresort@kyhumane.rog

Lights, Camera, Action: Photographer talks about his volunteer time at the Kentucky Humane Society

2010-08-31T12:34:00.003-04:00

Wayne Bonnett volunteers for the Kentucky Humane Society, one of Petango’s partner animal shelters. He’s passionate about pets and photography, and found an inspiring way to combine the two. The following is a post from his blog that was featured on Petango's site. Keep up the great work Wayne!

How I like to spend my Saturdays ... for reasons that make my heart smile

"First, I'm sad to inform you that this is not going to be a technical photography blog post. Instead it is a post from the heart to enlighten you on a couple of aspects of my life. Animals and photography. If you know me you know my passion for both.

I volunteer at the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) almost every Saturday. I started out as a volunteer doing Canine Coaching and Animal Enrichment, which are both very rewarding ways to spend your day. I still enjoy these two activities because I love to be around the animals. (And if you know me, you know I prefer dogs ... I have three of them).

I've found I have quite a passion for taking photographs. Not just running around snapping pictures of anything and everything, but taking well thought out photographs. Actually taking the time to analyze the scene and attempting snap something that is well composed. This is something that is easier said than done for me. I'm learning though, take a look through my photos on my Flickr account and feel free to comment either here or there.

Now for my reason for tonight's post ... ready? I know you're on the edge of your seat, so here we go.

For the past several weeks (on Saturday, and when on vacation on Tuesday and Thursday if available) I have been taking photographs of the animals in need of homes that are uploaded to the Kentucky Humane Society's web site (click here to view adoptable cats), (click here to view adoptable dogs). Yes, I put the cat link first to prove ... well, to prove nothing actually. But anyway, back to my post.

There are new animals arriving at the KHS every day, Sunday - Saturday (awesome side note: KHS has not had to euthanize due to over population in well over a year!). The staff already has a zillion things to do, but one thing that needs to happen is a picture of the animals needs taken and uploaded to their website. These pictures are supposed to assist in getting the animals adopted, but sometimes that's really all that is seen.... a picture of a dog or cat. Some are good, some have a lot of room for improvement.

That's where I (and other wonderful photography volunteers) step in. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday there are several volunteers that take the time to take "photographs" of the adoptable animals. We have a small room that is dedicated to the photography volunteers such as myself, and are slowly gaining essential equipment to assist the creation of "shots that sell". For me, it's like their Glamour Shot, time to make the animal shine in the spotlight and hopefully reach out and grab someone that will just HAVE to run in and adopt them. We're not perfect and professional photographers, but as time goes on, we are getting better, and we're doing what we love.

My real reason for this post is to help raise awareness and the necessity of having high quality photographs for animal rescue organizations. Having a picture helps, and they all must have one, but having photograph could make all the difference in his/her ability to find a good home, and live a wonderful life. Do you have a passion for photography and a passion for animals? If you have read this far, I think you may have an idea on what you can do to help. Does your local rescue organization have a website with mediocre pictures? I think you now know how you may be able to help. =)

Below are some some pictures and some photographs, can you tell the difference? I bet you can."

Catsnip-A-Thon

2010-08-27T14:38:00.001-04:00

On Sunday, August 22, The S.N.I.P. Clinic, Alley Cat Advocates and Louisville Metro Animal Services joined forces to spay/neuter 237 feral cats. This combined initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to reduce the area’s population of unowned cats through humane methods.

Louisville’s stray and feral cat population has been identified as one of the biggest contributors to pet overpopulation in our area. The Catsnip-A-Thon was part of a program called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), where unowned cats are humanely trapped, brought to a clinic for spay/neuter surgeries, and returned to the place where they were trapped. The strategy behind TNR is that the sterilized cats will not breed and will keep other cats out of their territory, thus reducing the population through natural attrition. The S.N.I.P. Clinic loans traps for this purpose and offers a feral cat surgical package.

Surgeries performed at the Catsnip-A-Thon were done at no cost to the participants, and were funded by Animal Care Society, No Kill Louisville, Pet Groups United and Shamrock Foundation, as well as Councilman Kelly Downward and individual donors. This funding has also allowed the S.N.I.P. Clinic to perform an additional 121 feral cat surgeries.

For more information about the S.N.I.P. Clinic TNR program, please call (502)636-3491.

Courthey McKinney
S.N.I.P. Clinic Manager

It’s the Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer!

2010-08-19T06:30:00.004-04:00

Tila is a 6 yr old female Border Collie mix,

available for adoption at the Kentucky Humane Society.

ID # 11061530

WHO: Kentucky Humane Society (KHS)

WHAT: Adopters can pick their own price for adoption fees for all pets, 4 months and older, with donated item(s)

WHEN: Friday, August 20 – Sunday, August 22

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Main Campus; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at East Campus; regular store hours at Feeders Supply

WHERE: All 9 area adoption locations – KHS Main Campus, East Campus and 7 Feeders Supply stores

Get out of the heat and into one of our nine area adoption sites for the Kentucky Humane Society’s DOG AND CAT DAYS OF SUMMER adoption special! For three days only, adopters can pick their own price for adoption fees for all pets four months and older. Potential adopters must bring a much-needed item to secure this deal. Items needed include cat litter, pet toys and multi-packs of paper towels.

All pets adopted from KHS have been spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and given worm, flea and tick preventatives – services which are valued at nearly $250. In addition to receiving a $100 Feeders Supply coupon book, adopters also receive more than $100 in KHS pet care gift certificates for behavior training, doggie daycare, boarding and more!

For more information, call (502) 366-3355 or visit www.kyhumane.org, where you can view pictures and profiles of all pets looking for homes at all KHS adoption sites. The adoption special takes place at nine permanent KHS adoption locations, including seven Feeders Supply stores. Adopters must pay for any applicable licensing fees, microchipping and microchip registration. Adoption is pending approval of an application process that usually takes an hour or less. The adoption special runs August 20-22 only.

See you there!

Susan McKellep
Customer Care Manager, Kentucky Humane Society

customercaremanager@kyhumane.org

Tuxes and Tails- Volunteer "Thank You!"

2010-08-17T13:43:00.003-04:00

And you thought the outfits you saw at Tuxes and Tails were classy! Check out this regal kitty that sports a permanent top hat! It gives a whole new meaning to “Fancy Feast!”

A huge "THANK YOU" goes out to all of our wonderful volunteers that helped make this event run flawlessly. KHS was hoping to raise $145,000 at this year's event but exceeded expectations by reaching over $155,000! We couldn't do it without our amazing volunteer support and dedication!

Jennifer Clark
Volunteer Manager

Back to School Blues for Pets, Too

2010-08-12T15:35:00.002-04:00

As you prepare for the end of summer and the beginning of the regular school schedule, don’t forget about the furry members of your family. Summer can be great for pets because many families have a more flexible schedule and can spend more time with their furry friends. But, the hectic schedule that comes with school starting can be an adjustment for a pet. They suddenly receive a little less attention and family members are not home to tend to various needs such as letting dogs out of the house to go to the bathroom, getting their energy out, and keeping their water replenished. They miss their families and get bored by themselves at home!

One way to help your dog if it is going to be alone all day, whether in the house or outside, is to take a long walk in the morning before going to school or work. This will get some of their energy out, so they won’t try to escape and chew on things in the house to release their energy later. You can also keep them busy with chew toys like Kongs. You can put dry or canned food into such toys and your dog will spend time and energy trying to get the food out. One trick is to freeze the Kong with the food in it, so it will take even longer for your dog to get to the food or treats inside of the toy. There are also water dispensing and food dispensing products if you are concerned about your dog running out of water or not being home to feed them.

The Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) can help your family through our Doggie Daycare and in-home pet sitting service. Doggie Daycare allows you to drop off your pet on the way to work, school, or running errands and pick them up on your way home. This is a great way for your pet to stay busy, be taken care of, and get plenty of attention while you are not at home. Instead of being cooped up in the house alone all day, your dog can play with other dogs and people.

KHS also offers No Place Like Home in-home pet sitting service so that your pet can stay comfortable in its own home while you and your family are away at school and work. KHS staff members can stay in your home to keep your pet company, take your dog for a walk, feed them, administer medications, play with them, and even help with house training!

View more information about the services KHS has to offer.

Patti Grice
PR & Marketing Intern
info@kyhumane.org

Oso's Top 10 Reasons Why I Love KHS Summer Camps!

