Paw Prints November 2011

Paw Prints Nov 2011

Panhandle Animal Shelter NEWSLETTER

CALENDAR OF EVENTS November 10- Popovich Comedy Pet Theater at the Panida 11- Jazz for Cats at DiLunas 17- Girls Night Out at the Thrift Store December 4- Tree Lighting Celebration 2012 February 13- Westminster Party at Slates 18- Freeze Your Tail Off 26- Keg Pull March 10- DOG FUN-d-raiser

Shelter 208-265-7297

Thrift Shop 208-263-0706

Is there a biggest loser for dogs?

Barney would win!

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he doctor kept moving the stethoscope all over Barney’s body to find a heartbeatno…nothing! Barney was relinquished to the shelter and was morbidly obese. The seven year old beagle weighed 84.8 pounds- 60 pounds overweight. That’s like three and a half beagles in one beagle body! The doctor announced, “I can’t hear a heartbeat through the massive amount of blubber.”

Barney quickly became a cause for people to rally around. Volunteers showed up specifically to walk Barney. They would call the shelter to check on what Barney weighed that day. Every pound was a celebration and a point of pride for all that cared for this gentle “giant”. As he started to lose weight, more and more of his vibrant personality came through.

A previous adopter, Nancy Masten, was one of Barney’s fans. Driving in from Montana every week, Nancy would come to the shelter to walk him and check on his progress.

On one of her visits, a staff member recommended she foster Barney at her ranch where she could regulate his diet and ensure he was exercising. Barney was sure to lose more weight in an open environment where he could walk around rather than be confined in a kennel at

Recycle for the Animals

Bring your old laptops, toner cartridges, cell phones and ipods to Panhandle Animal Shelter and we’ll recycle them for you!

PAS receives a small cash bonus for recycling these items. Every penny helps us continue our mission.

www.pasidaho.org

Barney relaxing after a long calorie burning walk.

PAS. Barney is now living with Nancy and Mike Masten, his foster family, at the Amber Bear Inn in Montana. He has lost 24 pounds and is showing great progress.

Nancy is proud of Barney. She reported back to us, “Barney enjoys being a ranch dog and thoroughly enjoys following his nose around.

He’s frequently up at the goat pen and trotting after the geese. Additionally, we own a lodge and restaurant. Barney quickly assumed the role of Host. He greets the guests upon their arrival and accompanies them as they walk the nature paths.”

The goal is to have Barney the beagle back to a healthy weight in several months and in his forever home. For now, Barney is enjoying his rehabilitation time at the lodge.

Nancy believes Barney is making great strides and will be a cherished member of a family. “His energy level and stamina improves daily, and he is becoming quite a handsome, charming, and outgoing beagle. Barney is housebroken, loves people, gets along well with other dogs, ignores cats and chickens, and enjoys lying on our wraparound porch. He will make a great pet for an active family with a large yard.” n

President’s Focused on Adoption anhandle Animal Shelter is taking a proactive approach to adoptions. After Report receiving a grant from The Heart of Sandpoint and Panhandle State Bank,

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through a fund managed by its Trust & Wealth Management Division, the shelter implemented a new dog evaluation process and will be introducing the “Meet

by Suellen crettol your Match” program.

In the spring, This is an I spoke about adoption program the changes developed by happening at ASPCA which has our Shelter had tremendous and the Thrift success when Store. Those utilized by shelters. changes The “Meet your included our Match” program new Executive has helped increase Director, adoptions up to Mandy Evans, 39% and reduced who hit returns by as much the ground as 30% in other running- I shelters. don’t think It involves she has working with a actually certified trainer that stopped since. trains designated It is rewarding to see how Mandy interacts staff and volunteers with so many in our community and how she to assess animals has brought attention to the Shelter and the Thrift Store in many positive ways. We were upon intake in the also happy to welcome Claudia Dick and Jaye shelter, code them Pietsch-Schuck as new members to our Board by color (purple, orange or green) of Directors. for the type of I hope you will take the time to stop by our adopter needed, Thrift Store and meet Christy Syth, our new and interview manager. Christy comes to us with great adopters on the enthusiasm for making the store the best that kind of home it can be. This is a tremendous benefit to our animals. The store can always use good clean and lifestyle they have. The process merchandise as well as volunteers. Gather some of your friends and have a work party in then matches the animals with the the back room sorting clothes. It is great fun Kaluha- available for adoption. Photograph by Bill Borders. and a huge help to our staff as they try to keep adopters. We strive to streamline the up with the sorting process. adoption process, Please take a moment to read the create a more customer focused atmosphere and reduce our adoption returns. newsletter…you will find wonderful stories, information on how we are giving back to our In addition, we welcome Bill Borders to our volunteer family. Bill will be coming in to do professional photos of our dogs, especially our seniors and dogs that have a community and to the animals. My hat is off to the Shelter Manager Ryan, our staff and all poor kennel presence. These new photos can be used on PetFinder, at the shelter, and in our newspaper spread once a month. who are donating countless hours to see our new programs succeed. No matter how large The first scheduled photo session will take place this month. (Thank you to our photographers, assessment teams, and a special thank you to Cheryl who manages Pet or how small the act of kindness, it makes a difference in achieving the ultimate goal of top Finder). n notch care for the animals.

