animal
TRIBUNE Winter 2015 Edition
Happy Endings: Weeble Featured Pet: Sydney
Foster Program in full swing!
Portraits by Hilary Running
animal
TRIBUNE
News & Updates
an extension of the Coulee Region Humane Society
All Glazed Up! Animal Care & Humane & Animal Control Officers Adoption Counseling Brad Aden Carissa Faas Katie Knox Melissa Lynch Kelly Metzger Krissy Mickelson Marlaine Moede Holly Sauer Ginny Schetter Holly Barnes Arika Wussow Ariel VanCura Cahoon Ashley Klein Abby Guggenbuehl Jasmine Dunn
Maintenance & Finance David Collins Brian Mansky
Samantha Oldenburg Rich Schrader Travis Wills
Dog Training Instructor Shirley Richards
Program Managers & Administration Heather Hankins, Executive Director Amber Grosch, Kennel Operations Manager Kathy KasaKaitas, Animal Control Supervisor Samantha Luhmann, Community Outreach Coordinator Alyssa Longhway, Volunteer & Foster Care Coordinator Betsie Nachtigal, Customer Relations Manager Erin Olson, Pet Therapy & Education Coordinator Lynn Zee Dokken-Knox, Management Assistant Hannah Manske, Operations Assistant
Board of Directors Customer Relations Sarah Fortune, President Bill Soper, Vice-President Jay Jaehnke, Treasurer Pat Caffrey Sister Helen Deppe Kris Nandory Monica Redmond Tony Roberts Judy Rusch
Grace Asher Sonia Collins Mikaela Powers Jessica Upton Morgan Edwards Megan Kendhammer Megan Krueger
All Glazed Up!, a local pottery studio in downtown La Crosse, donated more than $90 to the Coulee Region Humane Society Nov. 3 after hosting a fundraiser to support homeless animals in the Coulee Region and beyond. The studio donated 20 percent of all sales between 5 and 8 p.m. to the shelter.
Fee-Waived Adoption/ PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend The Coulee Region Humane Society hosted its first-ever fee-waived adoption special for all cats and kittens Nov. 15. The promotion was held in conjunction with the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend Nov. 14-16. Thirty-four cats and kittens were approved for adoption that day and 160 animals were adopted during the month of November.
Fall and Winter Cat Adoption Special
The Coulee Region Humane Society offered two cat adoption specials this quarter in an effort to draw more attention to the shelter’s cats and kittens. The first took place throughout the month of October, when all cats and kittens were available to adopt for $10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The second offered cats 1 year and older for a reduced adoption fee of $25. A total of 119 cats and kittens were adopted.
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Coulee Region Humane Society | 608-781-4014
Sip to Save Lives
The Coulee Region Humane Society hosted a beer and wine tasting event Oct. 3 at Java Vino in La Crosse to raise funds to benefit the homeless animals. The event, dubbed Sip to Save Lives, featured beer samples from Pearl Street Brewery, wine samples from local vendors, live music, starring the “GrassRun Band,” hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. The shelter raised more than $6,400 in donations and about 125 people attended. CRHS plans to host another tasting in fall 2015.
Dahl Subaru Adoption Event - Share the Love
Dahl Subaru and the Coulee Region Humane Society joined Best Friends Animal Society and the No More Homeless Pets Network for a two-day adoption event Dec. 12-13 at Dahl Subaru in La Crosse. Dogs and small animals were available to adopt at the dealership, and cats were available at the shelter. The adoption fees for all small animals and cats were fee-waived. Twenty cats were approved for adoption and three dogs found their forever homes.
Trick-or-Treating for Animals
Shelter volunteers, staff members and Pet Therapy teams went Trick-or-Treating for donations this Halloween in hopes of raising money for the homeless animals at the Coulee Region Humane Society. The shelter raised more than $290 and received an abundance of donations from its Wish List, including bleach, peanut butter, Milk Bones, towels, hay, kitty litter and dog and cat food.
www.couleehumane.com
Pictured from left to right, Alyssa Longhway, Betsie Nachtigal, Heather Hankins and Amber Grosch.