2010-08-10T13:18:00.001-04:00

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Oso and I am the Kentucky Humane Society's number one expert on summer camp. Okay, I am exaggerating...maybe I'm the second, wait, third expert on summer camp. Anyway, I know alot. That's because I came to camp every single day of the summer with my owner, Amie. She is a counselor and loves to bring me to work with her so I can play with the campers. I am the luckiest dog in the world! I am kind of bummed right now because summer camp is over and I am back to being home while Amie is working in Adoptions. I now take lots of naps, dreaming about my adventures with the KHS campers. To pass the time, I came up with my Top Ten Reasons Why I Love KHS Summer Camps. Check them out!

1. I get to spend the whole day with my best friend, Amie, and the campers. If you love kids like I do, there is nothing better! My doggie brother and sister are really jealous: my cat siblings, not so much.

2. I get petted and massaged all day long. It is like a 8 hour retreat at a spa..EVERY DAY FOR TEN WEEKS!!

3. I get to show off my many commands and tricks. If you haven't heard, I have some crazy skills with a skateboard. Many tricks means many treats!

4. I help the campers make dog treats. Well, I don't really help. I just watch out for stray crumbs. I take my job of keeping the camp floor clean of food very seriously. My favorite time to "clean" the floor is after lunch.

5. I sometimes get to play with other dogs. Another camp counselor brought her dog to camp everyday too. Her name was Jada and we quickly became friends, playing with each other and making the campers laugh. I miss her now that camp is over.

6. I get to teach the campers how to properly interact with dogs. They learn to pet me gently, talk to me softly and leave me alone when I go into my crate for a nap. I also let them practice their dog training skills on me which makes them feel real special.

7. I got to be on t.v.! A news crew came to camp to see what it was all about and I got on camera. I even rode my skateboard for them, even though I was really nervous. Maybe I'll get a gig out of it. I love to show off!

8. I get to be an ambassador for all my shelter dog friends. Many people ask about my story and I can tell my mom is so proud to share that I was once a KHS shelter dog. I had some bad manners before she came along. In fact, my previous owners called me Oso because they said I was " O so bad!" I wasn't bad.. I just needed someone patient to guide me, like Amie. Now, I am so well-behaved that everybody wants to know if I am available for adoption! I am proof that shelter dogs are grrrreat dogs!

9. I'm famous! I made it on the back of the camp t-shirt! Each camper recieves a shirt to tie-dye. That means, around five hundred children are walking around Kentuckiana with my adorable face on their back. How cool is that?

10. The biggest reason that I love KHS Summer Camp is that I got to part of an amazing experience where children learned how to be responsible and loving pet owners. I know not all pets are as lucky as me so this camp assures me that more pets will be cared for properly in the future. More pets will be spayed and neutered so that they will not have babies that end up in a shelter. I was there, I know how it feels to be unwanted. I don't want any of my furry friends to feel that way. If you want to help your child grow up to be a responsible pet owner, send them to camp next year. I can't wait to meet them!

Tuxes & Tails

2010-08-05T17:56:00.000-04:00

Whatever your passion, you’ll find something to love at KHS’s Tuxes & Tails gala coming up this Saturday August 7th at the Galt House. This year we’ll be tempting you with over 180 live, silent, and premier silent auction items ranging from fine art and jewelry to sports packages, pet packages, dining and entertainment.

Interested in a little getaway? How about a trip of a lifetime to the 2011 Masters Golf Tournament or California Wine Country! If that’s not quite exotic enough for you, take a walk on the wild side with an African photo safari or a luxurious excursion to Belize. You can check out your destination while surfing the net on your new iPad…we have two of those up for grabs! The best part is...when you win, so does the Kentucky Humane Society. Your winning bid benefits the homeless pets at KHS.

Tuxes & Tails is our largest fundraiser of the year, so we would love for you to join us. There is still time to be a part of the fun and help KHS! Tickets are $150 each and available at www.kyhumane.org through the end of the day on Friday, August 6th. Our theme this year is “Cowboy Cats and Denim Dogs”. The event is black-tie optional, and feel free to add a western flair to your attire!

The evening begins at 6:00pm with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a silent auction, followed by dinner and a spirited live auction. The night will wrap up with music and dancing…and of course, plenty of adoptable pets will be there through the evening to greet and thank guests. I hope to see you there!

Kim Ulrich
Community Outreach Manager

Thank You

2010-08-03T09:17:00.002-04:00

Thank You
Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Hello, my name if Faith Travis and I am current Resort Leader at the Fern Creek Pet Resort. As the summer season begins to wind down, I would like to take the time to thank some very important people.

Thank you Allison Lauder and Susan Oppel, without whose guidance I would be lost. Thank you to all of the staff at the other Kentucky Humane Society locations, who have been so helpful to us. Thank you to the staff at Fern Creek Pet Resort. It has been a very hot summer and they have worked very hard. Most of all, I would like to thank our clients who have so loyal thoughout the chaos. They have all been a bright spot in our days - both the pets and their two-legged friends. Whether it is a smile, an encouraging work, or a much needed donation of daycare toys or cleaning supplies, they have been a blessing to us all.

Once again from myself and the entire staff at the Fern Creek Pet Resort - thank you. Without you, there would be no us. And without us there would be less hope for so many pets.

Faith Travis
fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

KHS Pet Photography with Cha Cha

2010-07-29T14:00:00.001-04:00

Recently I’ve noticed a lot of dogs and cats parading thru the office causing a general ruckus and interrupting my morning nap. Soooooo…. I decided to investigate things for myself. That’s what cats do you know—check out everything for themselves.

What I found was an elaborate photo studio! Well, maybe elaborate is not the right word. It’s actually a VERY small office with lots of baskets and toys and a wagon and lots of other cute props.

I soon found myself sitting in a basket and there were three grown adults waving their arms, talking silly and trying to get ME to sit still for a picture. They were persistent, so finally gave them my best “stare down.” They seemed pleased and I went back to my office to finish my nap.

You may have noticed all the great photos of the adoptable pets on our website. They actually look more like glamour shots than mug shots! I think people notice how cute they are and come in to adopt more and more fur-babies. And I’m in favor of anything that helps get more cats (and dogs) in loving homes.

I’m glad we have such a great staff and so many wonderful volunteers making this new program a success. But…here’s where you come in…..

We still need volunteers to keep this going. We need “runners” (well, actually they walk). Apparently, someone has to go get all the animals & bring them to the photo studio one by one. The puppies are too busy chasing their tails and the dogs are waiting for belly rubs or they would simply get lost. Left, down the hall, turn right, turn the knob, open the door. Oh I forgot - they don’t have thumbs!

The kittens are too busy being cute and the cats are in the middle of their naps to be bothered. Besides, the felines want to be carried like royalty - they would never step a paw on the same floor where the dogs have walked.

We also need someone to help “pose” the babies in cute chairs or baskets or next to a little fire hydrant (dogs only please). Then stand back, wave your arms and make all kinds of silly noises to get their attention.

The photographer has to have the patience of a saint. They just keep clicking until they get a fabulous photo. That’s not as easy as it sounds. I’m a prime example - I know I’m beautiful and I didn’t want to sit still. I kept trying to climb out of that silly basket!

Also, be aware that at any time you may be called on for “cleanup duty.” Some get nervous, some get excited and some (dogs of course) think the fire hydrant is for real! Paper towels and on-the-job training will be provided for “duty.”

Like I said, I’m in favor of anything that helps get more cats and dogs into loving homes. So if it means my morning nap is interrupted a couple days a week, I can deal with that. If you would like to help, please contact pr@kyhumane.org. Also, stop by and visit with me while you are there. I’ll be the cute one trying to sleep!!

Meow for now,
Cha Cha

No Means...Nothing?

2010-07-28T11:01:00.004-04:00

As a trainer one of the most common things I hear from my students and clients is that their dog knows what the word “no” means. Usually, they say this after they have told their dog “no” several times in a row in an attempt to stop a behavior, and to no avail. If the dog understood the word “no”, wouldn’t he stop the undesired behavior?

I feel that this is the result of a common misconception - held by many pet owners - that dogs innately understand right and wrong. That if an owner conveys, with tone of voice or by using the right words, that they are upset, the dog will somehow understand that this disapproval is connected to their behavior. But the vast majority of the time I see an owner tell their dog “no!” it has absolutely zero effect on the targeted behavior. Why?

The simple answer is that words mean nothing to dogs unless they are connected to actions. A dog doesn’t know what “sit” means until we teach them that when they hear the word “sit” and they place their butt on the ground, something good will happen (or something bad won’t). It’s like learning a foreign language – the words mean nothing until you create an association with something you already know. So simply saying the word “no!” to a dog doesn’t mean anything unless no is associated with a consequence. Used correctly, “no” will be a predictor of an unpleasant consequence such as a time out, ignoring the dog, or the removal of a resource. Shouting “no!” at your dog over and over again may make them anxious, but it doesn’t give them any information about what you want them to do, and in most cases, isn’t unpleasant enough to cause the undesired behavior to stop. So if you must use no, associate it with an immediate consequence – your dog will start to understand that “no” means “stop or a time out is imminent!”