The Shelter helps our community animals with open arms but operating it takes funding on a continual basis, especially as we come Here is a list of specific tasks we need help with at PAS. into the winter with higher heating bills and • Our forever tiles need to be laid along the building • A wet sprinkler line needs to other expenses, so I encourage all of you to give a donation of any size if you are able. be converted to dry • Pull linoleum and clean cement • Replace light in our reader Our thanks to you in advance for your board • Replace cement at mailbox and fence posts in our outdoor run • Work generosity. With Sincere Appreciation n the floor and backroom at the thrift store and the front desk at the shelter • Clean kennels, walk dogs and pet cats

letter from the president

Volunteers are appreciated

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PAS Gives Back

By Mandy Evans

A recent posting from a non-profit marketing blog immediately made me say, “YES!” The quote stated, “Generosity inspires generosity, so I’ll give when I’m hungry. It’s not what I need, it’s what I provide. I’m in the business of giving, not extracting. I’ll focus on the resources I have, not those I lack. I’ll care about relationships, not transactions. True partnership creates prosperity.” Katya’s Non-profit Marketing Blog. Based on those terms, I believe in giving back personally and encouraging my family and our organization to do the same. PAS has initiated some fantastic programs that benefit our community. Please take a moment and read about them. I’m proud of what we have accomplished in the last ten months and hope you will be too. the fire stations trained

by July 2012. We would like to extend a special thank you to those who are contributing to the success of this program.

Invisible Fence of North Idaho (donated all the animal specific respirator masks), Mrs. And Dr. Marty Becker (purchased the dog CPR mannequin) and Dr. Chrissy Wetzel who is actively planning and performing the trainings.

Low Income Spay and Neuter Program

Our county has its share of economic woes with a large percentage of residents falling at or under the poverty line. This prevents people from altering their family pets. PAS is sensitive to this issue and in an effort to help, the Low Income Spay and Neuter assistance program was launched in May 2011. Since the inception, we have assisted over 100 area animals. A special thank you to our area veterinarians who assist us with this program- Dr. Kathy Caldwell- Center Valley Animal Hospital, Dr. Bob Stoll- Animal Medical Care and Dr. Dawn Mehra- North Idaho Animal Hospital. We would also like to thank The Cadeau Foundation, Kristensen Family Trust and Panhandle State Bank, through a fund managed by its Trust & Wealth Management Division, for granted funds to support this program.

PAWS to Read

In cooperation with the Sandpoint Branch of the East Bonner County Library District, we launched PAWS to Read, a program to assist young struggling readers. Shelter dogs with a volunteer handler attend a scheduled reading session at the library. The young, reader picks his or her book and has a seat in a low chair on a blanket next to a dog. The dog’s job is to be an attentive, non-judgmental listener. The dogs love being out of the shelter and having a “job” and the kids Maile Evans reads to a love the idea of shelter dog during a PAWS to reading to a dog.

READ session.

This concept was tested at UC Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine with wonderful results.

Reading fluency improved as much as 30% and 75% of parents reported that their children read aloud more frequently and with greater confidence.

A special thank you to the Sandpoint library and our dedicated PAS volunteers for making this program happen!

PAS Food Bank

Dr. Wetzel training the Sandpoint Firefighters

Our food bank was designed to assist people who need temporary assistance feeding their animals when they are unable to purchase food. We pick-up dog and cat food donations from grocery stores in our area such as Wal-Mart, Super One and Big R. Volunteers take the food and divide it up into small bags which the public can come pick-up for free. A BIG thank you to our volunteers and to our local super markets for the generosity of product and time!

Item Donations through the thrift store The thrift store regularly donates items such as wheelchairs, walkers, and clothes to our local senior care facilities. We also help Kinderhaven by donating girl clothes and toys. This past year we assisted Angels over Sandpoint with their Backpack Program.