On a mission to
SAVE THEM ALL Four Coulee Region Humane Society staff members joined leaders of the no-kill movement, experts in animal care and behavior, experienced marketers and fundraisers, animal welfare professionals, rescue groups and volunteers on a mission to save homeless animals around the globe at the Best Friends National Conference Oct. 2014. Hosted by Best Friends Animal Society—a leading no-kill animal shelter located in Kanab, Utah— the national conference took place Oct. 23-26 in Las Vegas, Nev. and featured such animal welfare industry phenomena as Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Scott Giacoppo, Dr. Emily Weiss, Seth Casteel and Jackson Galaxy.
Coulee Region representatives were able to attend the conference thanks to a generous donation and help from the La Crosse Community Foundation. “The conference was very exciting because everyone there has the goal of saving them all,” said Heather Hankins, executive director at CRHS. “Everyone was working together, sharing ideas and helping each other.” CRHS returned to Wisconsin with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, feeling encouraged and renewed. The shelter hopes to attend the conference again next year.
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combining efforts
pet therapy & education Since the Coulee Region Humane Society’s establishment in 1971, the shelter has operated successful pet therapy and education departments. The departments; however, have always been run as separate entities. Until now. “The two departments are very intertwined,” said Heather Hankins, executive director at CRHS. “When we’re talking education we’re almost always talking pet therapy. “I had hoped we could combine the departments before, so when Erin approached me it was perfect.” Erin Olson was hired Nov. 2013 as the shelter’s pet therapy coordinator. She has a background in art therapy from Mount Mary University and has worked to provide therapeutic relief to people throughout her career in a variety of different places, including juvenile detention centers, alternative high schools and impatient psychiatric institutes for adolescents. Olson applied at CRHS when she moved back to La Crosse in 2013. She had volunteered at the shelter
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years ago and loved the idea of working with animals. Olson worked with three different education coordinators during her first year at CRHS and stepped in as the interim education coordinator twice. Having had experience working both positions, she felt combining the departments made perfect sense. “I can see a lot of untapped potential in combining education and pet therapy,” Olson said. “It opens us up to the public more and it’s beneficial for the shelter.” Hankins received approval from the shelter’s Board of Directors Nov. 2014 to integrate the departments. Olson immediately hit the ground running. “Erin’s been great in this role,” Hankins said. “We knew this would come with challenges, but if anyone can do it she can. She’s an amazing fit.” “My focus for 2015 is rebuilding the education program,” Olson said. “And the sky is the limit. I’m excited.”
Kota Coulee Region Humane Society | 608-781-4014
Meet the Board:
Kris Nandory Kris Nandory, business manager and enrollment coordinator at Misty’s Dance Unlimited, and her pet guinea pig, Kirby. Coulee Region Humane Society Board of Directors.
The Coulee Region Humane Society’s Board of Directors is made up of nine individuals from all throughout the Onalaska area. Kris Nandory, business manager and enrollment coordinator at Misty’s Dance Unlimited, is one of them. Nandory began her journey at CRHS as a volunteer and has been a pivotal part of the shelter for about 15 years. The following is a Q&A with Nandory. Give us the lowdown. Where are you from? Are you married? Do you have kids? I’m originally from Beloit, Wis. I needed more action in my life so I moved to Madison for college and
www.couleehumane.com
met my hubby, Scott. We moved to Onalaska when we got married in 1996. We don’t have any kids – at least not any two-legged kind…
Tater Tot has passed on, but we still have two wonderful boys, Meatball and Kirby. One of the best parts of my day is snuggling on the couch and watching some TV with a pig right under my neck.
Where do you work, and what exactly do you do for a living? I am the Business Manager and Enrollment Coordinator for Misty’s Dance Unlimited. I seriously love my job! I work with inspiring people who do incredible things for our community.
What are you hobbies/favorite pastimes? I’m kind of a TV and movie junkie. I love to scrapbook and make cards, and I love entertaining.
