Dane County Humane Society’s
Fall 2014 • Issue 4
Fostering Love Can you provide some extra TLC?
Humane Education A Bird’s-Eye View Journey To A Silver Lining
12 Pages Of What You Helped Make Happen
Love animals, but can’t adopt now?
Sponsor an animal as it awaits a forever home. For more information, go to giveshelter.org/sponsor-an-animal.html
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12 Pages Of What You Helped Make Happen
Humane Education
Pam McCloud Smith Executive Director
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Rewind
Family Gatherings Fast Forward
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Adoption Updates
Family Scrapbook What’s New Kitty Cat?
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Fostering Love
Some Extra TLC Fostering Success
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the more we can put toward helping this guy!
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A Bird’s-Eye View
Family Care
Kids Making A Difference
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Journey To A Silver Lining
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Wag That Tail & I Like The Way You Move
Thank you!
Pam McCloud Smith, Executive Director
Dear Friends, Even though we just said goodbye to the children who attended our Camp Pawprint this summer, we are already making plans for furthering our youth education programs for next year. It was a very successful camp season. We saw an increase not only in attendees, but also in the number of scholarships given to children in low-income families. We greatly value the importance of humane education for all children. Research has shown that animals are a natural bridge to teaching children empathy, responsibility and philanthropy. Children demonstrate an instinctive urge to protect and nurture animals. By unlocking and nurturing that urge, we can help raise children to see beyond their own self interests and feel a responsibility toward others. This is the seed of philanthropy that Dane County Humane Society is striving to plant within our community through our humane education programs. At DCHS, we go far beyond the basics of educating prospective pet owners and helping to train adopters; we also provide a large number of community-wide education and outreach programs for children. We are out in our community, giving humane education presentations to children in Dane County classrooms. We offer children’s birthday parties, held in the training room at DCHS, an interesting, fun and educational option. And other programs like Humane Heroes, a monthly meeting of youth volunteers, and Critter Cuddlers, a weekly kids volunteer program, are helping to encourage community youth to learn more about animals and animal well-being. We believe this kind of education fosters a community of animal-aware and civic-minded young people who can spread DCHS’s mission here in Dane County and beyond. A great man once said, “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.” We are committed to the benefits of youth humane education in order to help pave the way toward a humane future.
Pam McCloud Smith, Executive Director Dane County Humane Society|giveshelter.org
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Family Gatherings
<< Rewind Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days On May 31 and June 1, DCHS was honored to be among the 200 animal shelters from across the U.S. invited to participate in Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days. The Maddie’s Fund® earmarked $10 million as a way to give back to the participating organizations, donating up to $2,000 per adopted dog or cat. Five local organizations (DCHS, Dane County Friends of Ferals, Angel’s Wish, Friends of Noah, and Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin) were among the organizations across the country working together to find loving homes for 10,000 shelter animals in just two days. Thanks to you, we found many great DCHS animals new homes, including 86 animals who were senior and/or had treatable illnesses. Additionally, we raised about $150,000 for DCHS.
Mallards Game: Bark in the Park It was a night for the dogs on July 25 when hometown Madison Mallards hosted the visiting Lakeshore Chinooks. Mallards fans were invited to the Duck Pond stadium for a special evening to benefit DCHS, as owners and their pooches made their way into the ballpark for Bark in the Park. Although the Mallards couldn’t pull off the win, Bark in the Park raised over $1,000 through a suspenseful 50/50 raffle, and a percentage of game ticket sales. Thank you to the nearly 6,000 people that came out and supported DCHS!
Kids Extravaganza On July 27, DCHS hosted our annual Kids Extravaganza. The celebration honors and recognizes the hard work of our youth volunteers. The event was a huge success with more than 80 families attending. Kids hopped around in Sweet Pea Bouncy’s bouncy castles and ate Schoep’s ice cream. They learned about bats and nature by visiting the BatCOW and Aldo Leopold Center booths. Their faces were painted by MetamorFaces, and they even created superhero rings with the help of Teri Klawitter. If that weren’t enough, the Madison Circus Stilt Walkers and Doug the Jug provided great family entertainment. The celebration was made possible with generous sponsorship from Spectrum Brands!