Seniors for Seniors

Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine writes, “People, in the contact with animals experience a decrease in blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and a general feeling of well being. The therapeutic value of animals, for socially isolated individuals in nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, and prisons has been documented. People in the presence of animals are often perceived to be more happy and healthy.”

The Seniors for Seniors adoption program invites senior humans to rediscover the joys of having a cat or dog in their lives. Senior cats and dogs (typically over 7 years old) are matched with senior humans over 60 years of age. The adoption is free.

Pawsitive Works

We are proud to host the Pawsitive Works program at our shelter.

The program is dedicated to helping “youth at risk” through canine assisted activities with shelter dogs. Our dogs benefit by receiving basic obedience training which makes them more adoptable and they are helping a young person feel valued and important.

New Program for Next Year-

Classrooms can rarely take a fieldtrip due to cutbacks. PAS is researching grants to assist in paying for the school bus rental.

Children shape our future. If we can teach them about what it means to be a responsible owner and to spay and neuter, we have made a significant impact for the future.

CPR Training

This past July, PAS initiated a new program to train all the Bonner County firefighters on animal CPR. The goal is to have all 3

Thrift Store Update

To Kailee,

We are welcoming Christy Syth as our new store manager.

Christy comes to us from our local Goodwill and plans to make a few positive changes to our store. Christy is excited about this new challenge and had this to share, “I bring my own sales touch, but a business sensibility that has been created and nurtured by management with Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest and a small retail store that I owned and operated with my husband in Sandpoint some years ago. Long before launching into these, however, I became a lover of thrift stores and a partner of animals. Combining these elements has been a fascination of mine and, ultimately, my driving force in joining this wonderful team.” n

by George Cordingly

You were abandoned, like an old pair of shoes, out on the Upper Pack River Road, and left to your fates in early April 2007. I found you at the old Sandpoint Animal Shelter, curled up in a ball, in a very small cage. We talked, we walked and you came home to a lovely little house on Trestle Creek. Later you moved to Derr Island, and entered dog paradise…and that’s where we’ve been together for four and a half years of tender love, kindness and companionship. In the early morning hours of September 27, 2011 you were in a terrible accident, and left us all way too soon. We will remember forever your subtle smile, those warm loving brown eyes, your bouncy style of running, the lonesome distant sound of your baying somewhere on the island at dawn, those long ears flapping in the breeze outside the car window, and taking up the best seat on the green couch for sleep time.

Skeeter misses you beckoning to go patrol the island’s mysteries, and won’t leave the lodge grounds. You are missed terribly, but there is no doubt whatsoever that you have passed over the rainbow bridge to heaven, where we will all meet and be together again.

From all of us who love you ♥

What can you expect?

• Lower prices.

• More quality product on the sales floor.

• Great Customer Service.

• Timely handling of your valuable donations.

• Specials and new promotions on a regular basis.

“Like” the Panhandle Animal Shelter Thrift Store on Facebook and receive wonderful specials only available to our fans. n

Did you Know?

• Every animal adopted out at Panhandle Animal Shelter is spayed or neutered to help reduce our overpopulation problem in our counties.

• PAS vaccinates, de-worms and treats animals for fleas and other parasites as needed, once they enter the shelter.

• We purchase our vaccines from Merck. Merck is on a mission to battle canine rabies in the Serengeti. In Africa, it is estimated 25,000 people will die contracting rabies from their family dog.

For every vaccine we purchase, a rabies vaccine is donated to the Afya Serengeti Project. Through this program they have seen hospitalizations for rabies reduced by 93%. PAS is proud to purchase from a company who shares in our belief of helping animals and people. n

Help us continue our good work…

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ince January PAS has seen almost a 10% increase in owner surrenders, we have assisted over 40 animals saved from hoarders and abusers and had 420 animals brought in that were simply abandoned.

The good news is we are here to help those animals and we are dedicated to ensuring all our “residents” receive the love and care they need during their time of transition at the shelter.

PAS has been successful in placing approx. 900 animals this year. We do good work. With the combination of dedicated volunteers and a hard working staff, PAS helps not only our residents, but our community as a whole. PAS needs people like you to help us continue our mission to help the cats and dogs of our counties and to continue to provide services and support to our community. Donations can be made through the envelope provided.

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Spot’s Story

by Mary Levy

June 18, 2011

COME SPOT COME

His rescuer- a burly truck driver, had scooped Spot off the road just before a convoy of equipment rounded the bend.