When and how did you get involved with the Coulee Region Humane Society? I started out as a volunteer cleaning dog kennels about 15 years ago. Then, when I worked for Classic Hits 94.7, I had the pleasure of interviewing the previous director each week on the air. Years later, a friend invited my husband to consider a position on the Board of Directors. I ripped the application out of his hands and the rest is history, I guess. Tell me about your pets. We have a very sweet yellow lab named Indy. She’s the light in my day. She’s 8 years old and LOVES tennis balls! We rescued three guinea pigs from CRHS a few years ago. They have their own room!
If you were an animal, which animal would you be? Maybe a Downy Woodpecker. They are beautiful creatures and I’d have a pretty good view of the world. What about CRHS makes you the most proud? The staff and volunteers are so incredibly dedicated to helping animals. It’s really heart-warming to be surrounded by them. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about life since your involvement at CRHS? Sometimes all you need to do is ask. The love that this community has for helping animals is awesome! What would your life be like without animals? I’d be in a strait jacket somewhere…
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Happy Endings |||
Cerebral palsy is a health condition marked by impaired muscle coordinator and/or other disabilities. It is typically caused by damage to the brain before or during birth. Holmen resident Dustin Henslin was born with cerebral palsy. Similarly, cerebral hypoplasia, found only in cats and dogs, stems from an underdeveloped cerebellum at birth, which also affects muscle coordination. Weeble, a 1-year-old orange and white tiger cat, was born with cerebral hypoplasia. Weeble was surrendered to the Coulee Region Humane Society Oct. 2014. His former owner could no longer care for him, given his health condition.
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Weeble When Henslin learned about Weeble’s disability and discovered that he was available for adoption, Henslin immediately put in his application. And after a successful meet and greet at the shelter, Henslin was approved for adoption. “I didn’t choose to be born with cerebral palsy,” he said. “And the same goes for Weeble. He didn’t choose to be born with cerebral hypoplasia.” “Every animal deserves a home,” Henslin said, despite their medical condition. Having been diagnosed with a similar neurological disorder, Henslin knew firsthand what it meant to care for Weeble.
Coulee Region Humane Society | 608-781-4014
Because Weeble struggles with coordination and balance, very much like Henslin does, Henslin keeps a close eye on Weeble as he roams throughout the house. If Weeble tries to jump down from a high surface, Henslin provides a helping hand. If he approaches the stairs much too quickly, Henslin walks up or down them, right by Weeble’s side. Henslin knows how much exercise Weeble can handle, and he knows when it’s time to rest. But Henslin also knows that Weeble is strong and isn’t as fragile as some may think. In many ways, Henslin said, Weeble reminds him of himself as kid: Determined, brave and a little stubborn. “If there’s something he can’t do,” Henslin said, “he does it anyways. Ask my friends and family, I was the same way.”
think they can’t do something because of their condition. “But that’s what motivates me — and Weeble. It’s like, this is what you think I can do and this is what I can actually do.” Weeble continues to prove that he is more than capable of getting around like any other cat, Henslin said. He runs, jumps and loves to play, especially with the laser pointer. And more often than not, Weeble encourages Henslin to remain positive and optimistic. “He’s a constant reminder for me to keep going,” Henslin said, “and to embrace who you are. “Life is what you make of it, and it is so worth living.”