The other problem is timing. Ah, timing is everything in life, and particularly in training. In order for a dog to associate something with their behavior (a reward or a consequence) it must happen the instant the behavior happens – and even then, the dog may still associate it with something else. Let’s take housetraining, for example. Suppose you yell “NO!” at your puppy anytime you catch her in the act of pottying in the house. Over the course of three days, it happens once in the kitchen, three times in the bedroom, twice in the living room and once in the basement. Each time you yell “NO!” in a scary voice, and you assume that she will understand that the disapproval is for eliminating inside the house. But think about this – what is the only common denominator in this situation? You. To your puppy, each situation is different, with unique variables, but every time you show up with your scary voice. So the logical conclusion for your puppy is that it is not safe to eliminate in front of you. Know anyone who has a puppy that runs off to the spare bedroom to pee behind the guest bed? The pup has probably been punished for going inside, but mistakenly associated it with the presence of the owner – so they run off to a hidden corner where it’s “safe” to do their business.

So, the moral of the story is that while “no” can sometimes be an effective interrupter, it doesn’t give the dog any information about what you want him to do. A better approach would be to manage your dog so that he can’t participate in the unwanted behavior, meanwhile training him to engage in a desired, incompatible behavior. So instead of yelling “no!” when your dog jumps on a guest, leash him so he can’t jump up, and reinforce him for sitting politely instead. Not only will you be rewarded with better behavior, you will save your dog the frustration of not knowing why you’re upset – a happy outcome for everyone involved. We can all say “yes!” to that.

Ursa M. Marr, CPDT-KA
Community Behavior Manager, Kentucky Humane Society
behaviormanager@kyhumane.org

Early-Age Spay/Neuter

2010-07-22T12:45:00.004-04:00

Even kids know that it’s important to spay/neuter your pets, but there is confusion about WHEN to sterilize. Waiting until the traditional age of six months may produce an unexpected and unwelcome litter of kittens or puppies, which is where many of the animals relinquished to shelters come from. Early-age spay/neuter (as young as eight weeks and as small as two pounds) will prevent this, and can be beneficial for a number of other reasons as well:

Spaying before the first heat cycle (which can occur as early as five months of age) can prevent the development of mammary gland tumors and reduce the risk of certain types of cancers.
Pediatric neutering is faster and less stressful to the animal, bleeding is minimal, and they recover sooner.
Altering before sexual maturity reduces unattractive, hormone-driven behaviors, such as marking and spraying.

Contact the S.N.I.P. Clinic at (502)636-3491 or speak with your veterinarian about what is appropriate for your pet. For more information on early-age altering check out these websites:

http://www.fivesaveslives.org/
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter/early-spay-neuter.html
www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/tips/where_to_spay_neuter.html

Courtney McKinney - S.N.I.P. Clinic Manager

Picture drawn by a KHS camper.

Tuxes and Tails- Volunteers Still Needed!

2010-07-21T11:06:00.001-04:00

Help us celebrate our annual Tuxes and Tails Event - all to help animals in need! On Saturday, August 7, KHS will host our 17th annual Tuxes & Tails Benefit Auction and Gala at the Galt House!! The celebration will get underway at 6:00pm.

Guest will enjoy a silent auction, open bar, and hor d’ouervres followed by a delicious dinner, live auction, and live music. This signature event raises much needed operating funds enabling KHS to continue our mission of helping animals in need. We need your help to make it happen!

A list of job descriptions is viewable below. If you are interested in working in any of these areas, please contact me at jclark@kyhumane.org or 515-3145.

Come join us for the evening and help raise money for all our furry friends!!

Volunteer Job Duties
Saturday, August 7th

Set-up & Décor- 10 am-1pm: NEED 5 volunteers
• Assist decorators with all event décor

Auction Item Security– 12pm-5:30pm: NEED 2 volunteers
• Monitor auction area before event begins to ensure security of items

Greeters- 5:30-8p.m.: NEED 5 volunteers
• Greet incoming guest and direct to registration area

Dog walking Committee – 5:30 pm – 8pm: NEED 10 volunteers
• Display our adoptable dogs at the event by walking KHS animals through the crowd and giving information to guest about each animal.

Registration & Check Out- 5:30 pm-11p.m.: NEED 10 volunteers
• Register guest and assist with check out

Silent Auction Volunteer Monitors- 5:30p.m.-9:30p.m.: NEED 20 volunteers
• Monitors will secure auction items and assist with explaining silent auction process when needed.

Runners- 5:30-11p.m.: NEED 10 volunteers

• Assist with bagging and numbering silent auction items at the close of each silent auction section
• Display live auction items during bidding process.
• At check out, runners will assist the check out volunteers with getting the guests items that they won during the auction

Golden Ticket Drawing Committee – 5:30-9p.m.: NEED 4 volunteers
• Volunteers will walk around the room inquiring if guests would like to purchase a Golden Ticket for their chance to win any LIVE auction item of their choice-- 100 tickets sold for $100 per ticket

Grab Bag Volunteer – 5:30-9p.m.: NEED 2 volunteers
• Volunteers will sale Tuxes and Tails grab bag numbers to guest and distribute prize

Our Wonderful Animal Advocates!

2010-07-16T15:11:00.003-04:00

Today is the last day of our special Animal Advocate camp for teens and I have to say that I am sad it has come to an end. If I could, I would have this camp all year long. I love working with preteens and teens that have a passion for animals. I have planned on blogging about this camp for months, as it is truly a wonderful experience for not only the teens that participate, but for me, as well. Then I discovered that one of the campers had blogged about our camp and how much she loved it. She has given me permission to use excerpts . So here is a bit of about the Animal Advocate camp experience straight from one of our special Animal Advocates:

I would recommend KHS summer camps to any kid who absolutely adores animals! Animal Advocate camp is for older kids because they talk about mature subjects, such as dogfighting, puppymills and animal cruelty and they let us take care of our own shelter animal by ourselves! One thing I like about it is that you can volunteer by yourself if you want to after you complete the camp! Usually you have to be 14... We get to make things for the shelter animals such as collars, tug toys, treats, cat beds, puppy parcels, cat eggs and so much more... We also get to make t-shirts that we tie-dye! Many guest speakers come in and talk about their careers with dogs. We saw a dog trainer, an animal cop, a police officer with a drug sniffing dog, a person from the Humane Society of the United States, and a girl who showed us how to massage your dog! You can even watch a spay or neuter surgery, get your picture taken with an animal of your choice to commerate the week you went to camp. Every camper gets the option to sell treats and tug toys, which this year we made. All money goes to the Kentucky Humane Society. There is so much fun stuff there. Please, please go there.

Everyday Heroes

2010-07-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Hero” is one of those words that’s overused in our society, and it’s not a word I use very often. The truth is EVERY day at the shelter is remarkable, and everyone who works at KHS is a hero. Sometimes, though, a tangible reminder of the remarkable nature of the work we do causes me to pause and take stock.

This is one of those times…

“Amelia” is a little senior poodle/shih tzu brought in by a member of the public who found her literally dragging herself down Strawberry Lane. Because she didn’t have the use of her back legs, it was first assumed she’d been hit by a car. Her tiny body was covered with a tangle of thick mats all the way down to her skin, making a diagnosis impossible – and, no doubt, causing Amelia constant pain as the tangles pulled and pinched with every move she made.. After she was shaved, it became apparent that her back legs were extremely deformed, although whether it was from an old injury or a congenital deformity couldn’t be determined.

Because she was a stray, we had to hold her for 5 days. During that time, it became apparent that Amelia was a sweet little girl with a resilient and determined spirit (and sometimes feisty attitude!). We didn’t have the resources to appropriately address her needs, but our Admissions staff didn’t let that stand in the way of a happy ending for Amelia. They set to finding a rescue who could provide her the care she needed, and the day her stray hold was up, Amelia was transferred out to a local rescue, where she is now happily ruling the roost in a foster home specially designed for dogs with physical disabilities. A mobility cart is on the way, and she is awaiting evaluation by an orthopedic specialist to determine whether amputation is called for.

Whatever came before, and whatever lies ahead, Amelia’s happy ending started the day she was carried through the doors of KHS. She has been given a second chance at a happy life with people who will love and care for her. For Amelia, and for every other cat or dog with no place else to go, KHS is the place where the heroes are.

I consider it to be one of the great good fortunes in my life to spend my days with such an amazing and dedicated group of people. It takes every one of us to accomplish our mission, and I’m grateful to all of you.