Spot was in trauma. His life had pulled a 180 degree turn in the last 48 hours. He had lost his human family due to an encounter with a deer (which, of course mandated a lengthy chase). Though we don’t know all the facts, we do know that Spot spent 2 days searching for his people around Priest Lake. He was exhausted and fearful when he arrived at the shelter. Why “Spot”? This charming Aussie/ Border Collie was snow white with one large patch of dark brown over the left eye and ear.

We quickly discovered that Spot was a fabulous dog who had been loved and cared for. He knew his basic commands, was friendly and eager to please. Spot was selected and put to work as a “reading dog” for our PAWS to Read program at the Sandpoint Library. He was there to sit and listen as children read out loud to him.

October 5, 2011

WE WANT SPOT

Inquiry off of Petfinder – “We saw Spot on your site and we think he is our dog.” After checking the time line, age and particulars of the dog, it seemed these people might be right.

The one hesitating and confusing factor was- the family lived in Tacoma, Washington and we couldn’t be sure, even with photos that this was their dog.

An excited Spot with his family.

“bunk mates” with a loud barking welcome. His owner reached the kennel and Spot stopped barking and stared in disbelief.

“Watcha doin here Chance?” – Spot (aka Chance) yelped and jumped at the gate. The family wept, hugged, and managed to make it up to the lobby with Chance in tow.

Chance trotted out the door leaving behind an amazing adventure and a tearful staff.

The questions might be asked: Would Spot ever chase another deer, or had he learned a lesson? “Yes” to the first and “no” to the second! n

October 6, 2011

OUT SPOT OUT

Undaunted, the family headed East at 5:00 the following morning, and arrived at the shelter 1 hour after we opened. This was a real “family effort”! Dad headed the pack; Spot was his dog, he brought him home when he was a 6 week old pup. Accompanying him were his two adult daughters and all their children.

The staff led the way to Spot’s ward. Spot joined his fellow

BYE SPOT BYE

See’s Candy Fundraiser

You don’t have to drive to Spokane to get your favorite treats. Enclosed is an order form for See’s Candy.

Order forms and full payment must be submitted on or before Tuesday, November 22 to the Panhandle Animal Shelter. Checks made payable to Panhandle Animal Shelter.

Mail in your order or drop off at the shelter (open 7 days a week) 12pm-5pm. Orders will be available for pick-up on December 15th.

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rarely left a dry eye. I became discouraged at times but Satori and the shelter staff renewed my faith.

Eventually I needed to return home. By now the shelter agreed to let me take Satori but flight was out till summer’s end and there was no ground service near the Panhandle. I registered Satori with a voluntary truck service, prepared her for travel, and left. Three days later I called the shelter to discuss transport options. They informed me that a woman from Oregon called about Satori. Numb, I spoke to the woman who immediately decided to take her. Pictures she sent revealed a happy dog in a permanent home. One caption stated, “She’s such a wonderful dog.”

I once read, “To love for the sake of being loved is human.

To love for the sake of loving is divine.” There are millions of wonderful dogs in shelters. Sad and frightened, they remain hopeful. Like Satori, they wait to love you just for the sake of it.

Rescue. Donate. Volunteer. Foster. Most of all, adopt. n

SATORI’S STORY

By Donna Lentine

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ast Spring I traveled to Idaho to care for wolves at a sanctuary. Living apart from my animals left a void so I went to the Panhandle Animal Shelter to walk dogs. I was escorted to an “easy” dog named Satori. She was an older black Shepherd with amber eyes. “Come on old girl” I said, as we setoff on what became a journey.

She was sad yet carefully gauged my steps, eager to please me.

I returned the next day and each day after, waking early to walk her before going to work. I returned at night to spend time with her. I asked to adopt her but the shelter said they didn’t think this was a good idea considering how far Satori would have to travel and because I had dogs. My home was clear across country and Satori had a history of fighting with other dogs. Instead, they asked me to foster Satori and explained that she had been at There are many the shelter for quite wonderful dogs like Satori at the shelter some time. looking for a home.

Together, we explored the beautiful sights of the Idaho Panhandle. We walked, played, ate, and slept together.

Satori wore a bright yellow vest that said, “Please Adopt Me.” I told everyone who’d listen that she was a wonderful dog. I handed out flyers, taped posters on windows, and had a U-Tube video made about her. Set to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” it

Lucy’s Luck

care that would give the kitten her best chance.

But against all odds, the kitten—soon named Lucky Lucy— survived the night, and Colleen brought her back to PAS to recover from her ordeal.

In a day or two, Lucky Lucy was hobbling around on her splint, curious, friendly, and playful like any other kitten.