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Family Tails|Fall 2014
Fast Forward >> Santa Paws Coming in December! Dane County Humane Society will be ringing in the holiday season the only way we know how - a day filled with adorable pups! Our generous community partners just down the street at the Dog Hut will once again be opening their doors for Pictures with Santa Paws. Head out to their location in McFarland this December to have your best friend’s picture taken with Santa! All it takes is a $5 donation to support our furry friends in need here at DCHS. Drinks and treats will be provided for you and your best friend while you wait to capture that perfect holiday picture. For more information on this event, you can contact Nick Pelzer at npelzer@giveshelter.org. Thank you to the Dog Hut for hosting this festive fundraiser for us every year!
Winter Camp Pawprint December 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31; January 1 & 2 Looking for something to do over your winter vacation? If you love animals, our winter Camp Pawprint session would be perfect for you! Children ages 7 – 12 are welcome to attend this week of fun and learning. Activities during this week will include service projects, games, craft projects and guest speakers! Campers will also spend time interacting with animals and learning about their care. Registration for the winter Camp Pawprint session will opened in October 2014.
Ruby’s Gala: There’s no place like home February 21, 2015 • Madison Masonic Center Mark your calendars for the 2nd annual Dane County Humane Society Ruby’s Gala on February 21, 2015. Last year’s event was such a success, and we can’t wait for you to join us this year on our journey down the yellow brick road. Ruby’s Gala was named after Natalee Cruse’s beloved Bloodhound. Ruby was found abandoned at a roadside before she eventually reached DCHS. With Natalee, Ruby found there truly was no place like home.
Dane County Humane Society|giveshelter.org
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Family Scrapbook
Adoption Updates Rupert is fitting in perfectly with his new family.
As you can see from the picture, he’s made a best friend - Jingles, the dog. He even gets along with their camera-shy cat named Oreo! When Rupert’s new family wrote, they were already making plans to register for Positively Pitties class. They also said, “We just want to thank you all again for everything you did for us last Sunday to allow us the privilege of making Rupert part of our family.”
Jodi was adopted as part of the Maddie’s free adoption program in May. As you can see from the picture she has fit nicely into her new home! Her new family writes, “It didn’t take long for her to come to an ‘understanding’ with our overly rambunctious dog either. Thank You!”
The Passing of a Friend Ike, an adorable pug, was surrendered to DCHS when he was three years old because of housetraining issues. Wayne and Joanne adopted him and discovered Ike didn’t know how to tell them he needed to go outside. Instead, he sat in front of the television and waited for them to guess what he needed! Once the code was cracked, it was no longer a problem. Ike loved sitting next to people—or even better, on their laps. Moreover, he loved his food even more! Ike also enjoyed traveling with his people in their truck. They drove many places, including Florida and New York. Ike was good in hotels, although sometimes he would lie in bed with them, hiding under the covers and growling softly at other people’s noise.
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Family Tails|Fall 2014
Hopper was adopted in May after recovering from a leg amputation. He’s fully healed and looks very happy in his new home. Hopper’s new parents wrote, he “is doing great, and we both love him to pieces!”