To Ashley and Bridget: On behalf of all the Amelias, I want to say a special Thank You. You’re Amelia’s heroes, and today you’re mine.

Susan McKellep

Shelter Manager, Kentucky Humane Society

sheltermanager@kyhumane.org

YOU can make a difference!

2010-07-09T12:34:00.003-04:00

Visit http://bit.ly/kyhumane_donate to donate $5 now!

Beach Party

2010-07-08T14:32:00.002-04:00

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Beach Party

Hi! My name is McKinley and I am an eight-month-old St. Bernard. I can't wait for you to see my photos on the Fern Creek Pet Resort's Facebook Fan Page. When you look at the photos, I am the one in the sombrero lounging in the pool.

You see, the nice people at the Fern Creek Pet Resort threw a beach party for us during doggie daycare. We received leis when we arrived and all the coworkers wore their Hawaiian shirts. We played in the pools, played beach ball and listened to Bob Marley all day. I made a new friend that day, Moses, first he was scared to get in the pool.....until I showed him how fun it was!

My friends and I all had a great time and we all loved the frozen yogurt treats at break time. So, be sure to check out our beach day on Fern Creek Pet Resort's Facebook Fan Page so that you could see how much fun YOU could have if you come join us one day!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=167407773869

fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

Volunteers needed for Pet Photography Program

2010-07-06T12:21:00.002-04:00

Who would you rather adopt?

It’s hard to believe the pet above is the same dog in both pictures.

By volunteering your time, you can help make our Pet Photography Program a lasting success for the animals. Having a great photo that is truly representative of a cat or dog greatly increases their chances of being adopted.

Photography experience is welcomed, but not necessary. Positions are also available to assist with photographers and animals.

For more information, or to get started today, contact pr@kyhumane.org.

Independence Day Pet Tips

2010-07-01T16:33:00.008-04:00

For us, the 4th of July is a great time to fire up the grill, visit friends, and enjoy fireworks. But for our furry friends, Independence Day can be stressful. Here are some tips on keeping your pet safe and happy this 4th of July weekend:

· Keep your pet indoors in a cool, quiet room. Close all windows and curtains to muffle the sound of fireworks, and always provide plenty of food and water. Turning on a radio, television or fan also may help calm your pet. If your dog or cat still experiences severe anxiety, you may want to consult your veterinarian about prescribing a mild sedative to ease your pet’s stress. Consider boarding your pet if you will be out of town.

· Leave your pet at home during firework displays. Animals have a heightened sense of hearing so the loud “booming” noise can be deafening and cause your pet to panic and want to hide. Take your pet for a quiet walk after the festivities end.

· Make sure your pet wears a collar with an identification tag at all times, even if he only lives indoors. The ID tag should include your current address and phone number, so you easily can be contacted should your missing pet be found. You also may want to consider having a microchip implanted in your pet, in case his collar or tag becomes lost.

· Never let your pet outside during fireworks. Pets can suffer burns, hearing loss and eye damage if they are too close to any explosion. Do not put your pet on a leash or chain due to potential physical danger and possibility of escape, since many animals become tangled during their attempts to flee. In general, dogs or cats should never roam unsupervised outdoors, as they can become lost or injured.

· Comfort your pet if they become anxious or scared, but remain calm while doing so. The conventional wisdom that you should not comfort a frightened pet is actually a myth. If your pet exhibits uncharacteristic behavior, such as incessant pacing, crying or whining, help distract him through play or another enjoyable pet activity.

· Take any lost animal to a local animal shelter right away, so you can help reunite owners with missing pets.

· Clean up firework debris before letting your pet outside. If your pet eats the debris, it may cause digestive problems or serious injuries. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet has been exposed to any potentially toxic or poisonous substances.

Have fun, be safe, and enjoy!

Kim Ulrich
Community Outreach Manager

Crunching the Numbers

2010-06-16T22:37:00.014-04:00

I talk about numbers a lot in my job:

"6194" (My current favorite number: the number of pets we found homes for in 2009.)

"137" (The number of pets we found homes for during our last 3-day adoption special.)

"0" (The number of pets we've euthanised for overcrowding since March 2009!)

The numbers themselves aren't what's so important, it's what they represent: lives saved.

That, ultimately, is what every number we think about, talk about, worry about, or brag about really means to all of us who work and volunteer at the Kentucky Humane Society... a $15 donation covers the supplies for one spay/neuter. 19,150 volunteer foster hours in May translates to 11 cats and 116 kittens having the time, space, and care they need until they're ready to find their forever homes. 67,000 = the number of puppies produced by just 1 unspayed female dog in 5 years; 25,000+ is the number of low-cost spay/neuter surgeries performed at our S.N.I.P. clinic since they opened in 2007. 409? That's how many cats 1 year or older we've placed in homes since January 1st - for no adoption fee (that's zero x 409).

I could go on, but you get the picture. Sure, we talk about numbers, costs, donations, dollars and cents, but those numbers only matter when they're translated into better lives for the animals in our community.

I can't wait to see what my new favorite number will be! I promise to keep you posted.

Susan McKellep

Shelter Manager

sheltermanager@kyhumane.org

photo source

Birthday Parties at KHS East Campus

2010-06-15T16:10:00.000-04:00

This April, the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) had its grand opening of our brand new East Campus facility located on Lyndon Lane. At this location, KHS offers many services to our community including adoptions, summer camps, grooming, Doggie Daycare, behavior training and much more! But, one thing that many people don’t seem to realize is that we also offer birthday parties for children at this new site.

Our birthday parties are 90 minutes in length and include rental of the party room for up to 15 children, plates, napkins, utensils, drinks, candy and decorations for only $150. There is also an option to purchase a birthday cake that is delivered by Bruster’s ice cream for a small additional fee. The only thing you will need to do is to invite the guests and be ready for a bow wow good time!

During the party, children will create homemade dog treats, tour the facility and interact with adoptable animals. Birthday parties are always held on Saturday afternoons and must be reserved two weeks in advance. To reserve your little animal lover’s birthday party, visit our website at www.kyhumane.org and fill out a registration form today!

If you have any additional questions or would like to know if a date it still available, please contact me, Jennifer Clark, at 515-3145. I will be more than happy to assist you and help accommodate your needs.

Jennifer Clark
Volunteer and Events Manager

I'm the 'Dog Guy'

2010-06-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Today's interoffice mail was not typical.

Mixed in among the letters, magazines and memos was a large, misshapen interoffice mail envelope. If you work in a corporate environment, you know the kind: yellowish looking, with a place for you to write the name of the recipient and a little string to keep the whole thing safely sealed up.

The shape and weight of this one indicated there was something unusual in it. I untied the little string, turned the envelope upside-down and dumped the contents on my desk.

Out dropped a single can of Alpo dog food.

No note inside. No post-it. No nothing. Just a can of dog food.

I found this initially amusing, but the more I thought of it, the prouder I got. Here's why:

I've worked for the same company since I moved to Louisville six years ago and I've been involved with the Kentucky Humane Society the whole time. Every year, I ask my co-workers to donate money for the Waggin' Trail 5k. I have a KHS doggie bank in my office. I've organized food drives for the KHS Pet Food Bank and I have hosted KHS lunch & learn sessions for my coworkers. I send regular e-mails to colleagues who love animals, and I keep them posted on what is going on at KHS.

Apparently, these efforts are having an effect on my coworkers. Why? Because someone had an extra can of dog food and wanted to make sure a pooch somewhere would get a meal, so the person tucked the can in an envelope and sent it to me. No note. No post-it. No nothing.

I'd like to think the reason the mysterious owner of the can of Alpo didn't feel the need to include any instructions is because he or she knew me as "the dog guy" in our office and knew that I'd take care of it.

I hope that's what really happened, but even if the story is just the result of an overactive imagination, it strikes me that a person could do a lot worse than be known as "the dog guy." So I'm going to keep working hard to earn that title.

How about you?

Rick Maynard
Board Member, Kentucky Humane Society
Rick.Maynard@KFC.com

Common Camp Questions

2010-06-08T17:23:00.002-04:00

Yes, it is that time of year again - time to plan out your children's summer activities! The Kentucky Humane Society is hosting it's 23rd year of summer camp, but with a exciting new change. We now offer camps at a new location in the east end and it's filling up fast! With this new location comes lots of questions. Please continue reading to see the answers to common KHS camp questions.

- What will my child be doing during Animal Adventure camp? At camp, we visit the adoptable animals two times per day. In between these times, we make dog and cat toys, treats, beds and other projects that can go home for your own furry family member or be given to the shelter animals. We also have presenters come and talk about animal rescue, dog training, becoming a vet and more. Your child will also learn valuable lessons that will teach them not only how to be a responsible pet owner, but how to appropriately behave around dogs in different situations. In general, it's all about learning, having fun and making new friends - both two-legged and four legged!