Weeble
Henslin was given leg braces to help him walk, but he proved he didn’t need them after dedicated physical therapy. The same thing happened when Henslin was put in a wheelchair and given a walker for aid. “Sometimes I see people with different disabilities and some don’t want to try,” Henslin said. “They
Dustin Henslin and Weeble
www.couleehumane.com
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Saving Lives through foster care Homeless cats, dogs and small animals now have higher odds of finding their forever home thanks to the Coulee Region Humane Society’s foster care program. The program, established Aug. 2014, allows the public to care for an animal at home until he or she is approved for adoption. Since its implementation, 75 animals have been placed in foster care homes. More than 90 percent of them have been adopted. “Most of them wouldn’t have survived without the foster care program,” said Alyssa Longhway, the shelter’s volunteer and foster care coordinator. CRHS has wanted to offer a foster care program to the public for more than seven years, but because of potential liabilities, the humane society was unsure. Nevertheless, everyone was convinced after shelter representatives returned with outstanding news from attending multiple animal welfare conferences and meeting with fellow humane societies, whose foster care programs have found tremendous success. “There were a lot of uncertanties,” said Heather Hankins, executive director at CRHS. “But knowing that this is a huge life-
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saving effort really helped us put all of that aside.” CRHS needs a wide variety of foster parents for the many cats, dogs and small animals in need. Animal’s needs vary as much as human’s, Longhway said, and each one is different. “The foster care program is for our population of animals that probably wouldn’t survive if they didn’t get foster care,” she said. “It’s for the animals that need someone right now.” The shelter needs at least 20 more foster homes for the upcoming “kitten season,” which takes place during the spring, summer and even fall seasons. “Stray and pregnant cats are a huge component to the foster care program,” Longhway said. “For some, it’s life or death.” To learn more about fostering a homeless animal, contact Longhway at alyssa.longhway@couleehumane.com or call CRHS at 608-781-4014. Foster care applications are available at the shelter, located at 911 Critter Court in Onalaska, or online at www.couleehumane.com. A qualified foster care parent must live within 30 minutes of CRHS in the case of an emergency. Resident pets must be up-to-date on all vaccinations. In some instances, resident pets must also be altered. “The foster care program has been huge for the shelter,” Longhway said. “Our biggest goal for 2015 is to just get more fosters so we can save more lives.”
Coulee Region Humane Society | 608-781-4014
Hi, I’m Sydney! I’m this month’s featured pet! I arrived at the Coulee Region Humane Society six months ago. I was picked up by an Animal Control officer July 2014 and have been here ever since. I’m the longest term cat at the shelter right now! I’m a really sweet girl — I promise! I love to nap, lounge around and be close to people. For the last three months, I’ve been living as an office cat in one of the shelter’s offices. I prefer to hang out with the staff members and help them with their everyday tasks. I especially like to sit right next to or in front of their monitors on their desks. I get lots of hugs and kisses when I’m there! When I’m not helping out with projects and other assignments, I love to hang out on the top of my cat tree and bird watch. This is also a fantastic spot for napping. Recently, a couple of shelves were installed in the office for me and my fellow office cats to sit on. I really like to sleep on them, too! Although I love to be around people, and also do great with other animals, I do have an independent side. It can be overwhelming for me when there’s a lot going on, so please be patient and let me come to you. But don’t worry, it doesn’t take long for me to come around and get comfortable. I’ll be your new best friend in no time!
STATS Name: Sydney Age: 3 years Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Brown Tiger
Gender: Female - Spayed Compatibility: Gets along well with people, cats and dogs, given proper introduction.
FYI: Sydney is experiencing an
extended stay at the humane society. In hopes of finding her forever home, her adoption fee has been reduced to $30!
Sydney Portraits by Hilary Running
www.couleehumane.com
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The following children, youth groups and adolescent organizations donated funds and supplies to our shelter this quarter to help the hundreds of animals we care for on a daily basis. This list does not include the many, many generous adults and business that have donated to our shelter this quarter. Thank you! Paw Palz Emerson Elementary Carter Hayes Emma Hayes Madison Weeden Kianna Fiers Chris Hansen Rainna Vue Melanie Cary Maya Sbraggia Eric & Krista Pearson Andy & Connie Hudziwski Daniel Hudzinski Elizabeth & Monica Bowen Dianne Kurtz Maxwell Wills
2015 Pet Licensing & Tag Days La Crosse County residents are now able to license their pets for the 2015 calendar year at the Coulee Region Humane Society or at the city of La Crosse - City Hall. Licensing is due Jan. 30. CRHS will host its annual Tag Days event in March to remind pet owners to license before a late fee is applied April 1.