As Ike got older, he wore a coat to keep him warm outside in the winter. He lost many teeth and switched from kibble to canned food. Eventually he couldn’t eat canned food, so Wayne cooked chicken and rice, running it through the food processor so Ike didn’t have to chew it. Hip dysplasia and arthritis made it hard for Ike to get around and his eyesight and hearing diminished. Wayne and Joanne continued providing lots of loving care for Ike. At the amazing age of 22 years, Ike died quietly at home. He’s buried in their yard with his favorite toys and a sirloin steak. >> Written by Sue Dottl
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What’s New Kitty Cat? Introducing a cat to the family
You’ve just adopted your newest family member, a purring bundle of fur. What’s the best way to introduce him/her to the rest of your kitty family? The first step is to isolate the new kitty in a separate room with its own food, water, litter box and toys. This allows each cat to adjust gradually to the scent and sounds of the other cat. Once a veterinarian has deemed the new cat healthy, limited interaction may occur under the door. Continue the gradual introduction by exchanging bedding between cats, and rubbing a cloth around one cat’s mouth and leaving that cloth in the other cat’s space, or rubbing a cloth alternately on each cat. Let the new kitty have exploration of the house on its own so it’s familiar with the whole living quarters (remember to isolate the existing cats). As cats start to exhibit curiosity about each other, reward friendly behavior with treats and praise. At this
point, short, supervised, direct interactions can begin. For the initial exposure, have one cat in a carrier and allow the other cats to approach. Feeding both cats at the same time can reduce stress as well. Following this, allow cats to walk around and sniff each other. Continue to reward friendly behavior. Gradually increase the supervised time together. Do not leave the cats together unsupervised until several supervised interactions without aggression have occurred. The process of introducing a new cat may take several weeks. Older cats may need a quiet space away from kittens for an extended period of time. Friendly, wellsocialized cats may adapt to each other rapidly. We have many kitties at DCHS that would make wonderful family members! Check them out at giveshelter.org. From the American Association of Feline Practitioners
Dane County Humane Society|giveshelter.org
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Fostering Love by Beth Rodgers
Each year more than 5,000 animals come through the doors at DCHS. More than 10% of them will need foster care, such as the litter of orphaned kittens too young to feed or care for themselves, or the sniffly cat who needs a quiet home away from the stress of the shelter to kick a cold. That’s where foster parents come in. They provide a temporary home these and other animals need to return to health and adoptability. We at DCHS are fortunate to have more than 75 foster families to call on when one of our animals needs special care. Last year alone they provided care for more than 700 animals! They fostered all manner of animals - dogs, cats, critters and even horses. Sadly, even with 75 fosters we struggle to find people who can provide temporary care for our most vulnerable animals - the neonate kittens and cats with colds. If you’re interested in fostering a neonate kitten (or a whole litter!) be prepared for some hard work. As a neonate foster parent, you’ll do everything mom would do including round-the-clock feedings, cleaning up waste, potty and manners training and more. But with great sacrifice comes great reward. When you return your foster kittens to the shelter they’ll be healthy, grown, strong and ready to find a forever home. And when they get adopted, your heart is guaranteed to swell with pride and happiness knowing you played a crucial role in giving them a great start. Cris, a longtime neonate foster says, “The most rewarding part of fostering neonates is knowing I have saved the life of a kitten whose odds of surviving would have been low. Watching their determination and growth inspires me to live my life to the fullest!”
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Family Tails|Fall 2014
Fostering Success Finding Nemo
If fostering neonates seems a little intense, there are plenty of other opportunities. Consider offering a place in your home where a cat can recover from an upper respiratory infection. Often cats do better fighting their colds away from the stress of the shelter. You’d provide a quiet space, TLC and maybe even give medication, but don’t worry we’ll show you how. You can be assured you’ll feel great when your foster starts to feel better and is healthy enough for adoption. There’s nothing better than watching your foster find a forever home and knowing that you made it possible.
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While our foster parents primarily care for cats, we also need foster homes for dogs, rabbits and even mice and gerbils. If you have a desire to help animals in need, we have got opportunities for you. The first step in fostering is to fill out an application. Then you’ll need to attend two orientations (one for volunteers and one specifically tailored toward fostering). If you are interested in fostering neonates we also provide specialized training to start you off on the right foot.
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For more information on fostering, please visit our website at www.giveshelter.org/foster-care-4.html or contact the foster department at dchsfoster@giveshelter.org.
Your love can make the difference!
