November | DECEMBER 2011
pasadena humane society & spca
Staying Mobile Have you seen the bright blue PHS Mobile Unit with pictures of animals and volunteers on the sides? Found at countless community events, the Mobile Unit, complete with specifically trained volunteers and several shelter dogs, provides information about the Pasadena Humane Society and the services it offers. If a shelter dog can find a forever home at one of these stops, the day has been made very special indeed! The Mobile Unit makes appearances at parades, block parties, pet stores, concerts, schools, and numerous other events— normally at least 10 to 12 community events each month. The Mobile Unit sets up information tables that have nearly 40 different informational flyers, cards, and brochures. This information helps individuals in the community to learn more about PHS, pet care, spaying and neutering, behavior classes,
and support resources. Acting as a microcosm of PHS itself, the Mobile Outreach Program is a valuable community asset! Additionally, dogs that are brought out on the Mobile Unit get to spend a special day playing or relaxing outside the confines of the shelter and meeting new people. In this way, new insights continued on back
compassion and care for all animals
leader of the pack Exciting partnerships and changes are developing at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. In October, PHS began a partnership with VCA hospitals to offer additional opportunities to new adopters and their new pets. Within the first 5 days after adoption, each adopted dog or cat has the opportunity for a free check up at a VCA group in the area. Your new cat or dog is also covered by VCA’s Limited Health Care Guarantee, which means that if specific shelter related problems are diagnosed, the first $250 is covered. This benefit is available only through VCA clinics. We are excited about this new partnership and about these benefits for our new adopters. October brought new treats to our shelter animals as well, when we began an alliance with Hill’s Science Diet food and their shelter nutrition program. Now all of our shelter dogs and cats eat the excellent quality food that Science Diet provides. For many of our animals who were stray for a long time, this excellent food will be to the start of a healthy diet. Each newly adopted dog or cat is now sent home with a small bag of Science Diet kibble so that the nutritional benefits continue. And there is more. The 24 hour news cycle, decrease in newspaper readership, and snail mail have made social media an essential tool for animal welfare agencies like the Pasadena Humane Society. Although traditional media still retain their importance, social media offer new dimensions in communications and new ways to develop relationships. Our website, updated a couple of years ago, contains information about PHS, our programs, the animals in the shelter, and ways to support the animals and our lifesaving programs. People can look for a new pet, discover how to discourage wildlife from eating their garden fruit, and check out our training classes for their new puppy. But that’s not enough. Have you checked our Facebook page lately? Are you following us on Twitter? PHS is in daily contact with followers so that we know what interests them and what issues are on their minds. And we let our friends and supporters know what is going on at PHS. We want to be in touch with you; like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ pasadenahumane) and follow us on twitter (@PHS_SPCA)
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Thanks for your support,
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Community heroes More Than Skin Deep: The Beauty of The Body Shop The Body Shop supports the local community in more ways than you think. Nestled on West Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena between boutiques, jewelers, eateries and houseware stores, this company is anything but the norm when it comes to cosmetics. Stocked with a plethora of eco-friendly, sulfatefree shampoos and conditioners along with lotions, makeup and perfumes composed of community traded ingredients from around the globe, The Body Shop’s values are more than skin deep. Founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick in England, more than 2,500 stores exist worldwide today (approximately of which 300 are in North America). Its five core values are: Against Animal Testing, Support Community Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights and Protect Our Planet. In that tradition, the Old Pasadena store spearheads many community outreach programs led by Shop Manager, Ann Greenwood and Assistant Shop Manager, Simone Blattler. For almost a year now, the PHS Mobile Outreach Unit is one of the programs the store supports. On select Sundays every month, Mobile Outreach Coordinator Marlin Miller and
his trusted team of volunteers set up shop in front of the store showcasing PHS services along with adoptable cats, dogs and rabbits. In fact, the partnership between PHS and the store has been so successful that at least one animal has been adopted each time the Mobile Outreach Unit visits. “It’s not just about selling the product,” said Ann Greenwood. “We want to raise awareness so our community can come to us and make a difference.”
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 locally. 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
American Kestrel Did you know there are 27 species of raptors (hawks, eagles and falcons) in California? The diminutive American Kestrel is the most common falcon found in the U.S., as well as a common resident of California. Being one of the smallest birds of prey (eight to 12 inches long with a wingspan up to 24 inches), it is often overlooked and commonly mistaken for other birds. Taking a closer look, however, this raptor stands out with its striking physical attributes. Vertical black stripes (called a “mustache” or “sideburn”) descend on each side of its head. Male kestrels have slate-blue wings, a rufous tail with a single black band near the tip and a pale chest with delicate black spots. Females have rufous wings with more barring
broad habitat range including deserts, grasslands and meadows. Depending upon geographic location, kestrels may be migratory or year-round residents. A diurnal predator, the krestel stays perched scanning for prey ready to pounce. Its diet consists of insects, spiders, small rodents, lizards and even an occasional small bird. Pair bonding is strong with couples returning to the same areas and nest location year after year. In urban environments they can use man-made openings to mimic their tree cavity nests. Females can lay clutches with three to seven eggs. Both male and female share incubation duties while the other goes out to hunt and bring back food. The eggs hatch after approximately 30 days and the young mature in less than three weeks. Kestrels have relatively short lifespan of two years; the oldest known in the wild was 11 while the one in captivity was 17.
visible on the chest and tail. Being a sexually dimorphic species, the females are larger than males.
