JaNUarY | feBrUarY 2011
pasadena humane society & spca
Fun With Your Pets Winter break and what to do? If you have visions of free time, trips and projects, include your pets, too. If they have free time, they may discover furniture to chew, holes to dig or bookshelves to clear. To keep them active and out of trouble, here are some activities that pets of all types may enjoy. Provide a toy chest for your furry and feathered pets. Changing the toy of the day can be just as interesting to them as getting a new toy. Raiding the stash can also be a fun challenge for your companion animal. Reptiles and amphibians need a change of scenery to beat boredom. New plants, hiding places can do the trick. A warm spot and a place to hide will be welcomed additions to their terrariums. Small animals such as hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits may enjoy a vacation trip of their own. Build a small, safe maze for them. Use appropriate sized plastic pipes connected with several types of joints. A tiny smear of peanut butter along the trail makes a rewarding rest stop. Being creative does not mean high out-
of-pocket expenses. Next time you are in the pet store, look at the toys. Many (continued on page back page)
compassion and care for all animals
leader of the pack The Pasadena Humane Society has set a goal to end euthanasia of adoptable animals. Although we consistently find homes for over 95% of our placeable animals, that is not good enough. There is more work to be done. In order to stop euthanasia of healthy adoptable pets, we have ongoing programs to prevent pet over population, to keep animals in their homes and out of the shelter, and to strengthen the bond between pets and their owners. One of these is spay/neuter. Currently, PHS sterilizes every cat, dog and rabbit before it goes to its new home. Our veterinarian also performs this surgery on animals that PHS sends to our rescue partners. Our public spay/neuter clinic, open only 2 days a week because of space, is booked several weeks ahead for appointments. In 2009, our surgical team sterilized 5,400 animals, preventing a tragic ending for thousands of animals. SpayUSA says that 1 unspayed dog, her mate and all of heir puppies will have 16 dogs in one year. Using these numbers, we can project that if our clinic performs 15 canine surgeries a day, 5 days a week for 50 weeks, we will have prevented the birth of 60,000 dogs. Cat projections are slightly different, but 15 feline surgeries a day would potentially preclude the birth of 45,000 cats—a total of 105,000 each year. The ability to spay/neuter dogs and cats for the public is necessary in order to stop the flow of animals into our shelter and to reach our goal of placing every adoptable animal. However, since pets that come into the shelter are also victims of a broken bond between human and animal, spay/neuter is only a part of the answer. To provide the best care for all of the animals, we must also provide extensive educational outreach opportunities for our community and behavior programs to help heal that broken bond.
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In the next months, you will hear more about our plans for the future of the animals. We know that there is hard work ahead of us, and we know we can count on your support and love of the animals.
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coMMUNItY heroeS Glendale Police K-9 Unit The A-Team’s got nothin’ on this crime fighting ensemble! Yudy, Sam, Quwai and Marlin are highly trained German Shepherds that make up the Glendale Police K-9 Unit. These patrol dogs are trained in suspect apprehension and hard surface tracking. Three of the dogs are cross trained in narcotics detection, and one is cross trained in explosives detection. Residents can rest easier knowing this pack is protecting the streets of Glendale. Officers Shawn Sholtis and Maribel Feeley started the canine patrol school in 2005. Officer Sholtis was joined by his canine partner, Sam, and Officer Feeley was joined by her canine partner, Yudy. Six months later, two new canines were added to the Glendale Police K-9 Unit. Officer Robert Wynkoop was introduced to his canine partner, Marlin, and Officer Aaron Hamilton to his canine partner, Quwai. Training for the dogs starts when they are just six weeks old and continues throughout their career. Patrol dogs typically work from five to seven years before they retire. Upon retirement, each dog will remain in the home of his or her handler. The Glendale Police Department K-9 Unit is funded solely through donations. All costs of the program including training, equipment, food, and veterinary care are paid for through the generosity of the public. These amazing dogs protect the people of Glendale for most of their adult lives. We are very grateful for their service to our community.