March 31
Nemo needed some additional tender loving care. He went to a foster home and just look at his transformation! With some extra love, we found a wonderful guy named Nemo. Dane County Humane Society|giveshelter.org
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Family Care
A Bird’s-Eye
View Four Lakes Wildlife Center (FLWC) is proud of two in-house, high-definition, solar-powered cameras used to monitor rehabilitated raptors in captivity. The cameras, designed by students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, are part of a system that was constructed into the organization’s 50-foot flight pen. The purpose of the system, according to staff member Jackie Edmunds, “is to monitor the physical activities and behaviors of raptors during the rehabilitation process, including: foraging habits, attitude, interaction with other birds (positive or negative), the ability to catch live prey (important in determining if the bird is fit to feed itself in the wild after release), and improvement in flight (Is the bird lethargic? Over time, does the bird fly more frequently? How well does it fly after a major injury such as a wing fracture?)” “Raptors become stressed in captivity, and the longer the captivity, the greater the stress,” noted Edmunds. When an FLWC volunteer or staff member enters the flight pen, the birds may fly into the walls or ceiling, trying to escape. “We do our very best to minimize contact with these birds, so having cameras in the pens allows us to monitor them without disturbance,” Edmunds said. She added that the goal is to analyze video footage for research,
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Family Tails|Fall 2014
Kids Making A Difference Young people, as individuals and groups, raise an impressive amount of money to help the animals at DCHS. They sell lemonade, bake cookies, make greeting cards by hand, hold fundraisers and community drives, and much more to help animals at the shelter. A few examples of kids’ projects this year: •
Maya hand-made greeting cards and sold them at local grocery stores. She raised $1,002.
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Girls on the Run of Dane County donated the $1,682 they earned during their annual fundraiser.
hawks, falcons and owls - are birds of prey that hunt and feed on other animals.
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The Monona School District held a districtwide drive and contributed $350.
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Junior Girl Scout Troop 2699 donated money from their annual community fundraiser. They raised $225.
to quantify improvements of the birds, and to offer educational opportunities for the public, allowing more people to learn about raptors and the FLWC rehabilitation program though on-line and live-stream footage.
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Badger Ridge Middle School 8th Graders held a classroom drive and raised $335.
Raptors - which include eagles,
UW-Platteville engineering students are well-known for their hard work and commitment, and the students were fully engaged in building a well-constructed, meaningful engineering masterpiece. They also appreciated being part of a project that helps animals and gives back to the community. The school funded the project. FLWC and The Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement were two of a select few outside organizations that partnered with UW-Platteville in the project.
There are many more examples, and kids continue to amaze us with their enthusiasm and hard work. We couldn’t do it without you! Thank you all so much!
>> Written by Ginni Freshour
Cleopatra & Captain
Dane County Humane Society|giveshelter.org
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Journey To A
Please note: Sandy’s story is important, but the topic may be too sensitive for some readers. Please take care.
There’s not always a happy ending, but sometimes there’s a silver lining. I first met Sandy as she was being led out of the exam room in the shelter medical clinic. I smelled her first - an overpowering odor I’d unfortunately smelled before. She smelled sour and forgotten. When Sandy came into view, I could see she was indeed a forgotten dog. She probably should have weighed about 80 pounds, but she was barely hitting 60. She was emaciated with literally half a coat. Sandy’s fur was scruffy, matted and flaked with dandruff. Her skin was crusted and scaly and flaking in places, callused in others. As she was being led back to her kennel, I asked the vet why she thought Sandy looked so bad. The vet said Sandy had been found in a field, abandoned and was suffering from a scabies infection (AKA mange). Sandy stayed on my mind, so I stopped by her kennel the next day. She was tired, asleep on her cot. Since she had mange, she had several kennel restrictions. If I wanted to go in with her, I needed to wear a gown and gloves. I put on my protective gear and went in to say hello. She was a bit timid, but eager for a treat and some head scratches. Up close, I could see how skinny she really was. Her skin looked like a Shar Pei’s, wrinkling up on her legs and around her ribs. Her hipbones jutted out sharply. Probably the most striking thing about Sandy was what the scabies infection did to her skin. It had turned her skin scaly; her coat was greasy and didn’t smell good. Occasionally clumps of fur and dead skin stuck to my gloves as I petted her. The skin on her muzzle was so thickened it looked like an elephant’s hide. Nevertheless, she was comfortable, more comfortable than I imagine she had been in a long time. I snapped a few photos and said goodbye for now. I checked in on Sandy whenever I could. Each time her skin looked better. She was receiving medication and baths that she wasn’t all that fond of. Slowly the scales fell off and the odor lessened.