-How does the new East location differ from the Main Campus? The daily camp schedules are the same, meaning all activities we do at the shelter, we will also do at the Lyndon location. What is different is the guest speakers and the amount of animals the children will meet. We have over 100 animals up for adoption at our Main Campus that your children will see. At our East Campus, we have under 20 animals. However, the amount of animal interaction is the same. At the Lyndon location, the animals are not housed in cages, but roaming free in special animal adoption rooms.

-What weeks of camp are full? You may log onto our website to see what weeks are full. Currently, all weeks are available at our Main Campus and you may register online for those. We have only two weeks still available at our Lyndon location so please call 253-2883 to register over the phone.

I hope these answers will help make your camp decision easier. We hope to see you this summer!!!!

The Beagle Derby

2010-06-03T10:50:00.001-04:00

It is NOT the greatest 2 minutes in sports.

It has none of the frills, fashion, or fanfare you'll find at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. Still, it has become the most anticipated sporting event of my life, and I'm lucky enough to have a front row seat every morning to The Beagle Derby.

When we first wake up, my three dogs pour out the backdoor and scramble across the deck like their lives depend on reaching the backyard. They look and sound like rats abandoning a sinking ship!

Then the real fun begins when they reach the grass...or to them, the racetrack. They run laps around the yard over and over, with the most hilarious "speed stance" you've ever seen. I'm not sure if they are trying to be super-fast, wind-resistant, or both, but they lay back their ears, tuck their tails, and round their backs a little. Maybe they are trying to shape themselves like rockets...I guess I'll never know. Anyway, of course they would not want this whole spectacle to go down quietly, so there is plenty of barking and howling to make sure the entire neighborhood knows the Ulrich fur-kids are awake.

My little Derby champions are dedicated to their sport. We literally had to border and mulch the entire perimeter of our backyard, because it is impossible to grow grass there with all of the traffic. Fortunately, qualifying for The Beagle Derby is not exactly like the Olympic trials. Speed, form, and even breed are not regulated. My 2 beagles and 1 husband decided in a very close vote to allow Juliet, a Lab-Greyhound mix, join the daily race when we adopted her a few months ago. Juliet clearly has the hereditary advantage in this competition, but Henry and Herbie keep things close by cheating whenever possible.

This simple, daily ritual might not seem like much...and to my neighbors it's probably a nightmare...but it's one of my favorite examples of how pets have changed my life for the better. I start every day with a laugh, a smile, and lots of sloppy kisses at the finish line.

Kim Ulrich
Communtiy Outreach Manager

Summer Care Tips for You and Your Pets

2010-06-01T11:12:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Summer Care Tips for You and Your Pets

Summer is a time for both you and your pet to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors, but along with the fun, the season also offers up situations that can endanger your pet. By taking precautions, you can decrease the chance that disaster will happen.

Never Leave Your Pet in the Car

In nice weather you may be tempted to take your pet with you in the car while you travel or run errands. But during warm weather, the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if you're parked in the shade. This can mean real trouble for your companion animals left in the car.

Dogs and cats can't prespire and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. Pets who are left in hot cars can even suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and can even die. Don't think that just because you'll be gone "just a minute" that your pet will be safe while you're gone; even an air-conditioned car with the motor off isn't healthy for your pet.

To avoid any chance that your pet will succumb to the heat of a car this summer, be sure to play it safe by leaving your pet cool and refreshed at home while you're on the road. And if you do happen to see a pet in a car alone during the hot summer months, alert the management of the store where the car is parked. If the owner does not return promptly, call local animal control or the police department immediately.

Pets need exercise even when it is hot, but extra care needs to be taken with older dogs, short-nosed dogs, and those with thick coats. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws. Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips. Pets with light-colored noses or light-colored fur on their ears are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer.

Your pet can suffer from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These conditions are very serious and caould cause your pet to die. You should be aware of the signs of heat stress, which could include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue.

If your pet does become overheated, you need to immediately lower his body temperature. Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water over his body to gradually lower his core body temperature. Apply cold towels or ice packs to your pet's head, neck and chest only. Let your pet drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. Most importantly, get him to a veterinarian immediately.

Fleas and Ticks

This time of year we start getting a lot of calls at the resorts about flea dipping or flea baths. While these do help when your pet becomes infested with fleas and ticks, it is much easier to prevent infestation than to remove fleas and ticks afterward. With severe flea infestations your pets can often have skin reactions that can lead to more costly vet care. Your home can also become infested with fleas and they can be very difficult to get rid of. Fleas and ticks can be found at all times of this years, but are worse in the spring and summer. Check with your vet for monthly topicals for both fleas and ticks.

Heartworm Prevention

Dogs and cats are at an increased risk of contracting heartworm during the summer. Transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito, heartworm disease can be fatal if not treated. Check with your veterinarian for the best schedule for heartworm testing and preventive medicaion for your pet.

Hpe everyone has a safe and happy summer!
Joe Hagan
Eastpoint Pet Resort Leader
petresort@kyhumane.org

Follow A S.N.I.P. Patient

2010-05-27T13:29:00.022-04:00

Though the S.N.I.P. Clinic is "high volume," each pet receives individual care. Follow Clarice through a typical surgery:

After her owners fill out the paperwork and are checked in, Clarice is brought into the clinic.

She is given a brief physical examination by Dr. Thomas and Lisa to make sure she is fit for surgery. She receives her pre-medication, and is settled into her kennel.

When it is her turn for surgery, Clarice's anesthesia is administered and she is intubated. Jim shaves and scrubs her abdomen and she is carefully carried into surgery.

Dr. Newsome performs an ovariohysterectomy, removing Clarice's uterus and ovaries. The anesthesia is monitored constantly and she receives 3-layers of absorbable sutures.

Clarice is moved to the recovery area and stays until she is fully awake, her breathing tube is removed, and she can sit up on her own.

Back in her kennel, Clarice will have a small amount of food, then rest and recover until morning.

In the morning, before she goes home, Clarice is given another check-up and her owners receive complete post-operative instructions.

Clarice is one of over 9,000 animals the S.N.I.P. Clinic will sterilize and care for this year!

Courtney McKinney
S.N.I.P. Manager

It's never too late to start fundraising for the Waggin' Trail 5K!

2010-05-20T15:22:00.002-04:00

My Derby Horse Training for the WAGGIN' TRAIL 5K

2010-05-13T13:34:00.003-04:00

Two years ago, I adopted a six week old black Labrador Retriever puppy who I named Derby Horse. Jogging down the street last week with Derby at my side, I realized how thankful I am just to have her with me – she is not only a jogging companion, but my motivation to keep going when I’m tired. Derby has hip dysplasia and as we train for the WAGGIN’ TRAIL 5K coming up soon, her determination and resilience through her condition gives me strength.
When she was about four months old, I noticed one morning as she ran around the house that she was not putting any weight on her left back leg. I was surprised when the vet showed me her x-rays and told me she had hip dysplasia. “But she’s only four months old!” I exclaimed. I always associated the condition with older dogs.
While rare, hip dysplasia can occur even when a dog is young. You might notice it the same way I did – your dog may start limping or not fully extending one of their legs and not putting weight on it. Hip dysplasia is very similar to, has the same effects as, and can develop into arthritis. It is more common among large breed dogs, such as Labradors and German Shepherds.
There are many ways to help with pain from hip dysplasia, to help prevent the condition from getting worse, and to promote healthy bones in your dog to try to prevent hip dysplasia later in life. Weight control is very important. It is important to keep your dog on a healthy diet so they do not gain too much weight. Know about what size and weight your dog ought to be and try to maintain that. You can ask your vet for that information or the American Kennel Club website can be a good source: www.akc.org.
The type of food you give your dog can also make a difference. My vet recommended using any adult dog food that was specifically for large breed dogs because it contains glucosamine and chondroitin. It seems to have worked well for Derby. I also have her food elevated on a bench so that she does not have to bend over to the ground to eat out of her food bowl, which prevents her from putting pressure on her hips. I also give Derby Omega3 because it is good for the condition. I have heard that apple cider vinegar can help with arthritic conditions in dogs – and gives them a shinier coat!
Specifically to alleviate pain in dogs that have already been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, heat therapy and massage therapy really help. The best heat therapy is a moist towel. You can also use heating pads – just be sure to stay with your dog and supervise them. There are also many products made especially for dogs; www.cozywinters.com has several heated pet products. Massaging your dog’s hips can also help to relieve pain and work out stiffness. I apply a small amount of pressure and massage Derby’s hip in a circular motion.
Exercise is somewhat of a catch twenty-two with hip dysplasia; you want your dog to get exercise to keep their weight off and to keep them strong, but because of the condition they may not be able to be very active. Taking your dog for a walk is the best way to exercise them if they have hip dysplasia because it does not put too much pressure on them and keeps them in shape. Swimming is also great – and Derby loves to do that!
At two years old, Derby is doing much better than I had imagined she would as I stood in the veterinarian’s office and heard the news that day. Her wiggly walk is very distinct and it breaks my heart to watch at times, but she has never let it slow her down. She loves walking briskly beside me as I jog. As I start to wear out, I see her smiling face and energy, and I think ‘If she can do this, I can do this!’ We are both excited about the WAGGIN’ TRAIL 5K, and while she may not win the race, she has definitely won my heart and admiration!