the pasadena humane Society & Spca is not part of the aSpca. when you donate to phS you are helping animals here in Southern california. the aSpca does not distribute donations in our area. Each spca in the country is legally separate from all of the others. donate to the pasadena humane Society & Spca and help the animals in your community http://www.pasadenahumane.org/donate. pag e 3
WIld thINGS
Batten Down the Hatches! Wildlife’s search for cozy, comfortable shelter intensifies in winter and as spring approaches. Skunks, raccoons, opossums and squirrels are the most common “squatters.” Crawl spaces under the house, open areas under decks and attics are most attractive to these animals. a pre-emptive strike to exclude the animals from your home is much more effective than convincing them to leave once they’ve established their home. The crawl space under your home is the most appealing area to wildlife. Inspect all ground-level access points and repair as necessary. Since persistent animals can easily rip through screens, you may want to reinforce the area with a lattice or heavy wire. The open space under a deck also meets the needs of a wild animal looking for a home. The best materials to use to exclude wildlife from under your deck are lattice and wire. Raccoons are the most common culprit for tearing up roofs to get into the attic. Minimize their access to your rooftop by trimming tree branches away from the side of your house and removing ivy and trellises. Certain animals will get into the chimney, both purposefully and accidentally. Attaching chimney caps is the most effective way to prevent raccoons and squirrels from moving into your chimney, and birds from falling down.
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If you notice an opening, you may have an unwelcomed houseguest. Before you close up the area, determine if there are
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animals inside. Sprinkle a layer of white flour on the ground around the opening. Check the area for paw prints in the morning. After 3 mornings without paw prints, you can safely assume that no animals are inside, and securely fasten the opening. If you find evidence that an animal is living in the space, you can convince the animals to move out on their own. Use a light source(strobe), portable radio and rags soaked in ammonia to disrupt the space. Once the area feels less safe to the animal, it will usually leave on its own. By using white flour as mentioned above, you will be able to determine when the animal has moved out, and should close the opening.
BehaVIor & traINING Q A Tips and Myths about Pets Q: What do I do when my dog freezes over food or toys when I approach him?
A: Freezing in a dog is a warning that the dog has potential for “resource guarding,” which means your dog sees the food or toys as his and is protecting them from others. It can often be the last warning before your dog attempts to bite. The first step in stopping this behavior is to remove whatever your dog is “guarding.” A safe way to do this is to trade with your dog for something he likes better. It is important to keep the items that your dog is guarding out of reach until he learns that they belong to you.
Q: Sometimes when I give one of my dogs treats or attention, my other dog gets jealous and may even lash out. What should I do?
A: One way to avoid this situation is to take turns with them while giving treats or attention. You will also want the dogs to work for their rewards, i.e. the first dog to sit is the first one to get the treat. This teaches your dogs that good behavior gets rewarded first. In a multiple dog household, you will always need to supervise anytime you give them high value items such as bones or rawhides. If you cannot supervise, then keep them separated to avoid any tiffs. Lastly, you’ll want to make sure that you have scheduled feedings rather than free feeding and the number of water bowls in your household should equal the number of dogs plus one. Having more than one dog can be fun but also a lot of work, so if you are diligent in being the peacemaker, your dogs are likely to follow your lead.
Q: How much exercise should my dog have a day? A: When deciding how much exercise to give your dog, the two most important things to consider are the breed of your dog and the age of your dog. A new puppy will need much more daily exercise than a senior dog. Also, working or herding dogs will require more physical exercise than other breeds. A 30-45 minute walk twice a day is a good starting point for you and your pup; however some dogs may require longer walks. Barking excessively, digging, chewing or pacing are all signs your dog is not getting enough exercise. In addition to physical exercise, all dogs require mental exercise and stimulation. Spending 15 minutes a day working on obedience training, or working on a backyard agility course with your dog is a great way to mentally stimulate your dog. Whatever your fitness routine for your pup, remember to keep it fun!
For more tips and information please contact the pasadena humane Society & Scpa’s Behavior & training department at 626.792.7151 ext. 155.
