News from Heartland Animal Shelter
Kennel Chronicles Spring 2013 - Volume 3 - Edition 2
CASTAWAY SAILS HOME! www.heartlandanimalshelter.net
www.issuu.com/heartlandanimalshelter
Thank You The volunteers at Heartland Animal Shelter want to thank Stephanie for her five years of saving lives! Stephanie has been a spokesperson for the shelter and has done an excellent job of being director as well! Unfortunately she will be leaving us – but we’ll always have the memories! Her dedication is so inspirational and her smile is infectious. Heartland will not be the same without her! We will miss you Stephanie1 Best of luck in your future endeavors.
Table of contents REGULAR COLUMNS Thank you! → Inside Cover Coming Soon → 5 What’s New → 8 Going Home → Back Cover
IN THIS ISSUE
Flood Safety → 1 Mosquito Safety → 2 Suds of Love → 3 Dog walking Updates → 3 Adopting a Black Dog → 4 Videographers Needed → 5 Apiril Events Recap! → 6 Walk of Love → 6 Dog Bite Reminders → 7 Dog Walking Reminders → Back Cover
GOING HOME
Castaways’s Going Home story is on Back Cover
CONTRIBUTORS WRITING: Paula Burgeson (V), Dog Care Committee (V & S) / PHOTOGRAPHY: Paula Burgeson (V), Microsoft Clip Art, NPIC and many great volunteers! INFORMATION AND STORY IDEAS: Dog Care Committee (V & S), Paula Burgeson (V), Staff (Volunteers are labeled with a V, Staff labeled with an S)
In April 2013, the Chicagoland Area was hit with a flash flood that many of us were unprepared for. As roadways shut down, power went out and life changed over night, residents were left with few dry possessions as everything from basements to streets filled with water. Even Heartland’s basement and dog walking areas were affected. But here are some tips from the American Humane Society about being ready for the next one:
• Never let animals drink water in puddles: This is because standing water can contain sewage or chemicals that would not be healthy to ingest • Inspect standing water for broken glass or other objects that could have been part of an object that was broken during a flash flood and was washed away • When using food from a fridge always inspect it before feeding it to an animal. Should power have gone out for a prolonged period of time and the food doesn’t look or smell right, throw it out. It’s much easier to replace a can of food than an animal. • Check for downed power lines near where you may walk your dog. This is a simple step that can help save your dog’s life and yours! • Check for signs of stress if an animal isn’t behaving like he or she normally does. This is a commonly overlooked problem after storms, as people check for physical damage of property, but remember to comfort animals after an event like this. If an animal is displaying signs of unusual aggression or sensitivity, alert a staff member right away! • Carry a leash with you at all times! Many of us do this already, but in a scary storm animals can slip away from their families or volunteers. It can easily take twisting an ankle in deep mud or slipping in a puddle to let go of a leash. It’s better to always have one with you, just in case!
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For more tips about keeping pets safe during a flood, please visit: http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/10-tips-to-keepchildren-and-1.html
Mosquito Safety The rising water of the Des Plaines River has cause a few significant areas of standing water which in turn create large breeding grounds for mosquitos. As discussed in previous editions of the Chronicles, mosquitos are the only carrier for heartworm. It’s important that volunteers understand the risks of a simple mosquito bite so that we can keep the animals safe an healthy as the weather gets warmer.
• Change water bowls frequently. In the nice weather, we tend to let dogs play outside in the runs with a bowl of refreshing water. Not only is it important to change the water in between dogs to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, but leaving something as small as a dog bowl could create a mosquito breeding ground. • Stay out of the marsh. It may have great scents to a dog, but refrain from letting them near or in standing water as it could have many mosquitos just waiting to bite. By staying on dry grass, you’ll have a lesser chance of being bit by mosquitos. • If you notice that a dog door or human door to the outside looks loose, or doesn’t shut tightly, please let a staff member know. It only takes one mosquito to come in an possibly infect all the animals. • Do not use DEET repellent on animals. While it’s a great repellent for people, DEET is not approved for use on animals and while there are insect repellents for animals, please check with a staff member before even purchasing the product as some can cause allergic reactions on our animals. • Change is coming! Although last year’s early spring predicted a lot of mosquitos, this year’s flooding may create even more. However, volunteer Don B. did some great research and found an approved, natural grass spray that will hopefully reduce the number of mosquitos we see this year. Thanks! For more tips about keeping pets safe around mosquitos, please visit: http://www.hartz.com/Dogs/Health/Parasite_Protection/mosquito_bites_and_ your_dog.aspx
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Suds of Love Warning: Do not try this at Home! Heartland would love to thank everyone who generously donated to our spring “Suds of Love” campaign! This money helped us buy our new industrial washer and dryer! If you’ve been at Heartland long enough, you know how much laundry is made! We wore our poor old machines out and it was long overdue for us to buy new ones! Do you know how they even got those machines in? If Tom hasn’t told you the story yet, it’s a good one! The machines were actually too big to come in through the training hall entrance to the training hall, so the installation crew actually had to go around the training hall (behind the Dumpsters) and through one of the back garage-door style doors! The new machines are actually also attached to the floor, so they’re not going anywhere any time soon!
Understanding the Authorized Walkers List Recently, staff member Renee has put up authorized walker lists for dogs who were previously staff only. These lists are designed so that you don’t have to ask Christy or Renee every time you want to take out a staff only dog. Don’t see your name on a list of a dog you’ve walked? Simply talk to Renee! Understand she cannot grant everyone access to every dog – that’s why there are lists to begin with! It’s for your own safety and for the dog’s safety as well! If you are not on the list of approved dog walkers for a dog, know that staff will take it out before or after hours. There is no need to jeopardize your safety just to make sure it goes out. That’s what the staff members are there for! Contact Renee for any questions.