Silver Lining Soon her restrictions were lifted and I could take her to the yard for some fresh air. She’d do her business, sniff around, just enjoying the sunshine. I’d always bring a few treats with me and she eagerly scarfed them down. She never wanted to stay out too long. I expect she’d had enough of outside and just wanted to return to the comfort of her bed, where she had a warm dry place to sleep and good food to eat. I was really rooting for the old girl. I wanted her to recover, fatten up and grow gorgeous new fur. I wanted to see her healthy and happy and loved. But it wasn’t going to go that way. After a month of treatment, Sandy’s skin looked better, but it wasn’t fully healed like it should have been. She wasn’t putting on much weight, and she had begun to have trouble walking, even falling down at times and needing help returning to her feet. She wasn’t healthy, and despite our best efforts, she wasn’t going to be. I wasn’t surprised to learn that she had been euthanized. This was not the happy ending I had so wanted for her. You may wonder why I’m telling you my bittersweet story of Sandy. I, too, wondered if I should share it. While I think it’s important to celebrate our successes, I think it’s as important to recognize our losses. It validates our feelings and it validates the animal. The more I thought about Sandy, I began to think she was happy. She enjoyed her time in her kennel, in the yard and with the volunteers. So many left encouraging notes on her walk sheet. “Sweet girl!” “Lovely lady!” and “Please give
Artist Emmy Thorson-Hanson was so moved by Sandy’s story that it inspired her to create this beautiful work. You can see the full sketch at www.facebook.com/pawstels
this girl a chance!” She made such an impression on those she met. She made an impression on me with her deep brown eyes and the sadness that must have been her life before someone brought her to the relative ease of DCHS. Instead of dying in a field from starvation or illness or violence, she died in a place where people loved her. We couldn’t save her, but I think we gave her some peace, and that is the silver lining. >> Written by Beth Rodgers
I Like the Way You Move Pet-Friendly Apartments
Moving can be horrible. Emory University’s HealthStatus. com counts moving as one of life’s five most stressful events. When pets are part of your family, it can get even tougher. Fortunately, you can get free help. Start on Dane County Humane Society’s web page. There you’ll find a list of pet-friendly apartments. At the bottom of the page is information about which types of animal each property allows. The best place for your pet is with you.
Wag that Tail!
How to say hello to a new dog! So you get to the park, and there are dogs everywhere. Or you’re just walking down the street and you suddenly spot a big dog - a lab or a pit bull - heading your way. You love dogs, so you want to rush out, arms waving, and pat everything in sight. Don’t do it! You’ll have a much happier experience if you STOP and let the dog meet you.
Once you’ve found the perfect place to move into, you just have to get through moving day. This can be incredibly hard on animals, and the occasion of many escapes. Consider placing the animals in a kennel or at a friend’s house for the day. Then, once the movers have packed up and gone, you can bring the animals home to their new house. Show the cats immediately where their litter boxes are. Food and water bowls for everybody should be next. Pet beds and cat trees will provide familiar places and smells. Spend the evening in dispensing cuddles and reassurance. And welcome home!
Rebekah Klemm is on the Canine Behavior Team at Dane County Humane Society. She says the first thing you should do when meeting a new dog is carefully observe it. Is it moving around and wagging its tail? Beware of a dog that’s standing rigidly and staring. Assuming the dog’s body language invites you closer, extend your hand and let the dog smell you, then gently scratch its chest. This can evolve into all-over pats. Always get the owner’s permission first, if possible. When it’s your dog on the other end of the leash, having a baggie full of treats is a big help in meeting strangers. You can teach children to place a treat on the flat of their hand and extend it down low where the dog can slurp it up. That way teeth never meet tiny fingers and tails wag.
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www.giveshelter.org/pet-friendly-apartments.html >> Both articles written by Mary Lou Finnegan
I Like the Way You Move Pet-Friendly Apartments
Dane County Humane Society 5132 Voges Road Madison, WI 53718 www.giveshelter.org
helping people help animals
thanks to you!