may | june 2012
pasadena humane society & spca
Beyond Sit and Stay:
The Behavior Department at PHS Keeping animals in their home is the goal of the Behavior Department at PHS. Awarded the 2011 Reader’s Choice Award, Andrew Marsden and his exceptional staff of trainers and technicians provide many programs to support the animals. Want to teach your dog to “sit,” “stay” and “come”? Enroll your pup into Puppy Kindergarten. Want to teach your
old dog new tricks? Sign up for Tricks class. Do you have a reactive pooch? Check out Reactive Rovers, one of the first classes in the Los Angeles region designed for reactive dogs. Shelter dogs can attend Shelter School to learn basic obedience commands and socialization skills. If a dog performs all of the commands, then it receives a Blue Ribbon and a discounted adoption fee. How wonderful to adopt a shelter dog with basic manners! They haven’t forgotten the cats. Various planned activities keep cats from getting bored during their time at the shelter. If you hear classical music playing in the cat modular, that is thanks to the program. In addition, nail (continued on back page)
compassion and care for all animals
The future of animal welfare relies on a combination of progressive programs that meet the needs of animals and a supportive community. Imagine a place where abandoned and homeless animals have the best possible chance to find a new home. Imagine a place that works tirelessly to keep pets in their homes and reunites lost pets with their families.
Imagine an animal behavior center that focuses on programs that enrich the lives of shelter animals, keeping them engaged and adoptable, while providing training and fun and games opportunities and solutions to pet behavior issues for the public.
Imagine a veterinary hospital that performs more than 30 surgeries daily in a commitment to end pet overpopulation.
Imagine an animal care campus that provides convenient access to the latest in animal care products, humane education, and adoptable animals. Imagine one central humane resource for the animals of your community.
This is the future we want for the animals at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. Stay tuned. pag e 2
Community heroes Saving lives on the small screen cameraman Hanry Safarian, editor Sabrina Thomas and husband-wife hosts Rob and Dottie Sharkey have helped the animals find homes for more than a decade now. “ ‘The Dog House’ is one of our most popular programs,” said Sabrina Thomas, the show’s editor. “One time Steve brought a falcon on the show. Another time there was an iguana and a tarantula,’ Thomas added. GTV6, the City of Glendale’s public access channel, has been a part of the community since 1997. The channel broadcasts city council meetings, as well as a variety of other city- sponsored events in an effort to inform and connect the community. It won numerous awards and accolades including seven Los Angeles Emmy Awards for original programming. Most important, however, the channel has made a special impact on the animals here at PHS. Twice a month, the production crew sets up a small studio in the PHS boardroom and showcases seven pets in search of a home on the television show “The Dog House.” Director Rob Townsend,
The show usually consists of one rabbit, three cats and three dogs, but sometimes a turtle or bird will make an appearance. Two education segments – ranging from common wildlife topics to training tips–are interspersed within the show as well. In 2011, 161 animals were featured on the show and countless more in past years. In late 2011, the network agreed to air episodes on YouTube, giving the animals more visibility across the sea of social networks. GTV6 is our community hero because of the time and dedication it and its staff have put in to helping animals find a second chance for a forever home.
When you donate to the Pasadena Humane Society, you help animals in Arcadia, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre, and South Pasadena. The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is not part of any national animal organization. All of the funds you contribute to PHS stay locally. Donate to the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA and help the animals in your community. pag e 3
paw & order
In the Field Children’s cartoons overflow with images of the foolish dog-catcher being easily outwitted by a scruffy group of dogs. Dispelling that stereotype, the men and women responsible for providing animal control services to our 7 service cities are a far cry from those cartoonish “dog-catchers.” Over the next few issues of Scoop, we will show you the skill, dedication and professionalism shown by our officers.