All Bark and no Bite: Dealing with Reactivity

2010-05-11T10:00:00.001-04:00

I loved Roxie, a one-year-old German Shepherd at the time, the moment I laid eyes on her. Her sweet disposition and obvious affinity for me easily won me over, and we became inseparable almost instantly.

On the drive home from the Kentucky Humane Society’s Main Campus on a beautiful spring day last April, I couldn’t help but wonder why this amazing dog had been surrendered by her owner. Roxie rode well in the car and knew basic commands. I was so impressed by Roxie that I had to show her off to a friend. This friend had a dog about the same age as Roxie, so I felt confident the two would be great playmates.

When I arrived at my friend’s house, she brought out her dog on a leash. Roxie, also leashed, began to bark and lunge at the other dog. It was a complete transformation from the perfect dog with whom I had just spent an uneventful car ride. I began to wonder what had happened in Roxie’s past that made her behave this way. While I could never know her background, I did know that I needed to take steps to stop this behavior.

Our behavior trainers assessed Roxie as having barrier reactivity. Whenever she is on leash or behind a fence, she does not know how to properly react when she sees another dog. However, when she is at the dog park or at Doggie Daycare, she plays wonderfully with other dogs. This reactivity likely stems from the fact that she was not well socialized as a puppy. Basically, she wants to play with other dogs, but has terrible manners at showing it.

Unfortunately, because of Roxie’s breed, many people already have preconceived notions that she is a mean and dangerous dog. Her reactivity toward other dogs does not help her case whatsoever. To remedy the situation, we’ve attended the Feisty Fido class – several times. With each class, and with the work I do outside of these classes, Roxie progresses a bit more. It’s important to know that there is a difference between aggression and reactivity. An aggressive dog will bite. A reactive dog barks and lunges but will not usually aggress.

It has been a long and difficult journey to get Roxie to where she is today. She can still be unpredictable, and I’m not sure what dog is going to set her off and when. But with time, patience and lots of hard work, I know that everyone will eventually see the perfect dog that I see. I would not trade her for the world.

Do you need help with a reactive or aggressive dog? Our behavior training department can help. Contact them at behavior@kyhumane.org or (502) 253-2883.

Allison Strickland
PR & Marketing Manager
prmanager@kyhumane.org
Twitter: @kyhumane

Dog Day at the Park

2010-05-06T10:27:00.013-04:00

What could be better than sharing the great American pastime with your furry best friend. Dog Day at the Park is coming up on Monday, May 10th at Louisville Slugger Field, and I can’t wait!

The Bats are playing the Buffalo Bisons, and I plan to take my beagle Henry to the big game. This will be his first trip to the ballpark for Dog Day! He’s going to have so much fun socializing with the other dogs and taking in all of the sights, sounds, and smells.

The first 500 guests at the park will get a goodie bag filled with neat things for people and dogs. No doubt, the shiny new tennis ball will be Henry’s favorite thing. He loves to play catch, and I think he would be an excellent outfielder. Maybe I’ll try to get one of the guys to sign his new ball. He would love that!

After the excitement of meeting dogs and getting new toys wears off, I am sure that Henry’s focus will shift back to home base: Food! We’ll stroll by and check out all of the booths and exhibits, and if by chance any of the vendors have treats, Henry will turn on the charm until he gets a bite. By then he’ll be getting tired, and we’ll finally settle in to watch a great baseball game while sharing a hot dog and some popcorn.

It’s not just baseball…I think America has many great pastimes. And bonding with my best buddy on a special day I'll remember forever is at the top of my list.

Dog Day at the Park Details:

Monday May 10th
Louisville Slugger Field
Gates Open: 6pm
Game Starts: 7pm
Tickets: $6 per person; $3 per dog
Dog ticket sales benefit the Kentucky Humane Society

Get more information and download a waiver form here

Kim Ulrich
Community Outreach Manager

Losing a Beloved Friend

2010-05-04T09:47:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Losing a Beloved Friend

Losing a pet is never easy, and when it was a very special dog that we all loved, it is even harder.

Basha was a regular daycare client. For 12 of her 15 years, she was at the Fern Creek Pet Resort almost every day. When she wasn't there, we all missed her. A beautiful chocolate lab, she has lots of energy and a big heart, along with her huge appetite.

We all spoiled her and when she developed diabetes we took special care with her treats. During her last months, we could see a difference in her health but she was always ready to go outside and play. As it became more and more difficult for her to get up, we would help her to get to her feet. Basha never lost her spirit.

When we got the call that she was gone, it was a sad moment for us all.....but Basha gave us so many good memories. We will never forget her.

Karen Drake
fcpetresort@kyhumane.org

Just One More Reason

2010-04-22T16:43:00.004-04:00

Getting ready for tomorrow’s Hooters for Neuters event has preoccupied me, and I have not been able to devote much time to my monthly blog entry. Instead I will share with you a recent New York Times article (with video) about a wonderful service program where prisoners raise and train dogs to assist veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Attached is “For the Battle-Scarred, Comfort at Leash’s End” http://s.nyt.com/u/HAz. Just one more reason, added to an already long list, of why dogs are so special.

And, speaking of Hooters for Neuters, this is our third year and we have a full schedule of 60 dogs to be neutered at the reduced price of $20 each! It is a fun event and we thank Hooters restaurant for their participation.

Courtney McKinney
S.N.I.P. Manager

Photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/deel/4258598765/

How Your Waggin' Trail 5K Fundraising and Donations Help Animals in Our Care

2010-04-20T16:30:00.007-04:00

The Kentucky Humane Society (KHS)’s Waggin’ Trail 5K is just over a month away now, and we are unfortunately still struggling to reach our goal. We are down more than $20,000 compared to this time last year and need the support of EVERYONE to make this event a success for the animals here at KHS.

If you are reading this and have yet to sign up, do so NOW before you forget! The first step is getting started and then you’re on your way to helping raise much needed funds for the animals in our care.

Each and every dollar helps! Raise $50 towards your goal and that money could provide one day’s worth of food and water for 25 needy animals in our care! Collect $100 and this could help purchase the supplies needed for 10 spay/neuter surgeries at our S.N.I.P. Clinic, helping reduce overpopulation and keep animals off the streets. Accumulate $250 and help prepare one homeless cat or dog for our adoption floor by providing a medical exam, vaccinations, flea and tick preventatives, microchipping and a spay/neuter surgery. Set your goal high—$1,000 can help provide rehabilitation for an abused or neglected animal with major injuries!

Still looking for ways to fundraise? Here are a few ideas to get you started and to help you go beyond your goal:

- Don’t be shy! If you don’t ask for a donation, the answer will be NO!

-If you are from Louisville, you are probably already aware of how many parties and get togethers take place this time of year. I was able to collect $65 in donations at my sister’s Thunder over Louisville party this weekend by placing a donation jar and sign by the food. There are many more gatherings coming up with Oaks and Derby around the corner, so it’s not too late to steal this idea as your own fundraising tactic.

-Are you a member of Facebook or Twitter? These are great tools to let your family, friends and co-workers know how far you are away from reaching your goal. You can even attach a link back to your page using these social media websites.

-Remind people why you are involved. Did you adopt from KHS? Is there a special story behind your furry friend? Let people know why you are fundraising and passionate about the animals at KHS!

-Ask your company to get involved! Many businesses will use it as a tax write-off and sometimes can even match the donations that you receive on your own. They may also be able to publicize your fundraising efforts in a company newsletter or on a break room bulletin board.

-Keep sending reminders! People will forget to donate if they aren’t reminded.

-Encourage your family and friends to join a team with you to collect money from the people that they know. The more people fundraising, the more money you and your team will collect!

Do you have any other great ideas for reaching your fundraising goal? Share them with us! The more we collect, the more animals we can help!