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Big Black Dogs do get adopted!
Heartland would like to congratulate Bonz (now Brooklyn) on finding a home! Sometimes black dogs are not adopted as quickly as lighter colored dogs. The public may perceive black dogs (or cats) as being more aggressive or even scary. But here are the top five reasons to adopt a “scary” big black dog:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
They look good in any color collar! Their hair is less noticeable on clothing They don’t get lost in snow They make you look 10lbs lighter They match anything you wear Some even come with white “tuxedo” marks – perfect host for any party! 7. Their teeth, by contrast, always look pearly 8. They are the classic, elegant “LBD” (that stands for Little Black Dog) 9. They never go out of style 10. They need a home almost more than any other dog! All joking aside, May 1st was national Big Black Dog day! I hope you celebrated with your favorite tall, dark and handsome dog!
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Boy! Do we have a lot of exciting things coming soon to Heartland Animal Shelter! Volunteers Julie and Allyson are nearly ready to begin painting the kennels! Staff member Christy and volunteer Paula are working on creating a new sign to go on kennel doors to eliminate the necessity of multiple signs (first draft is to the right). The Dog Care Committee is also working on creating a walking chart for people so that we know if we will be covered for a shift. This will eliminate the need for the volunteer calendar in the kitchen. The Dog Care Committee will be working on creating that and hopefully placing it in the kennels so it will be convenient for walkers to make sure they’re scheduled for the right dates and times each week.
Videographers needed
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Each year Heartland adopts out over 800 animals. That’s a lot! But it helps if each animal has a video online so potential adopters can see the animal in motion. Fear not – you do not have to be the next Ang Lee or Steven Spielberg. Anyone with a cell phone can shoot video! Currently Heartland is working on making our YouTube channel eligible for nonprofit status. This would help us link externally from our videos. Normal YouTube accounts only let users link to another video, but with a non-profit account, clicking on the video could actually bring you outside of Youtube to Heartland’s homepage or even that animal’s particular page on Petfinder! We are currently looking for volunteers to shoot video but don’t worry about editing or uploading it to Youtube. We can take care of that. What we are looking for is: • About 30 seconds of video. This could be demonstrating the pet’s good heeling technique, playfulness or obedience. • If your cell phone has the capabilities to shoot & share video, that’s great! Just remember to hold the phone sideways when shooting video. • If you are interested please email Lou (volunteer, board member) at: lbasten@comcast.net
Thank you for coming! Thank you for coming to our previous events! We hope you enjoyed our recent parties! In March we had our annual Bow-Wow Bowling and had a great turn out! Also, in April we had a Puppy & Kitten shower. This helped raise supplies and awareness for our baby animals! Lastly, we also had a wine tasting at the end of April. Heartland would like to thank D’Vine Wines and River Rand Bowling! Thank you to all volunteers who attended both events, donated raffle prizes and helped make these events possible! We couldn’t do it without you!
Upcoming events
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What’s New! Nap Time
All our furry friends say thank you for all the attention they receive, but they have requested a "Nap Time" each weekday. The staff has decided to honor this request and starting Monday, April 29th, the shelter will be closed each weekday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to volunteers and visitors. We respectfully ask volunteers to leave the building by 1 p.m. and we will re open the building to volunteers at 3 p.m.
Applications First
Currently all new visitors are being asked to fill out an application before entering the cat room or the kennels. This is to help us focus on serious potential adopters and help guide them to the right animal. It doesn’t diminish the conversations you can have with an adopter though! Instead of asking, “Do you have another dog?” now you can look at their application and say, “So tell me about your other dog!”
Like us on Facebook!
Many of our longer term animals have been through training classes, but did you know they also have taken typing? Several of our longer term animals now have created their own Facebook pages! Like them on Facebook to give added exposure to animals that may need an extra boost in advertising. Liking a page is completely free but it allows your friends to see that you have an interest in something. You never know – they may be the perfect person to adopt one of our pets! They just need to know they’re out there.
Have something new and exciting you want put in the Chronicles? Send your stories to Paula: paulakristine89@yahoo.com.
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Castaway Castaways generally refer to people or objects that are shipwrecked. These people are abandoned, and have to survive on their own before being found. The same can be said about our brindle handsome gentleman. He came to Heartland alone, looking to be found. Thanks to all the volunteers to helped him find his new family! Because of you, now Castaway is now happily adopted!
Know your limits Walking a dog is a privilege that you do have to earn at Heartland. Remember to take out dogs only you feel comfortable with. Dogs that are too big or too strong may not be a good choice if you think you cannot handle it. Also, dogs that are shy or easily startled may have different reactions than most dogs. It’s important that you trust yourself and know which dogs are right for you. This keeps everyone at the shelter safe!
Choke chain etiquette It’s important that you are properly trained on using choke chains before you put one on a dog by yourself. Recently there have been a few mistakes in sizing that lead to serious complications. If you cannot put the choke over the dog’s head when it’s full extended to it’s biggest width, please do not force it around the dog’s neck. Get the next size up! Thanks!
Ask a staff member There are few times where a visitor interaction may need to be handled by a staff member. It’s your job as a volunteer to know that if you cannot answer a question, or have a difficult conversation, that you should get a staff member. It’s much easier when customers get the right information and they trust it more coming from a reliable source. It’s important to keep the shelter a positive and friendly place! Thanks for understanding!
Collar sizing If you think a dog’s collar is too tight or too loose, please let a staff member know. It’s important that you do not try to adjust a dog’s collar yourself because they may not like being constrained while you adjust the collar or may accidentally get loose. Staff members know proper sizing for collars, and will adjust the collar accordingly as necessary. Just let them know!