At PHS, the responsibilities of the Field Service department include rescue of stray and lost animals, reuniting animals with their owners, rescuing injured animals, as well as enforcing all
animal-related municipal ordinances, state laws, and investigating cases of cruelty, abuse and neglect. Available 24/7, the department includes dispatchers, licensing canvassers, our wildlife officer, 9 animal control officers, and 3 Level I Humane Officers, who have advanced, specialized traininggiving them powers similar to a police officer or deputy sheriff.
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In December of 2010, acting on a tip from a good samaritan, PHS took
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possession of more than 250 cats from a 600 square foot bungalow in Pasadena. Our Field Services department coordinated with other city agencies to make this action possible. After months of work, the evidence presented to the District Attorney’s office led to a positive outcome in this case. The person responsible was guilty of having too many animals, was placed on probation, and must pay restitution to PHS. For a certain period of time, she is prohibited from having animals, as well. This case would not have been resolved without the tenacity shown by the officers involved. Because of their actions, and dedicated work of other staff, more than 92% of the cats now have good, caring homes. According to Lieutenant Nemesio Arteaga, who supervises the department, a successful officer must have a “strong desire to help people and animals. The satisfaction in the job is personal—you know you have made a difference.” If you suspect an act of animal cruelty, please contact us at 626.792.7151 ext. 102, or through our website www.pasadenahumane.org.
behavior & training Q A
Tips and Myths About Pets Q: W henever I open the front door, my dog bolts. I’m afraid that one day he’ll run into the street. What can I do to stop this from happening?
A: In order to break your dog from this common habit, you’ll need to implement some training. Teaching a simple command like “wait at the door” is easy to do and may even save your dog’s life. To begin, have your dog on a leash so that you can control all movements. Have plenty of treats or use your dog’s favorite toy as a reward. Ask your dog to sit, and then slowly begin to open the door. As soon as your dog gets up, say “ah-ah” or “no” and close the door, putting your dog back into a sit. Do this as many times as necessary until your dog stays sitting while you open the door. Once your dog stays put, give a release word such as “okay” and allow the dog to move forward.
Q: H ow can I safely socialize my puppy and keep him healthy? A: To keep your puppy healthy and socialized, take your puppy out on leash, but avoid moist, grassy environments where other dogs potty. Walking your dog on a concrete sidewalk allows for exercise and leash training, but limits exposure to many diseases. Avoiding dog parks is critical to keeping your puppy healthy. A puppy class will allow socialization with dogs and people in a controlled and hygienic environment.
Q: M y dog pulls constantly when we are out on walks. My friend suggested using a choke chain or a prong collar to stop the pulling but I’m not sure if that is a good idea. Any other suggestions?
A: A couple of different pieces of equipment help deter pulling and are less physical for your dog. A front clipping harness helps stop pulling by giving the dog a slight correction and turns the dog back towards you. For really determined pullers, many trainers recommend a head collar. It works by controlling the the dog’s head the same way a bridle does on a horse. A head collar is not a muzzle and the dog can continue to eat, drink, pant and bark.
For more tips and information, please contact the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA’s Behavior & Training Department at 626.792.7151 ext. 155.
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Happy Tails
Charlotte’s Web:
How one dog found her pack After two months of waiting patiently at the Pasadena Humane Society, Charlotte charmed volunteer Laurene Lopez and found her forever home. The pint-sized pup quickly adjusted to life in a busy house with plenty of play time with her canine companions. Unfortunately, life was not always so easy for Charlotte. The three-year-old Chihuahua was found all alone in a park in Pasadena and brought to our shelter by a good samaritan. A little shy at first,
adopted from PHS) and Lady, to meet her. Laurene remembers the moment that she knew Charlotte was the newest member of the Lopez pack, “Our socialization meeting went well. Charlotte respected the size of Lady and backed down and let Theodore smell her. I adopted her on the spot.” “Charlotte has blended in nicely with the pack. With her feisty attitude, she continues to try to earn top dog status, but is outvoted by my wise older shepherd, Lady, who keeps everyone honest. Theodore has become her lovebird. They are inseparable.”
little Charlotte quickly warmed up to people and did great with other dogs. Two months passed and Charlotte remained in our shelter. Our Mobile Outreach Unit brought her to events hoping that someone might see her outside of the shelter environment and bond with her. It just so happened that PHS volunteer Laurene Lopez was that person.