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happY taIlS
Once Lost, Now Loved While taking a jog through the pasadena arroyo, a good Samaritan heard whimpering in the brush. Upon further inspection, she found a frightened little poodle, hiding itself in a poison oak plant. The woman ran back to her car and grabbed a towel to wrap the pup in, then rushed it over to the pasadena Humane Society. Like so many animals that come to our shelter, we will never know where this dog came from or what her story was. What we do know is that she was probably on her own for quite a while. Despite her ordeal, she was a friendly and
dog even when covered in all that wet, dirty, stinky, matted fur. The only hair I could save was on her face.” It took her more than two hours to clean the pooch up, but the transformation was phenomenal. If you had seen her before you would not believe it was the same dog. It was around this same time that a woman named Dorothy was looking for a new canine companion. Dorothy knew that she wanted to adopt because, “a shelter dog knows what it means to be lost and will appreciate you more than a puppy that has been with you its whole life.” She came into the Pasadena Humane Society and when she saw the little poodle with her “new haircut” she knew right away that the friendly little pup would be her new best friend. She adopted her right away and named her Gabi.
affectionate dog, seeking attention from anyone who would pass by her kennel. While poison oak is harmless to dogs, she was in dire need of grooming and a bath. Her once-white coat was brown with mud, thick mats hung from her chest and fur grew long over her eyes.
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Wildlife Officer Ashley Hermans (stepping out of her normal role) was ready for this challenge. “She was a very sweet
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Dorothy remembers bringing her home for the first time. “Gabi shook the whole ride home, but once we got there she was able to relax. She is just the sweetest little dog I ever saw—she won’t let me out of her sight.” Gabi may know what it’s like to be lost and alone, but now thanks to Dorothy she will spend the rest of her life knowing what it’s like to be loved and cared for.
eVeNt roUNd-Up Get on the Ball! On Monday, April 18, 2011, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA will host its 12th annual Doglegs, Birdies and Eagles Golf Benefit. This day long event will take place at the pristine and picturesque San Gabriel Country Club, featuring 18 holes of golf, putting and hole-in-one contests, a helicopter ball drop raffle, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a live and silent auction, and awards dinner. All of the proceeds from the Golf Benefit will support Pasadena Humane Society programs and services such as animal care, cruelty investigations, adoption services, low-cost spay/neuter, animal control, humane education, and so much more. Golf packages are $300 per person or $1,200 for a foursome and include lunch and dinner. For our friends who aren’t golfers, we hope you will join us for the awards dinner, featuring gourmet fare and the opportunity to bid in our live and silent auctions. Dinner tickets are $75 per person. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to find out about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nicole Ring at 626.792.7151, ext. 167.
Save the Date! On Saturday, June 11, 2011 the Pasadena Animal League presents the Fast and the Furriest at Annandale Country Club. The event, a kick off for the San Marino Car Classic, will feature live entertainment, dancing, delicious food and drinks, and live/silent auctions. Tickets are $250. All proceeds will be donated to the Pasadena Humane Society’s spay/neuter programs. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www. fastandfurriest.org or call 626.441.7737. The San marino motor classic will be held at Lacy Park in San Marino on Sunday, June 12, 2011. The exhibition will feature a broad array of motorcars and motorcycles spanning a period of more than 85 years. There will be approximately 200 vehicles on display. Patrons Pavilion tickets are $125 and includes a gourmet buffet lunch, wine, beer, and beverages in a covered area and event admission. General admission tickets are $25, in advance. Proceeds from the event will support the Pasadena Humane Society and the Rotary Club of San Marino. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sanmarinomotorclassic.com.
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Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID Pasadena, CA Permit No. 1142
361 South Raymond Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105
Fun With Your Pets began from a “home entertainment” idea. You too can create fun games and toys for your pet. Just make sure your pet is learning something that you will enjoy and consider their safety with any game, activity or toy you choose.
(continued from page 1) Keeping your pets happy indoors and out is limited by your imagination and the safety needs of the whole family. Be creative and enjoy your companion animals.
www.pasadenahumane.org is the place to ••• Find your next wonderful pet ••• Register for training or fun and games classes ••• Donate to help the animals
Facility Hours Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9 am—6 pm Sat 9 am—5 pm Sun 11 am—5 pm
Adoption Hours Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9 am—5 pm Sat 9 am—4 pm Sun 11 am—4 pm
www.pasadenahumane.org 24 hour Emergency Service please call 626.792.7151 Glendale residents please call toll-free 818.240.9100 The SPCAisisaa ThePasadena PasadenaHumane Humane Society Society && SPCA private, animal welfare welfare private,non-profit, non-profit, open open door, animal agencyserving serving the the communities communities of agency of Arcadia, Arcadia,Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and South San Marino, Sierra MadrePasadena. and South Pasadena