And remember…it takes the support and effort of EVERYONE to make a difference!

Jennifer Clark
Volunteer and Events Manager

Kentucky Humane Society Reaches Major Milestone!

2010-04-15T09:44:00.005-04:00

March 31, 2010 was a BIG day for all the employees, volunteers, and animals at the Kentucky Humane Society - that day marked one year of no euthanasia for overcrowding, a major milestone for any open admissions animal shelter. What's more, we reached this goal during a time when only half our main shelter has been available for housing animals, due to our Main Campus Improvement Program!

We at KHS have worked long and hard to reach this goal. Everyone in every department at every KHS location is responsible for - and shares in the celebration of - this moment. From the Board of Directors to the part-time adoptions employee, from the Animal Related Services team to Public Relations, from the S.N.I.P. Clinic to the pet resorts, from our drivers to our volunteers - everyone has had a hand in malking this a reality. We've done it through increased adoptions, sending more pets to rescue groups, and keeping pets in their homes through behavior training. Low cost spay and neuter at the S.N.I.P. Clinic is helping alleviate the problem of pet overpopulation by preventing unwanted litters.

It's not only KHS staff and volunteers, though - our success is dependant upon members of the public who choose to adopt a shelter pet rather than buying from a breeder or pet store, or getting a "free to good home" pet out of the newspaper. Our rescue partners share in our accomplishment as well - we work with some truly stellar rescue groups who are willing and able to take the pets from us who are adoptable, but who won't do well in a shelter.

Most of all, though, it has taken the one thing we're all dedicated to, and that is finding homes for the homeless pets in our community. Thank you for coming this far with us. I can't wait to see what's next!

Regards,

Susan McKellep

Shelter Manager, Kentucky Humane Society

sheltermanager@kyhumane.org

photo: art.com

A Little Piece of String

2010-04-13T15:59:00.002-04:00

If you were to see me out and about doing presentations in schools or giving a tour to some Girl Scouts, maybe you noticed a dingy piece of string around my wrist. Made of threads of orange, red, and yellow, it appears to be just ordinary string. However, to me, it is much more.
I was given this string bracelet by one of my summer camp participants in July of 2009. When she tied the piece of string around my wrist and that of Amy, one of our camp counselors, I thought that it was a sweet gesture but didn't think much more about it. After a month or so , I finally decided to cut off the bracelet. I got out the scissors, was ready to make the cut...and could not do it. I went to work the next day and found that Amy, who is also an adoptions counselor, had kept hers on too. We laughed about it but the fact was, the bracelet had taken on a special meaning. The camper that gave us this bracelet happens to be one of our most frequent campers and is a favorite amongst all the counselors. The bracelet had come to be a symbol of our dedication to our campers. We decided to keep the bracelets until they rotted off. We even took photos of them to share with the camper, who I happen to be in contact with through my KHS Facebook page.
Just a week ago, the bracelet finally fell off. I had hoped it would last until I saw the camper again. Amy lost hers a few months ago. It had finally succumbed to the cleaning agents she used daily here in the shelter.
I have to say that I miss that little bracelet. I realize it was something that I constantly played with while I was doing KHS presentations. My wrist looks bare, even though it was just a piece of string.
I share all this with you because that string symbolizes the care we have for the children that come to our camp. My counselors and I want your children to learn about KHS but have a great time doing so. I know that I want our camp to be something that they remember forever. Who knows, maybe our campers will someday become a volunteer, adopter, or donor. maybe they will tell their friends and family about us. Maybe, they will go home and love their own pet even more. By sending your children to our camps, you are directly helping the mission of our shelter... in two ways. One, the camp fee helps provide everything our animals need during their stay here. Most importantly, your child will learn about all facets of pet responsibility, ensuring that they will never surrender an animal to a shelter unless absolutely necessary. That helps everyone involved- dogs, cats, rescues, shelters and the children, themselves.
To register your child for our summer camp, please log on to kyhumane.org. For any questions about our camp, call 515-3149.

A Storm is Threatening

2010-04-07T16:42:00.004-04:00

I love thunderstorms. I have ever since I was a child. Something about the charge in the air, the intermittent flicker of lightning, and the rumble of thunder is at once exciting and soothing. I especially love the way the sky looks when a storm is rolling in; dark, dramatic clouds loom as a presage of extreme weather.

Growing up I had a dog, however, who decidedly did not love thunderstorms. Sunny, my family’s Golden Retriever mix, had a crippling fear of storms. Well before the sky even darkened she would scramble into the bathroom and cower in the tub, drooling, her body wracked with shivers. No amount of coaxing, bribing or demanding could pry her from that hiding spot until the storm had passed, at which point she would pass out on the floor and sleep for hours. Sadly, we didn’t know how to really help her; our vet suggested sedation, but beyond that we were at a loss. So we just comforted her during those moments of terror as best we could.

If I had only known then what I know now, I could have saved Sunny a lifetime of stressing over storms. Many dogs suffer from storm phobia to varying degrees, whether they run and hide like Sunny or destroy walls and furniture in an effort to “escape” from the storm. If your dog is storm phobic, there are many things you can do to both help them cope and overcome their fears.

I’d first like to clear up a misconception: comforting your dog during moments of fear will NOT reward the behavior. This is an old piece of conventional wisdom that has no basis in learning theory or fact. Fear is an emotional response to a threatening situation, not a voluntary behavior. Try feeling scared for your life – right now. Unless you are reading this in an extremely dangerous location (in which case, get off the computer and get out of there!), you probably have no reason to fear for your safety and cannot force your body to respond as if you did. Even if someone offered you a million dollars to be terrified right now, it is nearly impossible to create an extreme fear response on cue. If you can’t do it, your dog can’t either – not without the presence of whatever it is they are actually afraid of.

In addition, fear is highly unpleasant - because it is meant to warn us about things that are dangerous. As such, there are very few things that are rewarding enough to make an individual want to feel extreme fear. When we talk about dogs that are afraid of thunderstorms, we’re not talking about minor emotions. They literally feel as though their safety or lives are at risk. It’s not the same as willingly experiencing the fear of a scary movie or a roller coaster. Your dog is experiencing the same fear you would if you were actually hearing a serial killer creeping through your house, or free falling with no parachute from a 200 foot cliff. To them, it is every bit as real and every bit as aversive – not a feeling they will voluntarily conjure.

To read more about “Reinforcing Fear” check out this great article from Patricia McConnell, a well-known and highly respected animal behaviorist and dog trainer.

So, beyond comforting your dog, which may or may not actually reduce his fear response, how can we help a stormophobe?

The best long-term solution is a desensitization program. This entails gradually exposing your dog to the sounds of a thunderstorm (via a recording) in a controlled fashion, and associating those sounds with something the dog thinks is wonderful. Little by little, you increase the exposure to the “scary” stimulus while pairing it with a reinforcer until the dog can remain calm even during full exposure. To explain desensitization another way, imagine you are afraid of spiders. Some of you may not have to use your imagination. Suppose you saw a spider and then someone immediately handed you a brownie, or a $50 bill. Next time you saw a spider, the same thing happened. From then on out, the presence of a spider predicted that someone would give you a delicious snack or a monetary reward. You’d be searching for spiders - hoping to see one. Instead of being scary, they would now be a predictor of something wonderful. That’s desensitization. And it works wonders with storm-phobic dogs as long as it’s done gradually; the dog must be comfortable with the sound at its present level before you make it more threatening. One crucial element of this particular desensitization program is that it needs to be undertaken during the “off” season, when a thunderstorm is unlikely to occur. Otherwise, one good storm could undo all of the positive associations you’ve made.

For some dogs, though, the sound of thunder is just one of many scary triggers. A large number of dogs react to the drop in air pressure just before a storm, or to the static charge in the air. Unfortunately, we can’t control or replicate these factors, but we can help neutralize their effects on our dogs. I learned some time ago that the reason Sunny would run into the bathroom when a storm threatened is that electrically grounded items, such as the pipes, helped to discharge the static, and that the porcelain of the tub and tiles helped insulate her from fluctuating conditions. However, there’s an easier way to neutralize static charge - the Storm Defender Cape. Your dog wears it like a jacket, and a special lining on the cape discharges static from his fur, helping him feel safer and less anxious. For information or to order a cape, visit www.stormdefender.com.

There are a variety of other products that can help you calm a storm-phobic dog including:

· The Thundershirt (www.thundershirt.com), an anxiety wrap that your dog wears like a shirt;

· Rescue Remedy (www.rescueremedy.com), a blend of flower essences that you administer orally;

· Dog Appeasing Pheromone (www.petcomfortzone.com), a calming pheromone that you spray on a bandanna or your dog’s bedding.