Community support through PAS’s angel fund, and the kindness of many local vets, allows PAS to rescue hundreds of cats and dogs in crisis, like Lucky Lucy, every year.

Thanks to all our Thrift Store shoppers and everyone who donates finances, goods, or time, Lucky Lucy’s life was saved. But would her luck hold long enough to get her the perfect home?

Lucky Lucy’s rescuer couldn’t get the kitten out of her mind, and often came to visit. She knew she couldn’t adopt a cat herself, but the gentleman she took care of had recently lost his own cat—coincidentally also named Lucy. Could this be a match made in Heaven?

It was! As soon as she was healthy—and spayed—Lucky Lucy went to a loving home where she’ll never need to put her luck to the test again.

Another “happily ever after” made possible by the friends of PAS! n

by Kat Hoerth

PAS cat staff member Colleen was giving the cats in our Isolation room their early-morning medicines when she heard a frantic knock at the window. Going outside, she found a tearful lady holding a little, cloth-wrapped bundle.

“I’m a caregiver,” the lady told Colleen, “and I was driving down Rapid Lightning Road on my way to work when I saw a car just run over this kitten. They just kept right on going. I scooped her up and wrapped her in my work smock, and now I don’t know what to do.”

As soon as she looked at the tiny tabby, Colleen knew the kitten was in trouble. She rushed her across the street to Pend Oreille Veterinary Services. The vets found that the kitten had a broken foreleg and a bad case of road rash—skin rubbed raw by contact with the road. But most dangerous of all, she was in shock, a life-threatening condition in which the body’s circulatory system begins to shut down due to trauma.

The vets didn’t hold out much hope as they began the supportive 6

Yappy Hour Successfully Completes Third Season

Mark your Calendar!

November 10

Popovich Pet Comedy Theatre comes to the Panida. Great Family Show! $15-$25 Go to www.pasidaho.org under events for more information.

By Connie Taylor

Who would have thought three years ago that Yappy Hour (Happy Hour for you and your dog) would become one of the Panhandle Animal Shelter’s signature events of the summer?

Local pubs, restaurants and wineries vie with each other to hold this last-Thursday-of-the-month event that raises, on average, one thousand dollars per Yappy Hour! With Evans Brothers Coffee leading the charge, a friendly competition has developed among the hosts to see whose Yappy Hour can raise the most money.

This year, Trinity at City Beach won the competition by raising $1,500.00 Executive Director Mandy Evans conceived the idea of annually awarding a traveling trophy to the host raising the most money for the animal shelter. The prize, dubbed the “Top Dog Trophy,” is a fire hydrant. Each year, a new brass plate with the engraved year and name of the winner will be added. The winner will be encouraged to prominently display the trophy at the business until the next year when a new winner will be named. n

November 11

Jazz for Cats at DiLuna’s in Sandpoint – Dress up as a cat! Funds support an independent group raising money to support feral cats.

December 4

Panhandle Animal Shelter Tree Lighting – Santa is coming, music, treats, and more 4-6p Suki is available for adoption.

Justin Dick proudly accepts the trophy for best Yappy Hour 2011 Season” Proclaiming with confidence, “I’ll be keeping this for a really long time!”

“I love cats because I love my homeand after a while they become its visible soul.” ­— Jean Cocteau (1889-1963)

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Memberships

Individual . . . . . . $25 Family . . . . . . . . $50 Business . . . . . . $250 Sustaining . . . $1,000

Mission Statement To diminish the number of lost, abandoned, neglected and abused dogs and cats through adoption, litter

Cat & Dog Room Sponsors $2,500 - $15,000

prevention and identification of missing pets.

Thank You

Newsletter Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mandy Evans Kennel Sponsorships Layout and Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randy Wilhelm Writers: . . . . Kat Hoerth, Mary Levy, Connie Taylor, $150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Masten and Donna Lentine Photos . . . . Bill Borders, Marsha Lutz, Tina Friedman Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Selkirk Press

Forever Tiles $200 - $350

The Panhandle Animal Shelter is a 501 C 3 that funds itself solely through community contributions, grants, and Thrift Shop revenues. We do not receive any city or county tax dollars. Please help us help the animals and donate with the enclosed envelope. No donation is too small and you can give in many ways. If you have any questions about choosing a contribution please contact Mandy Evans at 208-265-7297.

SEE OUR NEWSLETTER ON THE PAS WEBSITE www.pasidaho.org TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Return Service Requested

870 Kootenai Cut-Off Rd Ponderay, ID 83852 SANDPOINT, IDAHO Permit No. 275

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