Bingo to benefit S.N.A.P. The Coulee Region Humane Society will host a Bingo fundraiser event from 5-8 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Struck-Klandrud Post 336 Onalaska American Legion, located at 731 Sand Lake Road in Onalaska. All proceeds will go to benefit the shelter’s Spay and Neuter Assistance Program, S.N.A.P., which helps incomeeligible pet owners alter their pets.
Coulee Chase 5K/3K Fun Run The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will host its annual Coulee Chase 5k/3k Fun Run March 7 at Myrick Park. The run is organized by the athletic trainers at UW-L in recognition of National Athletic Training Month in March. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support the homeless animals at the Coulee Region Humane Society. Last year, the university donated $617 dollars to the shelter.
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Save the Date!
Thank you!
Coulee Region Humane Society | 608-781-4014
Wish List Animal and Kennel Care
• Kong stuffers—small treats, peanut butter, spray cheese • Toys for cats—little mice with a tail and bell on the end, balls, etc. • Toys for dogs—sturdy, squeaky toys, Kongs, etc. • Rawhide bones or chips—items to keep our dogs busy • Pig ears • Dog treats—soft and hard • Dry cat food—Science Diet, Eukanuba and Purina • Dry kitten food—Science Diet, Eukanuba and Purina • Royal Canin Babycat 34 dry food • Dry dog food—Science Diet, Eukanuba, Iams and Purina • Dry puppy food—Science Diet, Eukanuba, Iams and Purina • Clay cat litter (non-clumping) • Leashes—1-inch thick and 4-6 feet long • Martingale collars for dogs • Feliway spray—behavior modification • Carefresh bedding • Newspapers • Guinea pig food • Timothy Hay • Aspen shavings or chips (no pine or cedar) • Small animal food—birds, ferrets, hamsters, rabbits, turtles, etc. • Small animal litter • Fresh carrots and romaine lettuce for small animals • 12-inch diameter metal oil pans (to use as little pans) • Pooper Scoopers—heavy duty • Dish rags/wash cloths • Gas gift cards (transportation of animals to vet clinics, CVIs, etc.) • Gift cards to buy supplies— Target, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, PETCO, PetSmart, Wags and Whiskers, etc. • Gift cards to buy building supplies—Farm and Fleet, Home Depot, Menard’s, etc. • Aluminum cans to support spay and neuter program
www.couleehumane.com
Office Supplies
• Small gift bags to send info home with adopters • Stamps • Copy paper—8.5X11, plain white
Cleaning Supplies • • • • •
Laundry detergent for washers Garbage bags—33 and 33 gallons Windex Paper towels Kleenex
Education
• Gift cards to buy craft supplies— Hobby Lobby, Michaels, WalMart, etc.
Pet Therapy
• Avery High Visibility labels— Inkjet #8293—1 1/2 inch diameter • Gift cards to buy office supplies —Target, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Office Max, Office Depot, etc.
Urgent Meat-flavored baby food—no onion or garlic powder Royal Canin Kitten Food Cat scratchers— stretchandscratch.com Canned cat food—loaf please, no meats in gravy/sauce Kitten Milk Replacer—KMR brand Dry kitten food—Science Diet, Eukanuba and Purina Bleach
Argentina // Adopted Dec.2014 10 | Winter 2015 Edition
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID La Crosse WI 54601 Permit No. 61
911 Critter Court Onalaska WI 54650
We’re going digital! The Animal Tribune is now available to view online at www.issuu.com. In an effort to better care for the homeless animals, the Coulee Region Humane Society will only print hard copies of the quarterly newsletter if it is requested from now on. To request a printed edition of the Animal Tribune, please check the appropriate box listed on the enclosed envelope and return to the shelter by April 1. Please note your email address on the enclosed envelope if you are not already on the shelter’s email list and return to the Coulee Region Humane Society by April 1. Anyone that does not indicate his or her preference for a printed edition will be automatically placed on our email list and receive an online version of the publication from now on. This will be your last printed issue of the Animal Tribune.
Cynthia
Regina
Portraits by Hilary Running
Please call 608-781-4014 or email samantha.luhmann@ couleehumane.com for more information.