I have used and recommended each with varying degrees of success, depending on the dog, but they certainly can’t hurt if you have a pup that trembles at the first cloud in the sky. Keep in mind, though, that these are management solutions – on their own, they will not permanently lessen your dog’s fear. Only a thorough desensitization program like the one described above can do that. For more information on storm-phobia, or to enlist a behavior specialist to help you, feel free to contact the KHS Behavior Training Department at (502) 253-2883 or behavior@kyhumane.org. Someday storms can be soothing for everyone involved!

Ursa Marr, CPDT-KA
Community Behavior Manager
behaviormanager@kyhumane.org

Tips for Pet Boarding

2010-04-06T10:26:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tips for Pet Boarding

As winter ends and spring approaches it will be time for vacation season very soon. Here at the Eastpoint Pet Resort we start getting many more pet owners calling to drop by for tours of our facility in preparation for upcoming vacations. Since it is the season, I thought I would put together some tips for boarding for new pet owners as well as the old pros.

First thing first, contact the facility you are interested in. Certain times of the year, particularly holidays and busy vacation times can have limited availability or book up quickly, so plan ahead. Also, if your pet has any special needs (i.e. medical issues, medications needed, special diet), be sure to inquire about these when you call to make sure that the facility is equipped to handle such things.

Drop by for a tour - You wouldn't drop your child off for daycare without checking it out first and the same should go for your pets. Most facilities will be happy to show you around. If they won't give a tour, or want you to make an appointment to do so, this should be a red flag and you may want to move on.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when touring the facility:
-Do the dogs coming into the kennel seem excited to be here?
-Do the pets in the facility seem well cared for?
-Does the staff seem caring, knowledgeable?
-Does the staff seem familiar with pets in their care?
-Does the facility look and smell clean?

Questions to ask staff on you tour:
-What are rates for your pet for boarding? What does this include?
-What are vaccination requirements for boarding?
-How do they handle pet emergencies? Is there a vet on site or nearby?
-If your pet is on a special diet can this facility accommodate?
-How often are pets fed & walked?
-How often do they clean and sanitize kennels?
-What other services are offered? Bathing and grooming? Activities?

Some tips for preparing yourself and your pet for their boarding stay:

Personal items- Favorite toys or blankets can be lost during laundry/sanitizing. If you do leave items with your pet be sure it is something they can live without if it is lost or gets destroyed.

Trial runs- If you think your pet might be nervous or not do well while being boarded, try short overnight visits or visits for daycare at the facility where you will be boarding your pet.

Stay calm- Don't get overly emotional when dropping you pets off. If you are, your pet can pick up on these emotions and it can really stress them out. If a member of your family will be very upset leaving your pet, it's best if they aren't the one dropping them off.

When returning home, here are some things to remember that might make the transition home less stressful:

-Get yourself settled first-go home and get everything unpacked and settled before picking up your pet. It may cause extra stress for all involved if you pick your pet up with all of your suitcases and entire family in the car.

-Stay calm-don't get overly excited when you pick your pet up. Pretending like nothing happened will make boarding easier for your pet next time.

-If your pet is tired upon returning home- it is fairly common for a pet to be tired and maybe sleep more when they return home from the kennel. The schedule there may not be what they are used to at home, and they could have had some noisy neighbors.

Each pet is different so these tips will vary from one to the other. Needless to say we hope you'll stay with Eastpoint Pet Resort, but these tips should be helpful no matter where you leave your pets. We're happy to help in any way we can and try to make each pets stay enjoyable and as stress free as possible. We are looking forward to a busy season of keeping pets while you're on vacation and helping homeless pets at the same time!

Joe Hagan
Eastpoint Pet Resort Leader
petresort@kyhumane.org

KHS East Campus

2010-04-01T10:40:00.002-04:00

My lab mix Juliet loves to come to work with me and hang out in “her office” at KHS. Her work day is even more exciting now, because that office has moved to a FABULOUS NEW EAST LOUISVILLE LOCATION!

Our KHS East Campus is now open at 1000 Lyndon Lane, offering adoptions and programs for every pet lover. As you enter our
lobby area, you are greeted by cute kittens and an Adoptions Counselor (also cute!) that can help you find the perfect kind of pet to match your lifestyle.

You'll meet our adoptable pets as you walk past our Puppy Play room, our Dog of the Day den, and our Cat Lounge. At any given time you might find them running and playing, interacting with guests at the picture window, or curled up in a cozy spot. The home away from home feel of each room reduces stress for the animals while they wait for their forever family.

When you decide which pet might be The One, you’ll get to meet and spend time with your new best friend in our Get Acquainted room.

And all the amenities are not just for our adoptable animals. As you walk down to the lower level, you'll see our spacious behavior room where BEHAVIOR TRAINING classes are already in session. This room will also come alive this summer when it is filled with SUMMER CAMP kids! Across from the behavior room, GROOMING services are now open in the adjacent area for that special pet who needs a spa day.

As you walk cross the hall, you'll find the DOGGIE DAYCARE room. If you get lost, just follow the sound of the party! This is where all the fun will be…and my dog Juliet can’t wait! While you are at work, your pets can run, play, exercise and socialize.
Doggie Daycare opens on April 12th, so mark your calendars.

If you want to see more, please stop by...or join us for our Grand Opening April 10th and 11th! You can take a tour, enjoy some refreshments, and meet adorable adoptable pets! There will be drawings to win free prizes such as grooming and behavior classes, and the first 300 guests will receive a free t’shirt.

Kim Ulrich
Community Outreach Manager

Feral Cats and Trap-Neuter-Return

2010-03-25T15:47:00.000-04:00

What are “feral” cats? They are unowned, unhandleable cats who often live in groups, called colonies. The Kentucky Humane Society and many other humane groups believe that the best way to manage and reduce the feral cat population is a Trap-Neuter-Return program in which a cat (or colony of cats) is humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, and returned to the place where they were trapped.

At the S.N.I.P. Clinic, we have always offered a package of services for feral cats in traps: $40.00 for surgery, a rabies vaccination, extra pain medication, and an “ear tip” (a universal indication that the cat has been altered). Last April, we rounded out our TNR program by purchasing humane traps to loan for this purpose. With referrals from Alley Cat Advocates, and the dedication of two wonderful volunteers, Joyce and Charlie Wooldridge, we have loaned the traps 62 times and have altered 187 feral cats in the last year.

Alley Cat Advocates, and many of us who care about feral cats, believe that “while the outdoor environment is not particularly conducive to a long, safe life for these cats, there are, unfortunately, not enough homes for all unowned cats. Returning them spayed or neutered, however, greatly improves the cats' quality of life. In the males, their urge to roam and fight is markedly reduced. For the females, they are freed from an endless cycle of being in heat, getting pregnant, giving birth, and nursing and caring for kittens.”

For more information about feral cats, the following websites are great resources:
www.alleycatadvocates.org
www.neighborhoodcats.org
www.hsus.org/feralcats
or contact the S.N.I.P. Clinic at (502) 636-FIX1 [3491]

Courtney McKinney
S.N.I.P. Clinic Manager

Waggin' Trail 5K- A Call to Action!

2010-03-25T12:34:00.002-04:00

Because of your continued support of the Kentucky Humane Society, we are able to continue to provide life-saving programs to more than 9,000 homeless, neglected and abused animals each year.

However, this year we have already noticed a considerable decrease in the amount of fundraising donations that we are receiving from both teams and individuals signed up to participate. We are currently seeing over a 60% decrease in donations compared to this time last year, which is a huge concern not only for the success of this event, but most importantly to the future of our animal related programs. We rely heavily on Waggin’ Trail participants to raise much needed funds - helping us to continue providing shelter, food and medical care for the animals who rely on us.

Therefore, I am writing you today to ask for your help—a call to action! If you have not already begun fundraising, please start today. Contact your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to help gain their support for you, your team and the animals at KHS. If you have already begun fundraising, thank you for your continued efforts, and please continue asking for the support of our community to assist in helping KHS provide for needy animals in area. Just because you sign up for to participate, does not mean you have to run or walk the day of the even—you can plan to come out to Iroquois Park on May 22 and enjoy the demonstrations, animal-related vendors, food and fun that the day provides!

Not interested in signing up for the Waggin’ Trail 5K? Simply visit our website at http://www.waggintrail5k.kintera.org/2010 to make a quick and easy donation to the event. Your donations will enable us to not only maintain but build our life-saving programs for the animals at KHS!

The animals are relying on you!

Jennifer Clark
Volunteer and Events Manager
Kentucky Humane Society
(502) 515-3145
Jclark@Kyhumane.org