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Indigenous to the North and South American continents, this raptor has a
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Even though the American Krestel is the most common falcon, the population has been declining mainly due to land clearing and destruction of standing trees, as well as pesticides. For more information on wildlife, visit our website: www.pasadenahumane.org/wildlife.
behavior & training Q A Tips and Myths about Pets Q: M y dog gets so excited when we come home he starts jumping. What can we do?
A: Because jumping is a learned behavior and usually a result of over stimulation and attention seeking, you must eliminate excited greetings. Completely ignore the dog when entering the house. Don’t interact with the dog until it is calm and no longer jumping. This means do not talk to the dog, pet the dog, or even look at the dog until all four paws are on the ground. Another technique to try is walking into the dog. Dogs have personal space just like we do, so invade their space. Walk directly into the dog and continue doing so until the dog walks away from you. Finally, give your dog something else to do. Ask your dog for an obedience command such as “sit” and reward your dog for giving you a behavior you want. With all training, consistency is key, so everyone who interacts with your dog must obey the rules.
Q: M y dog, Benji, jumps on the furniture. How can I stop him? A: Allowing your dog to be on the furniture is an individual choice. But again the key to success is consistency. If one person in the family allows Benji on the couch, he will always think it’s okay. For instance, if your husband lets him sleep there but you don’t, it is hard for Benji to make the distinction. To train out of this habit, you can teach an “off” command, but make sure you have lots of great treats handy! Start by having Benji trail his leash around the house. As soon has he jumps on the couch, say “no” and lure him down using a treat. When he’s on the ground, say “good off” and reward him with a treat and lots of praise. Repeat this as often as you need until Benji learns that the best treats come when he’s on the ground!
Q: I think my dog is trying to dominate me. What should I do? A: Dominance in dogs refers to the relationship that dogs have with the members of their social world; this includes the people they live with, other pets in the house, dogs they meet casually, etc. Dogs choose to be dominant or submissive with the members of their social world; they don’t try to force them into those roles. One thing you can do to become more of a leader to your dog is to have your dog work for everything he gets. Ask him to “sit” before he goes out the door on walks or before being fed. Ask him for a “down” before giving him attention or initiating play. By providing more rules and structure for your dog and offering rewards for good behavior, you can help him to become a well-adjusted dog.
For more tips and information please contact the Pasadena Humane Society & SCPA’s Behavior & Training Department at (626) 792-7151 ext. 155. pag e 5
Happy Tails
A Little Shelter Dog with a Big Heart Almost two years ago, Marco Costales and his fiancée, Sarah, began looking for a dog to adopt together. Because they both have demanding careers, they thought an older dog might be better than a puppy. They visited the Pasadena Humane Society, searching for their perfect match. As they walked past the puppy kennels, they saw Eddie, a scruffy miniature schnauzer/terrier mix pushing his little nose as far as he could through the bars. He looked as if he was begging them to take him home. Even though the pup was under a year old, much younger then the couple had initially planned to adopt, they fell in love with him immediately. Marco and Sarah were not the only ones that had been charmed by Eddie—they put their name down on his waitlist of potential adopters. They prepared their house for the prospect of welcoming a new, furry family member. When they came back to our shelter a few days later, Marco and Sarah were delighted to find out that the people that were before them on the waitlist never showed up. The sweet little dog was theirs to take home! Eddie acclimated quickly in his new home and became best friends with their cat, Leo, who is about the same age. The two loved to play together and cuddle on the couch. Marco and Sarah were having an amazing time with Eddie in their life.
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As fate would have it, everything changed suddenly for the couple. On
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March 30, 2010 Marco lost his 19-yearold son. At this time, Eddie proved to be so much more than just a playful puppy. As Marco explains, “To say that our world has been turned upside-down would be a major understatement. Yet, through all the grief, tears and pain that this tragedy brought us, Eddie has been a constant source of comfort, joy and unconditional love in our lives. I’m not sure how I would have managed to get through these past months without Eddie’s companionship -- along with Sarah by my side, I’ve had moments of sheer happiness that I thought would never come back into my life.” Sometimes, in the darkest moments of our lives, the therapy provided by a loving pet is incomparable to anything else. Marco’s advice? “Adopt a dog; it will heal you.”
event round-up The 13th annual Wiggle Waggle Walk, held at Brookside Park on September 25th was a huge success for the animals! Nearly $300,000 was raised to help provide food, shelter and medical care to thousands of homeless and abandoned pets this year. We could not have done this without the amazing support of all of our donors, fundraisers, sponsors and volunteers. Thank you for making another Wiggle Waggle Walk a big win for all of the animals! Top Teams: 1. Punk Rock Rovers 2. Team PHS: Purr, Hop and Slobber 3. Nala’s Knights 4. Team Barktree 5. Hahn & Hahn LLP
Top Fundraisers: 1. Karen Kiefaber 2. Wil and Anne Wheaton 3. JoAnne Turovsky 4. Caroline Reed 5. Lisa Kenyon
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Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID 361 South Raymond Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105
Pasadena, CA Permit No. 1142
Staying Mobile are gained about many of these dogs which then becomes helpful towards finding them a forever home. Under the direction of Mobile Outreach Coordinator, Marlin Miller, the Mobile Unit continues to reach into
all areas of the seven cities that PHS services. If you would like to see the Mobile Unit at a special community event, please contact Marlin at 626-792-7151 ext.119 or at mmiller@ phsspca.org.
Pamper your pet this holiday season. Visit The Pet Store to find the purr-fect gift. 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 The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a toll-free 818.240.9100
private, non-profit, open door, animal welfare agency serving the communities of Arcadia, The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, private, non-profit, open door, animal welfare San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena
agency serving the communities of Arcadia, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.