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When Laurene met Charlotte, her heart went out to her. She couldn’t understand why the sweet little pup had been overlooked for so long. Over the next few days, she couldn’t stop thinking about Charlotte, so she decided to bring her two other dogs, Theodore (also
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Having three dogs in the family can take a little work, but Laurene is rewarded by all of the entertainment it brings her. Not to mention, three times the love and doggy kisses! “I adopt shelter dogs because I know I am making a difference everyday in that animal’s life. I have the means to give them what they need to have the quality of life they deserve,” Laurene told us recently. You too can make a difference in the life of an animal. Visit the Pasadena Humane Society today to meet your next pet! Visit www.pasadenahumane. org to see all animals currently available for adoption.
event round-up Join us for the San Marino Motor Classic Tune your engines! The 2012 San Marino Motor Classic: Design in Motion is gearing up for its second annual outing on Sunday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. located at the beautiful Lacy Park, 1485 Virginia Road, San Marino, Calif. 91108. The concours-level automotive exhibition is a community event established to increase public awareness of the history of the motor vehicle by showcasing historical automobiles. Enthusiasts can expect to see a wide variety of Brass Era cars, Depression Era classics and Post-War luxury and sports cars. “We’re especially excited for this year,” said Aaron Weiss, Co-Chair of the event. “People really enjoyed last year’s inaugural event so we’re building upon that to showcase even more cars this year and to let people see firsthand prominent parts of automobile history.” Proceeds raised from the event will
again benefit the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA and the Rotary Club of San Marino. The 2011 inaugural event raised more than $125,000 for both charities in addition to attracting more than 220 collector cars and 3,000 spectators. John La Barbera’s 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing won
the “Best In Show” title. KABC 7’s Dave Kunz returns as Master of Ceremonies this year. Advanced spectator tickets can be purchased for $25 online or for $30 the day of the event. Visit www. sanmarinomotorclassic.com for tickets and more information.
Save the date— It’s Wiggle Waggle Walk time! Join thousands of animal lovers and their four-legged companions on Sunday, September 30th for a community dog walk and fundraiser to help all our furry friends. The Wiggle Waggle Walk is the Pasadena Humane Society’s biggest fundraising event because of committed and caring people just like you! With your help, with hope to raise $300,000 to provide care for the thousands of animals that come to our shelter annually. Register for the Wiggle Waggle Walk today and win exciting prizes as you fundraise for the animals—everyone’s a winner! For more information, visit www.wigglewagglewalk.org, or call (626) 792-7151 ext. 167
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Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage
PAID 361 South Raymond Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105
Beyond Sit and Stay trimming clinics are held monthly to teach cat owners proper care and maintenance of their cat’s nails. In April, the department debuted training classes at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia. These classes offer the same quality services in a new and exciting environment dogs and their owners can enjoy.
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
Pasadena, CA Permit No. 1142
(continued from front page) Whether it is assessing animals when they first arrive, to teaching them basic obedience commands, or providing residents with skills and activities to bond with their pets, the Behavior Department is there for you and your pet. To fetch more information, call the Behavior & Training Hotline at (626) 792-7151 ext. 155, or visit our website, wwww.pasadenahumane.org.
www.pasadenahumane.org 24 hour Emergency Service please call 626.792.7151 Glendale residents please call toll-free 818.240.9100 The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a private, non-profit, open door, animal welfare agency serving the communities Arcadia, The Pasadena Humane Society &of SPCA is a Glendale, Lanon-profit, Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Marino, private, open door, animal San welfare Sierra Madre and Pasadena.of Arcadia, agency serving theSouth communities
Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena